St. Louis County, MO Workers’ Comp
Work Related Injuries
An employee can have a St. Louis County, MO workers comp claim for any they experience as a result of their job. An employee in St. Louis County can get hurt at work many different ways. 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
There are different workers' comp laws for each state. In Missouri, all employers in the construction sector are required to carry Missouri workers' compensation insurance, even with only one employee. Other employers in St. Louis County, MO are required to 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 are unsure whether your St. Louis County, MO employer has workers' compensation insurance that covers you, speak to Missouri Injury Law, your St. Louis County, MO workers' comp law firm, right away. To be covered by St. Louis County, 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. For traumatic accidents such as losing a limb in a machine-related accident, this is pretty straightforward. 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.Anyone who has been hurt or fallen ill because of their work conditions should file a workers' comp claim. In Missouri, a worker must file their workers' comp claim within two years of when the injury took place. 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 St. Louis County, 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 St. Louis County, 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. 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 will pay for some level of ongoing education. This will allow you the opportunity to find 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 St. Louis 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: This includes life-changing injuries that cause continued 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 St. Louis County, MO Workers' Comp Lawyer Can Help
Missouri workers' comp benefits are 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 St. Louis County, 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. 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 do the work for you when it comes to requesting documents like medical records, and keeping them organized. They will also be able to record witness statements, take expert testimony, and build your case with other supporting evidence.
- 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. Your lawyer's expertise will help you secure a much higher settlement than you could likely get on your own.
- File additional claims. First of all, if your St. Louis County workers' comp claim is initially 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 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 recover additional coverage through a third party claim.
- Protect your rights. Your St. Louis County, 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. 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 St. Louis County, 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 eligible to recover a workers' compensation settlement in St. Louis County, MO commiserate to the status of your injuries (partial or total, temporary or permanent). Our workers' compensation attorneys in St. Louis County, MO, are here to help you recover benefits for present or future damages stemming from the accident, and offer support during the St. Louis County, MO workers compensation claims process. Contact our MO Workers Compensation Attorneys today for a free case review and consultation.
(636) 333-1717