Frequently asked Questions about Workers’ Compensation Law
What is workers’ compensation?
Injuries caused by an employee’s work are eligible for workers’ compensation. Physical injuries such as falls, work environment-caused illnesses and anything else caused by a work-related task. Injuries could also include those caused by repetition of movement such as carpal tunnel.
I heard you can get big settlement money out of workers’ compensation. Is a workers’ comp claim a way for me to make some quick money?
The monetary benefits of a workers’ compensation claim include:
- Medical Treatment - If you are hurt at work, it is your employer’s responsibility to provide and pay for all of your medical treatment, even if it’s for the rest of your life.
- Paying For Time Off Work - Your employer is responsible for paying you for lost time at work due to your work injury.
- Disability Settlement – It is your employer’s responsibility to pay you a final lump-sum settlement for any remaining symptoms from your work injury. In other words, a workers’ comp settlement doesn’t mean a big payday, but it does mean coverage for your injury.
My employer said they will handle everything for me. Why should I get a lawyer involved?
Most employers and their insurance companies will do what they can to protect their own organization. Their first priority is protecting their own interests, not yours. Many of the clients we meet with who have been hurt at work are hesitant to even file a claim. It is only after a client has been treated unfairly by the insurance company that they decide to file a claim. Injured workers should understand that the law gives them certain rights if they are injured at work. There is absolutely nothing wrong with enforcing your rights, and an attorney will help do this.
What is a workers’ compensation lawsuit?
A workers’ compensation claim provides an employee with compensation for an injury or illness as a result of employment, with strict liability, meaning there is no need for proof of fault. In most cases, you would not be able to bring a separate lawsuit against your employer unless the employer does not have sufficient workers’ compensation coverage. In some cases, a lawsuit may be brought against a third party at fault.
Whom should I contact in the St. Louis Metro area regarding workers’ compensation?
Over the last 20+ years, the attorneys at the Meehan Law Firm have represented workers’ compensation cases in both Missouri and Illinois. If you’ve been injured at work, your case should be filed in the state in which you were injured, not where you live.
At the Meehan Law Firm, we represent our clients to recover what the law states they are entitled to. There is no question that the workers compensation insurance companies are doing everything they can to restrict your rights and prevent your recovery. In fact, we have a history with many of the defense doctors the workers compensation insurance companies hire. We know what they will say, and we have the necessary medical documentation to refute them.
We will do everything we can to make sure all of your rights are being protected. Along the way, we will keep you informed and constantly stay in contact. We will answer all of your questions about workers compensation law so understand and realize what you deserve. If you have been injured at work, contact a workers compensation attorney at the Meehan Law Firm to review your case. Your consultation is free, what do you have to lose?
Workers Compensation cases are one of the Meehan Law Firm’s areas of expertise. If you feel you have been treated unfairly and need legal representation, contact us today at (314) 725-9994. At the Meehan Law Firm, your consultation is free.
Sources:
“U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) – About OWCP.” The U.S. Department of Labor Home Page. Web. 1 May 2011. http://www.dol.gov/owcp/.
“Missouri Labor | Workers’ Compensation.” Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations. Web. 1 May 2011. http://www.labor.mo.gov/dwc/.