Columbia, MO Workers’ Comp
Work Related Injuries
An employee can have a Columbia, 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 Columbia. 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
Each state has its own laws and requirements when it comes to workers' comp cases. In Missouri, construction industry companies with at least one employee must carry Missouri workers' compensation insurance. Other employers in Columbia, MO must 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 are unsure whether your Columbia, MO employer has workers' compensation insurance that covers you, contact Missouri Injury Law, your Columbia, MO workers' comp law firm, as soon as possible. To be covered by Columbia, MO workers' comp insurance, you must meet certain conditions. 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, 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. If you do not report your injury within 30 days of when it occurred, you may not be able to receive workers' comp benefits in Columbia, MO. Do not miss out on the compensation you deserve because you miss a deadline. To get the entire value of your workers' compensation claim, it is essential to consult a workers comp lawyer in Columbia, 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.
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. 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: As a workers' comp victim, you may be able to recover reimbursement for vocational rehabilitation. If your injury leaves you unable to continue in the field you were in, your employer may cover some type of ongoing education. This will allow you the opportunity to find 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 Columbia 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: Workers' comp often provides employees with income to replace the wages you are unable to earn because of your condition. 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 Columbia, MO Workers' Comp Lawyer Can Help
Missouri workers' comp insurance is designed to be a streamlined process. Still, bringing a claim is not necessarily an easy, straightforward doing. Each case is different, so it's important to consider the factors that are unique to your case. Before you hire a Columbia, MO workers' comp lawyer, you can speak to us at 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. 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 attorney 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. Workers' comp lawyers are experienced in these cases and have worked with injuries such as yours. They know 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 Columbia workers' comp claim is initially denied, you need a lawyer to help you with a successful appeal. If your injury is truly a result of your occupation and it has caused you any suffering, you deserve an appropriate workers' comp settlement. 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 Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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 Columbia, MO commiserate to the status of your injuries (partial or total, temporary or permanent). Our workers' compensation attorneys in Columbia, MO, are always ready to help you recover benefits for present or future damages stemming from the accident, and offer support during the Columbia, MO workers compensation claims process. Contact our MO Workers Compensation Attorneys today for a free case review and consultation.
(636) 333-1717