Kansas City Workers Compensation Lawyer

Kansas City Workers Compensation Attorney

A Kansas City Workers Compensation lawyer can assist you in getting the Compensation you are looking for.

At NORTHLAND INJURY LAW , we are committed to helping those who are looking for Workers Compensation. We have recovered millions of dollars for our injured clients. Located in the Northland of Kansas City, we have a combined 50 years of experience and provide legal services throughout Missouri. If our Workers Compensation Lawyer can help you, call us now for a FREE CONSULTATION at 816-400-4878 or send an email to: [email protected].

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Claiming the worker’s compensation benefits that you are eligible for can be facilitated through a worker’s compensation attorney. There are many times when workers are inclined to think that injuries are just part of the job and never seek benefits. In fact, any injury that occurs while doing your job should be covered by your employer’s worker’s compensation insurance. Therefore, you must seek representation by the experienced worker’s compensation attorneys at Northland Injury Law.

The problem workers often face is simply a lack of information. In other words, most injured workers don’t know their rights. We can help. No matter what type of injury you have suffered, you should contact experienced worker’s compensation lawyers who can work to ensure that your rights are protected. No injury is too big or too small for the trial lawyers at Northland Injury Law. We focus on representing clients throughout the Kansas City metro area and rural Missouri in a wide variety of workplace injury matters.

Steps to Take to Claim Workers’ Compensation

After any incident, workers need to consider the following pointers to get the right compensation and guidance:

Report the injury

When you are injured at work, you must report the injury to your employer immediately. If possible, take pictures of the scene as well. Filing an incident report can create a record of the injury, including the time, location, and other relevant details. As time passes, it may be difficult to accurately recall all the circumstances surrounding your injury, so having a report can be extremely helpful. If you or your employer has completed an incident report, you should ask for a copy. Once you leave the premises following the fall, do not have any further contact with your employer or their insurance carrier. A representative from the insurance company may contact you to provide a recorded statement. Do NOT give a statement. Instead, you should obtain legal counsel to represent you.

Seek medical attention

When an injury occurs, you should seek medical help immediately. This is particularly important if you have hit your head. Concussions, soft tissue injuries, breaks, and similarly painful bodily injuries can be difficult to identify on your own. If you do not receive a timely diagnosis, you may not receive the treatment which you need, and as a result may experience more severe complications.
Learn more about medical reviews in workers’ compensation cases: MOST WORKERS COMP MEDICAL REVIEWS AGREE WITH TREATING PHYSICIAN

Don’t give a recorded statement to the insurance company.

Once you leave the premises following the injury, do not have any contact with their insurance carrier. A representative from the insurance company may contact you to provide a recorded statement. Do NOT give a statement. Instead, you should obtain legal counsel to represent you.

Call a Work Comp Attorney

After these steps have been taken, contact the worker’s compensation lawyers at Northland Injury Law, who can advise you on what further actions to take and other information you need to know to ensure you are justly compensated for your injuries.

At Northland Injury Law, our Missouri worker’s compensation lawyers can help you get the benefits you are owed when you have been injured on the job. Worker’s compensation laws are designed to protect employee’s rights to compensation for injuries and illnesses sustained on the job, and each of our work comp attorneys will fight to make sure these laws are upheld. A Kansas City work comp attorney can help you get the benefits and compensation you are entitled to.

Connect with a Work Comp Attorney to get a FREE Consultation today or call us at 816-400-4878 for legal guidance. We can answer questions such as:

