Missouri Firefighter’s Right to Workers Compensation Benefits

Response from the owner: Thanks Jessica. Missouri injury claims are a battleground. Whether its a wrongful death claim, herniated disc, lumbar or cervical fusion, strain/sprain, shoulder surgery, knee surgery, amputation, concussion, dog bite, workers comp, and other injuries, the bottom line is that insurance companies don't want to pay fair and reasonable damages, they want to as little as possible and delay the case so payment is delayed. Attorneys from across Missouri from St. Louis to Kansas City to Springfield, