Springfield, MO Workers’ Comp
Work Related Injuries
A workers' comp claim in Springfield, MO can be filed for any work-related accident or condition that causes disability through illness or injury. There are countless ways that a person could become injured on the job in Springfield. Any worker can get hurt on the job, even in occupations that seem low-risk.
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. All other Springfield MO employers not in the construction sector are required to have 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 have any questions about your employer's workers' compensation insurance and if you are covered, speak to Missouri Injury Law, your Springfield, MO workers' comp law firm, as soon as possible. To be covered by Springfield, MO workers' comp insurance, you must meet certain conditions. 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, 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, but you must be able to show 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. Do this as soon as possible. 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 Springfield, MO. 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 Springfield, MO right away. 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.
Some of the typical types of damages one can recover in a workers' comp case 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. For example, if you're unable to continue your job because of your injuries, your employer may cover some level of ongoing education. This will allow you the chance to embark on a new, ongoing career that you can sustain.
- 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 Springfield 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: This includes life-changing injuries that cause continued 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: 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 Springfield, 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 is different, so it's important to consider the factors that are unique to your case. Prior to hiring a Springfield, MO workers' comp lawyer, talk to the attorneys of 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. 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 lawyer can take care of tasks like obtaining and organizing documents such as medical records and documentation. They will also be able 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 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 be able to secure a much higher settlement than you could likely get on your own.
- File additional claims. First of all, if your Springfield workers' comp claim is initially denied, you need a workers' comp lawyer on your side. 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 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 Springfield, 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 have to go 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 Springfield, 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 compensation for your suffering in Springfield, MO equivalent to the value of your injuries (partial or total, temporary or permanent). Our workers' compensation attorneys in Springfield, MO, are always ready to discuss your rights to workers compensation benefits in Springfield, MO, and offer support during the Springfield, MO workers compensation claims process. Contact our MO Workers Compensation Attorneys today for a free case review and consultation.
(636) 333-1717