St. Louis Workers' Compensation Attorney

Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Rated Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Missouri and Illinois

Every state has its own unique workers' compensation laws. In Missouri, the 2006 Missouri Tort Reform law should not impact your right to collect compensation after a workplace injury. This law simply reiterates and affirms that a "workplace accident" must be the primary cause or "prevailing factor" in causing the injury or injuries. In the case of repetitive motion injuries, the repetitive motion at work must be the prevailing cause for injuries, such as carpal tunnel.

Most states allow workers to receive compensation if they were hurt on the job. Employers are required to carry workers' compensation insurance. In exchange, workers are barred from suing their employers for their injuries sustained at the workplace.

In Missouri, the workers' compensation laws provide three particular benefits:

• Medical expenses — 100% of all associated medical costs, without co-pays or deductibles
• Temporary Total Disability (TTD) — Payments to make up for required time off of work
• Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) / Permanent Total Disability (PTD) — Money benefits for individuals who suffered serious work injuries that led to significant long-term disability and impact their ability to work

Illinois’ workers’ compensation laws are similar to Missouri with the benefits, but there are some differences. One BIG advantage for Illinois workers is that the injured workers can choose which doctors they want to see, and still have their treatment paid for 100% by the workers’ compensation insurance. There are some limitations with this, but at least workers are not “stuck” with doctors they did not choose.

What if my Doctor Says I do Not Need Treatment?

You may feel that you need medical treatment, even if your doctor states otherwise. You know your body and your health best. Speak with our St. Louis personal injury attorneys at Ochs & Klein. We can help you by retaining an expert witness doctor to look over your records and provide a new examination and second opinion. With this, many of our clients are able to finally receive the medical care they need, without having to go through the hassle of a trial.