A workplace injury can be a tremendous source of stress and worry for you and your loved ones.
How will you even begin to pay for all of those medical bills and keep up with other expenses if you aren’t bringing home any income?
Help is available. Workers compensation laws provide a safety net that may cover medical treatment and lost earnings for those who get hurt on the job.
Here’s an overview of the benefits that may be available to you in the State of Missouri.
Most Missouri employers or their insurers must cover medical costs stemming from workplace injuries.
Your employer may require you to use accumulated paid personal leave or sick leave while receiving treatment. You may also be required to submit to “reasonable” medical examination as a condition of continuing to receive benefits.
If you miss more than three days of work due to a work-related injury, you may be eligible for a weekly check for the duration of your recovery.
You may be entitled to a monetary settlement if you are left with any permanent disabilities after completing treatment for a workplace injury.
Permanent partial disability means you are still able to perform some jobs but not others. If this is the case, you may qualify for 66 ⅔ percent of your average weekly earnings on the date of your injury, not to exceed a limit set by law.
The treating physician will assign you a percentage disability rating, which estimates your level of disability and indicates the types of work you are able to perform. Ratings are usually conservative and rarely reflect the true extent of disability. A qualified workers comp lawyer will work to ensure that your rating is accurate so that you receive the full benefits you are entitled to.
Permanent total disability means you are no longer able to perform any job because of a workplace injury. In such cases you may qualify for weekly payments for the rest of your life.
You may be required to undergo vocational testing scheduled by your employer or their insurer before you can receive permanent total disability payments. A vocational rehabilitation counselor will assess whether or not there are any jobs that you could perform with the level of disability that you have.
If you have suffered an injury at work, contact Eng & Woods today.
Our workers compensation attorneys will help you navigate the process and recover the benefits you deserve.
Alec Burns
It’s good that you point out that a worker’s compensation attorney can help you get the benefits you are entitled to in the event you are injured on the job. My father was recently injured at work and I am considering hiring a workers compensation lawyer to help him get his benefits. I’m going to look for a good worker’s compensation lawyer in my area.
Ellie Davis
It’s interesting to know that a worker’s compensation lawyer can help you with medical benefits and treatments after your accident. My husband’s brother got injured at work, and we are looking for advice to help him. I will let him know about the benefits of hiring a worker’s compensation lawyer to help his brother.
Ron Booker
I agree with your statement that an attorney will help you get the benefits you deserve of the injury caused by an accident. One of my co-workers recently had an accident at work, and he wanted to know if a lawyer should be involved. After he reads your post, he will consider hiring an attorney, si I will share it with him.
Eli Richardson
It’s great that you talked about how a pre-existing disability will give you the necessary benefits because they are covered bt the secondary insurance. One of my dad’s friends was injured at work, and he is looking forward to clamming his worker’s compensation benefits. We will pass him the details so he can start looking fr a lawyer so he can receive the benefits needed.
Kate Hansen
I like how you said that an attorney can help you get the care that you need. My sister injured her leg at work a couple of days ago, and she was wondering if she should get legal help. I’ll pass this information along to her so that she can know the benefits of hiring a workers’ compensation attorney.