Boone County, MO Workers’ Comp
Work Related Injuries
An employee can have a Boone County, MO workers comp claim for any they experience as a result of their job. There are countless ways that a person could become injured on the job in Boone County. 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. All other Boone County MO employers not in the construction sector must have 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, speak to Missouri Injury Law, your Boone County, MO workers' comp law firm, as soon as possible. Boone County, MO workers' comp insurance covers certain individuals in certain situations. Most importantly, your injury must have come about during your time of employment and be caused by your job in some way. This is easy to demonstrate in sudden, traumatic events like an iron beam falling on a construction site that crushes the bones in your foot. However, you may also be covered by workers' comp insurance for diseases or injuries caused by exposure over time, such as cancer or carpal tunnel syndrome, but you must be able to show that the occupational conditions were the prevailing factor for your injury and resulting disability.If you feel that you have suffered harm as a result of your job, you 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 Boone County, 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 maximize the number of damages you can recover in a workers compensation settlement, talk to a workers comp lawyer in Boone County, MO right away. A workers' comp lawyer will work to get the best possible outcome for your case, making sure you file correctly and don't get caught up by the small print.
Some of the typical types of damages one can recover in a workers' comp case include:
- Medical Expenses: After suffering a workplace accident or illness, medical bills are inevitable. Missouri workers' comp covers all approved medical testing, treatment, prescriptions, and medical devices. Keep track of all medical care you receive, so you can receive coverage or reimbursement for things like rehabilitation services, surgeries, x-rays, hospital stays, and other medical procedures.
- Vocational Rehabilitation: Your workers' comp settlement could include coverage for vocation rehabilitation services. If your injury leaves you unable to continue in the field you were in, your employer will pay for some level of ongoing education. This will allow you the opportunity to embark on a new, sustainable career.
- Mileage Reimbursement: When you're dealing with workers compensation claims, you'll often have to visit multiple doctors. Some, especially specialists, may be outside of the Boone County area. Missouri workers' comp insurance will cover travel mileage and expenses for up to 250 miles there and 250 miles back for any necessary medical care.
- Pain and Suffering: When you suffer a disabling injury or illness, you experience on-going pain and suffering. In addition, benefits can be awarded to family members for the impact of the victim's disability on their lives, and survivor benefits can be awarded to the family members of a deceased work-injury victim, in the form of final expenses and ongoing weekly wages.
- 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 Boone County, MO Workers' Comp Lawyer Can Help
Missouri workers' comp benefits are designed to be a streamlined process, but that doesn't always mean that it will be simple or easy. Each case is different, so it's important to consider the factors that are unique to your case. Before you hire a Boone County, MO workers' comp lawyer, you can speak to us at Missouri Injury Law for free. 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. To decide if you need a lawyer, it is helpful to understand in what ways having a workers' comp lawyer on your case can help you.
Your workers' comp lawyer will:
- Gather and develop evidence. Your lawyer can take care of tasks like obtaining and organizing documents such as medical records and documentation. They will also have the experience needed 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 can calculate the true value of your case and are familiar with tactics insurance companies use to try to settle for a lower amount. A lawyer with experience and authority in workers' comp cases will be able to secure a much higher settlement than you could likely get on your own.
- File additional claims. First of all, if your Boone County workers' comp claim is initially denied, you need a lawyer to help you with a successful appeal. When you've been harmed in the line of work, you deserve an appropriate workers' comp settlement. A claim can be denied for many reasons, and a lawyer can help you appeal the denial. 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 Boone County, MO workers' comp lawyer will protect you from being taken advantage of by an insurance provider who tries to lowball you, an employer who resists giving you the benefits you are legally allowed, and can protect you if you experience retaliation at work for filing a claim.
- Represent you. If your workers' comp claim have to go to court, you are at an advantage if you already have a workers' comp lawyer. They will already be familiar with your case and have all the necessary documentation. 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 Boone County, MO
If you are struggling with an acute 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 compensation for your suffering in Boone County, MO commiserate to the status of your injuries (partial or total, temporary or permanent). Our workers' compensation attorneys in Boone County, MO, are always ready to help you recover benefits for present or future damages stemming from the accident, and offer support during the Boone County, MO workers compensation claims process. Contact our MO Workers Compensation Attorneys today for a free case review and consultation.
(636) 333-1717