• What Are the First Steps After Your Injury in Missouri?
• What Are My Rights as an Injured Worker on Workers’ Comp in Missouri?
• What Are the Main Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Missouri?
• Can I Use Short-Term Disability While on Workers’ Comp in Missouri?
• Who Pays for the Ambulance to the Hospital in Missouri?
• Who Pays My Hospital Bill in Missouri?
• Can I Get A Second Opinion in Missouri?
• Are Part-Time Employees Covered Under Workers’ Comp in Missouri?
• Are Self-Employed Individuals Covered Under Workers’ Comp in Missouri?
• Can I Get Compensated for Pain and Suffering in Missouri?
• Can I Get Compensated for PTSD in Missouri?
• Is My Workers’ Compensation Taxed in Missouri?
• Can You Be Fired While on Worker’s Comp in Missouri?
• Will You Still Get Workers’ Comp If You Fail a Drug Test in Missouri?
• Can You Refuse A Drug Test While on Workers’ Comp in Missouri?
• Can You Smoke Marijuana While on Worker’s Comp in Missouri?
• Which Employees Are Covered in Missouri by Missouri Workers’ Comp?
• What Injuries and Illnesses in Missouri Are Covered by Missouri Workers’ Comp?
• Do You Still Get Paid While on Workers’ Comp and Are the Payments Taxed in Missouri?
• Can Your Employer Make You Continue Working While on Workers’ Comp in Missouri?
• What Happens if You Are Released Back to Work in Missouri Before You Are Ready?
• Can You Get Workers’ Comp if You Are Still Working in Missouri?
• Do Employees Get Paid for Time Spent at Doctors’ Appointments in Missouri?
• Does the Workers’ Comp Doctor Work for Your Employer in Missouri?
• Can Your Employer Force You to Use Vacation Time or Sick Leave for Workers’ Comp in Missouri?
• How Quickly Do Work Comp Benefits Start After An Injury In Missouri?

Common Workers’ Compensation Injuries

Although no two workplaces in Kansas City are the same, there are many commonalities when it comes to workplace injuries. If you suffered any of these common work-related injuries, you can hire a workers’ compensation attorney to file a claim on your behalf while you focus on recovering:

• Slips and falls: Trips and falls can happen in any workplace. Poor lighting, wet floors, uneven walking areas, or poorly marked steps can cause an employee to stumble. Head injuries are a common injury that can happen from a fall, along with sprains, torn muscles, and fractures.
• Repetitive motion injuries: Many jobs that do not seem dangerous can leave workers with repetitive motion injuries. These forms of bodily harm usually require months or longer before they create unbearable pain and discomfort. Because of the time it takes to develop symptoms, there is often considerable downtime required to alleviate tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other common conditions associated with repetitive motion injury.
• Vehicle-related accidents: Certain professions require extensive time behind the wheel. Delivery drivers and salespeople are two common examples. When someone is required to drive as part of their job, any injury they suffer while driving could be covered through workers’ compensation. Vehicular accidents can lead to a wide range of injuries, from minor bruises to severe, life-threatening conditions.
• Machinery accidents: In fields like manufacturing and construction, workers often operate heavy machinery. Injuries can result from accidents or malfunctioning equipment. Often, the resulting injuries can range from serious to catastrophic. Crush injuries, for example, can leave a worker temporarily or permanently disabled.
• Falling Objects: Warehouses, construction sites, and other environments where materials are stored or moved above ground level can pose threats to workers below. Even an office environment could lead someone to reach for an overhead piece of equipment that falls and seriously injures the worker. Falling objects can cause head injuries, concussions, and other forms of serious harm.

Following an accident, an injured worker may have to juggle many unexpected challenges. Having an experienced attorney handle your workers’ compensation can provide a semblance of stability in an uncertain time.

What Compensation Can I Expect From a Claim?

Claiming benefits under Missouri’s workers’ compensation program requires that workers show a direct connection between their injury and their workplace environment. Once your attorney is able to gather evidence and submit the proper forms to file your claim, you could begin receiving compensation for multiple benefit categories.

One of the most common forms of compensation workers receive under the program is medical benefits. Your medical treatments will be covered once your claim has been approved. Workers typically do not pay upfront for medical treatments related to a work-related injury.

The workers’ compensation insurance carrier is responsible for paying medical providers directly. The insurance carrier will usually provide information on which doctors or medical providers to visit for treatment.

Workers’ compensation programs typically defer to the assigned medical doctor when it comes to which type of treatment you will undergo and for how long.

Another common form of compensation is for lost income. If a doctor determines that an injured worker cannot return to work due to their injuries or is recovering from surgery, they may be entitled to temporary total disability (TTD) benefits. These benefits are paid weekly and are based on two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage.

Workers who are hurt on the job can claim disability benefits. Missouri’s worker’s compensation program offers payments for disability. Disability is classified as either permanent or temporary. If a worker suffers from a permanent partial disability and files a claim with the help of an attorney, they may receive a lump-sum payment based upon the severity of their disability.

