Getting injured on the job can be devastating. It can leave you with hefty medical bills, lost income and vocational rehabilitation expenses.
Luckily, workers’ compensation laws are intended to help you in these situations. They are an administrative process that is less confrontational than civil court issues.
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Reporting the Injuries
A workplace injury can occur from a number of causes. These can include a slip and fall, a motor vehicle accident, electrocution, or toxic fume exposure.
As an employee, you have a legal obligation to report your injuries as soon as they occur. Generally, this occurs by verbal or written notification.
You should also file an incident report with your employer within 30 days of the injury. This is a critical step in receiving all of the benefits that you may be entitled to under Saint Louis workers compensation laws.
Unfortunately, we often see cases where workers claim an injury and request medical care and other benefits but their employer or insurance company denies the claim. Moreover, these companies may choose the doctor that they want you to visit and sometimes refuse to provide the medical treatment that is appropriate for your condition.
Medical Treatment
Workers’ compensation is an insurance system in Missouri that provides cash benefits and medical treatment for employees who are injured or ill as a result of their job. It is required for businesses that have at least three or more employees and can’t be self-insured.
It also protects surviving family members if an employee dies from a work-related illness or injury. In addition, the workers’ comp system offers payment of medical expenses following an injury and permanent injury payments if an employee is unable to return to work due to a serious workplace illness or injury.
While workers’ comp insurance provides some level of coverage, many injuries require expensive emergency room care, surgery or ongoing rehabilitative therapy. For these reasons, it’s important to work with an experienced workers’ comp lawyer in St. Louis who will help you fight for the medical treatment you need.
Alternative Legal Rights
The state of Missouri requires businesses with five or more employees to provide workers compensation coverage. Those who don’t must self-insure.
It’s essential to seek immediate medical treatment if you are injured at work. If you fail to seek treatment within the required time frame, you might lose your right to benefits.
If you are denied workers’ compensation benefits, it is vital to fight back against insurance companies. We can help you appeal unfair denials and reassess your disability level based on a thorough analysis of medical records, testimony from physicians and occupational experts, and the initial workers’ compensation examination.
Some workplace injuries are so severe that they may prevent you from working for a long time or even permanently. These are called permanent total disabilities and often entitle claimants to lifetime workers’ compensation benefits.
Filing a Claim
If you have been injured on the job, you may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. These are meant to help you cover medical treatment costs and any lost wages while you recover from an injury.
Missouri workers’ compensation laws require most businesses to carry insurance coverage for their employees. Employers who fail to do so are guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
Certain types of employment are exempt, including agricultural laborers, domestic servants, some real estate agents, direct sellers, and commercial motor-carrier owner-operators.
In general, Missouri requires a written report of a workplace injury within 30 days. If you have missed this deadline, contact an experienced attorney to discuss your options.
Once you have reported the injury, your employer is required to provide you with the forms you need to submit to the Division of Workers’ Compensation and your insurance company. Ensure that you complete the forms completely and follow all instructions.