Lake St. Louis, MO Workers’ Comp
Work Related Injuries
An employee can have a Lake St. Louis, MO workers comp claim for any they experience as a result of their job. An employee in Lake St. Louis 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 following occupations see the most workplace injuries and illnesses:
- 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 Lake St. Louis, MO must carry workers' compensation insurance if they have five or more employees. There are certain exemptions, such as for work done for private households and some unpaid volunteer work. If you are unsure whether your Lake St. Louis, MO employer has workers' compensation insurance that covers you, speak to Missouri Injury Law, your Lake St. Louis, MO workers' comp law firm, right away. Lake St. Louis, MO workers' comp insurance covers certain individuals in certain situations. Primarily, 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.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 Lake St. Louis, 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, it is essential to consult a workers comp lawyer in Lake St. Louis, MO as soon as possible. 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: 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 will pay for some level of ongoing education. This will allow you the opportunity to embark on a new, ongoing career that you can sustain.
- 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 Lake St. Louis 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. 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 Lake St. Louis, MO Workers' Comp Lawyer Can Help
Missouri workers' comp insurance is set up to be a streamlined process. Still, bringing a claim is not necessarily an easy, straightforward doing. Each case should be considered individually, so you should think about the factors that are unique to your case. Before you hire a Lake St. Louis, 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, 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 do the work for you when it comes to requesting documents like medical records, and keeping them organized. Your workers' comp lawyer will also have the experience needed to record witness statements, take expert testimony, and build your case with other supporting evidence.
- Negotiate. Workers' comp lawyers are experienced in these cases and have worked with injuries such as yours. They can calculate the true value of your case and know how to negotiate with insurance companies. Your lawyer's expertise will be able to secure a much higher settlement than you could likely get on your own.
- File additional claims. First of all, if you file a Lake St. Louis workers' comp claim on your own and it gets denied, you need a workers' comp lawyer on your side. If your injury is truly a result of your occupation and it has caused you any suffering, 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 recover additional coverage through a third party claim.
- Protect your rights. Your Lake St. Louis, 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 give you recourse 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 Lake St. Louis, MO
If you have suffered 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 eligible to recover compensation for your suffering in Lake St. Louis, MO commiserate to the status of your injuries (partial or total, temporary or permanent). Our workers' compensation attorneys in Lake St. Louis, MO, are always ready to discuss your rights to workers compensation benefits in Lake St. Louis, MO, and offer support during the Lake St. Louis, MO workers compensation claims process. Contact our MO Workers Compensation Attorneys today for a free case review and consultation.
(636) 333-1717