[city], [state] Workers’ Comp
Work Related Injuries
A workers' comp claim in Affton, MO can be filed for any work-related accident or condition that causes disability through illness or injury. An employee in Affton can get hurt at work many different ways. Even seemingly low-risk environments and job duties can lead to injury.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the occupations in which the highest number of injuries and illnesses occur are:
- Laborers
- Truck drivers
- Janitors and cleaners
- Nursing assistants
- General maintenance and repair workers
- Retail salespersons
- Stock clerks
- Registered nurses
- Delivery drivers
- Construction laborers
Workers Compensation Settlements
There are different workers' comp laws for each state. In Missouri, construction industry companies with at least one employee must carry Missouri workers' compensation insurance. Other employers in Affton, MO are required to carry workers' compensation insurance if they have five or more employees. This does not apply to certain specific situations, like work done for private households and some unpaid volunteer work. If you have any questions about your employer's workers' compensation insurance and if you are covered, contact Missouri Injury Law, your Affton, MO workers' comp law firm, right away. To be covered by Affton, MO workers' comp insurance, you must meet certain conditions. Most importantly, you need to have suffered an injury during and because of your employment. For traumatic accidents such as losing a limb in a machine-related accident, this is pretty straightforward. However, workers' comp can also be used for long term effects that occur over time, like diseases caused by prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals or back problems due to repetitive motions, as long as you can prove that the occupational conditions were the prevailing factor for your injury and resulting disability.Anyone who has been hurt or fallen ill because of their work conditions should file a workers' comp claim. You have two years from the time of the injury to file a workers comp claim in Missouri. You are also required to report the injury to your employer. Report your accident right away. You must report your injury within 30 days of the accident, or your Affton, MO workers' comp claim could be denied. Beyond this time frame, victims, regardless of their injuries, forfeit all rights to compensation for their injuries. To get the entire value of your workers' compensation claim, it is essential to consult a workers comp lawyer in Affton, MO as soon as possible. A workers' comp lawyer will help you file your claim on time and make sure you do not lose your case due to bureaucratic red tape or state statutes.
Damages you may recover in a workers' comp settlement may include:
- Medical Expenses: You need and deserve the proper medical care after suffering workplace harm, regardless of the cost. Missouri workers' comp covers all approved medical testing, treatment, prescriptions, and medical devices. You can receive reimbursement for medical care such as rehabilitation, surgeries, x-rays, and other hospital bills. This is why it's essential to keep all documentation of medical care you receive for workplace injuries.
- Vocational Rehabilitation: Your workers' comp settlement could include coverage for vocation rehabilitation services. For example, if you're unable to continue your job because of your injuries, your employer may cover some type of ongoing education. This will allow you the chance to embark on a new, sustainable career.
- Mileage Reimbursement: You may have to see specific doctors chosen by your workers' compensation insurance throughout the course of your treatment. Some, especially specialists, may be outside of the Affton area. In Missouri, you can be reimbursed for any mileage and expenses you incur due to travel, up to 250 miles each way for a medical visit.
- Pain and Suffering: When you suffer a disabling injury or illness, you experience on-going pain and suffering. Your family members are also impacted and may receive benefits for their suffering due to your disability.Survivor benefits, which cover the deceased's weekly wages and funeral expenses, are available for family members of work injury victims who lose their life as a result of their injuries.
- Lost Wages: When you suffer an occupational injury that leaves you unable to work, workers' comp serves to replace the income you are missing. There are different calculations based on the severity and permanence of the work-related disability. You may receive temporary total disability (TTD), permanent total disability (PTD), or permanent partial disability (PPD). These wages are calculated as a percentage of the state's average weekly wage.
How A Affton, MO Workers' Comp Lawyer Can Help
Missouri workers' comp insurance is set up to be a streamlined process, but that doesn't always mean that it will be simple or easy. Each case should be considered individually, so you should think about the factors that are unique to your case. Before you hire a Affton, MO workers' comp lawyer, talk to the attorneys of Missouri Injury Law for a complimentary consultation. This conversation will determine if you need a lawyer for your case, and if Gene Hou and his team are a good fit for you. When making that decision, consider how having a workers' comp lawyer on your case can help you.
Your workers' comp lawyer will:
- Gather and develop evidence. Your attorney can take care of tasks like obtaining and organizing documents such as medical records and documentation. They will also be able to obtain other valuable evidence such as statements from witnesses and testimony from vocational experts that can support your claim.
- Negotiate. An experienced workers' comp lawyer is familiar with workplace injuries such as yours. They know the true value of your case and know how to negotiate with insurance companies. A lawyer with experience and authority in workers' comp cases will help you secure a much higher settlement than you could likely get on your own.
- File additional claims. First of all, if you file a Affton workers' comp claim on your own and it gets denied, you need a lawyer to help you with a successful appeal. When you've been harmed in the line of work, you are entitled to workers' comp coverage. A claim can be denied for many reasons, and a lawyer can help you make the most of your appeal. In addition, if your workers' comp settlement does not cover the extent of the damages you suffered, your lawyer can help you with a third party claim against other parties who were also responsible for your suffering.
- Protect your rights. Your Affton, MO workers' comp lawyer will protect you against the tactics of insurance companies, an employer who tries to avoid giving you the benefits to which you are entitled, and can give you recourse if you experience retaliation at work for filing a claim.
- Represent you. If your workers' comp claim ends up going to court, you are at an advantage if you already have a workers' comp lawyer. You will be prepared with legal representation that is familiar with your case and already has the documentation they need. Your workers' comp lawyer is experienced in these cases and knows what it takes to win. They will help you understand everything throughout the process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Workers' Comp Law Firm in Affton, MO
If you have suffered a significant injury, chronic pain, or other health problems due to a sudden work accident or exposure through your regular work conditions, you may be entitled to recover a workers' compensation settlement in Affton, MO commiserate to the status of your injuries (partial or total, temporary or permanent). Our workers' compensation attorneys in Affton, MO, are here to discuss your rights to workers compensation benefits in Affton, MO, and offer support during the Affton, MO workers compensation claims process. Contact our MO Workers Compensation Attorneys today for a free case review and consultation.
(636) 333-1717