St. Louis County Workers' Compensation Lawyers
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Workers' Compensation
Firms in Missouri with five or more employees must provide workers compensation insurance for their employees. Workers compensation benefits are meant to provide assistance to employees who are injured while working. Unfortunately, it is common for workers compensation applications to be denied and for injured workers to suffer significant financial losses, which may not be completely covered by workers compensation. This is why it is often necessary for injured workers in Missouri to speak with an experienced St. Louis County workers compensation attorney.
Benefits Available to Injured Workers
Workers compensation should cover:
- All hospital bills and medical expenses related to the work injury.
- Up to two-thirds of average weekly wages lost after three days of work have been missed.
- Coverage for the first three days missed will be covered as well if the employee ends up missing more than 14 days of work.
- Permanent injuries such as the loss of a limb or finger may result in additional coverage.
- Disability compensation should be included if the injuries suffered results in the worker is no longer able to work.
- When a work injury results in death, the victim's family may be covered under workers compensation as well.
If a Claim is Denied
Injured employees may work directly with an insurer to resolve any disagreements. If a fair resolution cannot be met, the injured worker may file a formal complaint. Some cases require a skilled workers compensation attorney to help the worker appeal the decision before the Missouri Workers' Compensation Determinations Review Board.
Workplace Accidents that Involve Third-Party Liability
There are some workplace accidents that involve a third party that may be held responsible for the injuries suffered. For example, if a construction worker is injured while working with a defective tool, the manufacturer of the defective product may be held liable for some of the damages suffered. If a worker is injured in a car accident while on the job, the at-fault driver may be held liable for the damages suffered. In such cases, it may be in the best interest of the injured worker to file for workers compensation insurance in addition to filing a civil lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Calculating Damages in a Workplace Accident
One reason why injured employees might need an experienced attorney is to help properly calculate the losses sustained. For example, an injured employee may consider the immediate medical bills they have sustained but not take into consideration, future medical and rehabilitation expenses that they may incur. Many injuries require repeat hospital visits, surgeries and physical therapy costs. Failure to consider these types of future damages may result in the injured worker having to spend out of pocket for such significant expenses.
Workers compensation can be a great way to lessen the damages suffered in a St. Louis County workplace accident. Unfortunately, this is a complex legal process that involves a lot of paperwork, careful filing and a meticulous calculation of damages. The Missouri workers compensation lawyers of Page Law make sure that our clients receive the medical treatment they need and the compensation they rightfully deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, please contact our law offices for a free and comprehensive consultation.
St. Louis County Personal Injury Resource Center
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