Accidents happen, especially in the workplace. Whether you work on a construction site, factory or an office, it’s a common occurrence to experience a workplace injury at some point in your life. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state of Missouri had 54,200 non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses in 2019 alone. Roughly half of those cases were serious enough to require the individuals to take time off of work. The most common injuries were:

• Strains and sprains
• Fractures
• Overexertion
• Lacerations
• Shoulder pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

If you have been injured on the job, you may be left unable to work. More often than not, your employer has workers’ compensation benefits for this exact reason, but those benefits can be limited, and the insurance company may refuse to pay for some or all of your expenses. You may be facing medical bills and not know what to do to get the help you need.

The experienced workers’ compensation attorneys at The Hines Wilson Law Firm have more than 50 year’s experience helping injured workers through the complicated process of filing for workers’ compensation benefits and getting them the compensation they deserve.

Making a Workers’ Comp Claim
When a workplace accident occurs, remember to keep a few key things in mind.

• Tell your supervisor immediately. If you don’t report the injury in writing within thirty days, you risk losing the ability to get worker’s compensation.
• For occupational diseases, you must report it to your supervisor within thirty days of being told by a doctor that it was more than likely caused by your work.
• You may be entitled to receive weekly work comp checks, and a settlement for “permanent partial disability” benefits as well as medical benefits.
• You have the right to speak with a lawyer, confidentially, without having to pay upfront.

Our worker’s compensation attorneys are happy to answer any questions you may have, even if you don’t think you need a lawyer. Contact us for your free consultation today, and we’ll help you avoid unnecessary worker’s comp complications.

What If an Injury is Discovered Later?
In Missouri, you are supposed to report an injury in writing within 30 days.
But, many illnesses, injuries, and other conditions contracted in the workplace take a while to surface. Some of these include:

• Repetitive strain injuries, which are caused by enacting the same motions repetitively over a long period of time. Some examples include Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Trigger Finger, and epicondylitis.
• Respiratory problems caused by inhaling toxic fumes
• Overuse syndrome or damage to the spine or joints from repetitive traumas/strains

If you’ve discovered work-related illnesses or injuries after the 30 days, you are still eligible for worker’s compensation, so as long as you can prove that you have a disability or an injury that happened at work, and you give your Employer notice and a chance to provide medical treatment.

What’s My Injury Worth

Workers’ comp claims can be tricky to navigate between temporary, permanent partial and permanent total disability, what does Missouri allow? In addition to that, many workers’ comp claims must be handled through the state’s workers’ compensation program. Here’s a handy chart to help you start to understand the ins and outs of work comp law in the state of Missouri.