Were you or a loved one injured on the job in St. Louis, MO? Workers’ compensation can provide important financial support. Unfortunately, getting fair compensation for your medical bills and lost wages can be tough. Call Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers at (636) 519-0085 to learn how a St. Louis workers’ compensation lawyer can help you maximize your financial recovery.
Our lawyers have over 30 years of combined experience practicing law. We’ve already collected hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of injured clients.
Workers’ compensation isn’t always enough to cover your costs. We’ll also protect your rights under Missouri personal injury laws when you hire our team. Contact our law offices in St. Louis, Missouri, today to schedule a free consultation and learn more.
How Can Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers Help With a Workers’ Compensation Claim in St. Louis, MO?
Your right to workers’ comp benefits is supposed to be guaranteed under Missouri law. Still, insurance companies are notorious for trying to deny or reduce legitimate claims.
Whether you need help with your workers’ compensation claim or are interested in learning about your rights under Missouri personal injury laws, Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers is here to help. Injured workers have trusted our St. Louis personal injury attorneys to protect their legal rights since 2003.
When you hire our experienced team, you can count on us to:
- Explore all of your legal options for maximizing your overall compensation
- Investigate, collect evidence, and consult experts as necessary
- Determine who is responsible for your injuries
- Protect you against insurance scare tactics
- Handle all insurance communications and requests for information
- Defend you if your employer tries to punish you for claiming workers’ comp
- Negotiate with the insurance companies for a full and fair settlement
Our St. Louis personal injury lawyers will stand by your side every step of the way. We know how stressful being out of work can be. We’re here to help in any way we can. Just give us a call to arrange your free consultation today.
How Common Are Workplace Injuries in Missouri?
Private employers in Missouri reported 50,600 non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2021. 27,600 of those cases were serious enough to require time away from work or job restrictions and transfers.
Unfortunately, another 121 workers were killed in workplace accidents across the state of Missouri in 2022.
Missouri Workers’ Compensation Laws: An Overview
Most employers in Missouri must carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have at least five employees. Construction industry employers must provide workers’ comp if they have even one employee. In the alternative, your employer might choose to self-insure.
Either way, you should be entitled to benefits if:
- You were an employee
- You were injured or developed a medical condition in the course of employment
In other words, if you developed a disability due to something work-related, you should be covered. You don’t have to file a lawsuit or prove that someone else caused your injuries. In fact, you’re almost always prohibited from suing your employer for damages.
Employers who fail to provide workers’ comp insurance can face criminal charges. You can also file a personal injury lawsuit against an employer who doesn’t have the required insurance.
How Do I Receive Workers’ Compensation Benefits in St. Louis?
Notifying your employer and receiving medical care are your first steps. Your employer should provide you with a form to complete, but if they don’t, you can use the Missouri Department of Labor’s online form.
Your employer should arrange for you to get medical treatment. They should also file the form with the Division of Workers’ Compensation.
What Is My St. Louis Workers’ Compensation Case Worth?
The value of your case depends on:
- How severe your injuries were
- Your average wages prior to the disability
- How long the disability lasts
- Whether you will suffer any permanent impairment
- Whether the disability completely prevents you from working
- The nature of your injuries and the body part you’ve injured
The identity of the responsible party is also important. If a third party (someone other than your employer) caused your injuries, you can seek damages above and beyond what workers’ comp covers.
What Types of Benefits Does Workers’ Compensation Insurance Provide in Missouri?
Workers’ compensation in Missouri provides medical treatment and wage replacement benefits.
Medical Expenses
All medical expenses related to your workplace injury are covered by workers’ comp.
That includes:
- Emergency care
- Doctor’s visits
- Medications
- Medical devices
- Reasonable and necessary travel expenses to medical appointments
You don’t have to pay any deductibles or copays.
Your employer, however, has the right to choose your doctor (in emergencies, you should always seek medical attention at the nearest emergency room). You can elect to see your own doctor, but you’ll have to pay for it unless your employer and the insurance company approve it.
Wage Replacement Benefits
Workers’ compensation provides disability benefits that vary depending on the nature and severity of your disability. In all cases, workers’ comp will cover about ⅔ of your average wages prior to the disability.
The following types of benefits may be available:
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) if you can perform light-duty work during recovery
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD) if you are completely unable to work during recovery
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) if you will suffer a disability that permanently impairs your earning potential
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD) if you are never able to work again due to the disability
- Enhanced PTD benefits for cases involving toxic exposure
- Death benefits, which also include up to $5,000 for funeral expenses
You don’t receive wage replacement benefits unless you can’t work for at least three days. After you’re out of work for at least 14 days, the first three days of disability are also paid.
How Can Workers’ Compensation Impact Other Types of Benefits?
Receiving workers’ compensation can also impact other areas of your life.
Workers’ compensation benefits can impact your right to:
- Medicare coverage
- Social Security Disability payments
- Unemployment compensation
- Damages in a personal injury case related to the same disability
If you owe child support, workers’ comp will also be required to pay a portion of your disability benefits to cover those child support obligations.
It’s always important to have an experienced St. Louis workers’ compensation attorney in your corner. Insurance companies aren’t always upfront about your legal rights. Your attorney’s job is to look out for your best interests at every turn.
Do I Have Rights Under Missouri Personal Injury Laws?
You generally lose your right to sue your employer if they carry workers’ comp insurance. That said, you could have a personal injury case against a third party. Say you were injured in a car crash while performing work-related duties. You can still sue the negligent driver for damages.
In personal injury cases, you can recover compensation for your economic damages and non-economic damages. That includes medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, etc.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Missouri?
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers works on a contingency fee basis. Rather than charging upfront fees at the start, we take a percentage of your settlement or verdict.
Can I Recover Workers’ Compensation Benefits If I’m Being Blamed for a Work-Related Accident in Missouri?
Missouri follows a pure comparative negligence law. In personal injury cases, your compensation is reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.
Shared fault isn’t an issue with your workers’ comp benefits. As long as you didn’t intentionally injure yourself, you can receive the full value of your benefits regardless of shared fault.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Workplace Injuries
Common examples of workplace injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Hearing damage
- Eye injuries
- Occupational diseases
- Internal organ damage
- Amputations
- Paralysis
Workplace injuries can also be catastrophic or fatal. If you or a loved one were hurt on the job, call our lawyers in St. Louis to learn more about your legal options.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Missouri?
You could lose your right to benefits if you don’t notify your employer about your medical condition within 30 days. If you were injured in an accident, the 30-day clock starts on the date of the accident. In cases involving occupational disease or repetitive stress injury, the clock starts running on the date of your diagnosis.
In most personal injury cases, a five-year deadline applies (with some exceptions).
Either way, miss the deadline and you could jeopardize your right to valuable compensation.
Contact a St. Louis Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Were you or a family member injured at work in St. Louis, MO? Call a St. Louis workers’ compensation lawyer for a free consultation today. Our team at Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers can help you fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in St. Louis, MO
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers
1010 Market St Suite 1605, St. Louis, MO 63101
(636) 519-0085