A worker who is permanently disabled and unable to return to work may receive lifetime payments or a lump-sum settlement. The weekly payments would be two-thirds of the employee’s average earnings at the time of injury.

In Missouri, workers’ compensation provides death benefits to the dependents of employees who die from work-related causes. The surviving spouse and children receive weekly benefits.

Missouri allows for special benefits (a $25,000 payment) for survivors of certain professions like nurses, emergency medical technicians, law enforcement officers, other first responders, and other qualifying essential workers.

How Long Do I Have to File for Workers’ Compensation?

Following an injury, the worker has an obligation to notify their employer in writing and include important information about the date and time of the injury. The notification should include basic descriptions of the injury and what caused the injury.

The employer also has an obligation to report the injury to the Division of Workers’ Compensation. The notification should be sent within 30 days.

This is done by electronically filing the First Report of Injury (FROI). Employers must also report all injuries that occur on the job to their workers’ compensation insurance carrier or to a Third Party Administrator within five days of the injury or the employee’s report, whichever is later.

Do I Have to Have an Attorney to File for Workers’ Compensation?

You do not have to have an attorney to file for workers’ compensation, but having one can be very beneficial. A workers’ compensation attorney understands the claims process and can handle most, if not all, of that process for you.

Having an attorney file your claim on your behalf can greatly improve the chances that your claim is approved in a timely manner.

An attorney is also a reliable source of information. If you have never filed a claim before, knowing which doctors you can use and how treatments are paid for can seem like a daunting challenge, especially when you are focused on recovering.

When you are searching for an attorney to handle your claim, look for a law firm that has been in business for at least several years or longer. Experience matters when it comes to successfully handling workers’ compensation claims for clients.

FAQs

How Much Do Workers’ Comp Lawyers Charge in Missouri?

In Missouri, workers’ compensation lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they are paid when you are paid. The contingency fee is a percentage that the client and attorney sign an attorney-client agreement.

You should only work with lawyers who are upfront about these fees. The benefit of a contingency fee is that it allows the client to forgo the typically expensive cost of legal representation.

Who Is Required to Maintain Workers’ Compensation in Missouri?

In Missouri, employers with five or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance. In the construction industry, the requirement applies to employers with one or more employees. Employers not meeting these thresholds can choose to carry workers’ compensation insurance but remain exposed to civil lawsuits if they don’t.

Sole proprietors and partners are not covered unless they opt in, while close family members and LLC members are presumed covered unless they opt out.

How Much Does Workman’s Comp Pay in Missouri?

Workman’s comp pays through different means. One way the program pays is through covering the injured worker’s medical bills. Another form of compensation is for missed work time.

This form of compensation pays two-thirds of the employee’s normal wages. If you are severely injured on the job, workers’ compensation can pay long-term disability benefits or be a lump sum payment.

How Long Do You Have to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Missouri?

In Missouri, you must file a workers’ compensation claim within two years from the date of the injury or the date of the last payment of benefits. If the employer fails to file a report of injury with the Division of Workers’ Compensation, this period extends to three years.

Prompt reporting to your employer is also required, typically within 30 days of the injury, to ensure your claim is valid. If you have concerns about filing deadlines, you can hire a workers’ compensation attorney to see if you are still eligible for compensation.

What Is the Workers’ Comp Law in Missouri?

The workers’ comp law in Missouri covers many areas. The law requires any company with five or more employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance.

The state laws govern which types of benefits workers are eligible for and what types of injuries qualify for disability or monthly payments. The laws also govern filing deadlines and requirements for workers who file a claim.

Schedule Your Kansas City Workers’ Compensation Consultation Today

If you were injured on the job in Missouri, you could be eligible for benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation program. With the help of an attorney, you can streamline the claim process and reduce the chances that your claim is delayed or rejected.

At Northland Injury Law, our lawyers bring years of experience helping employees navigate the complex workers’ compensation program. We can help you receive the benefits you need to pay for important medical expenses and bills. To begin the process, contact our office today to schedule a workers’ compensation consultation.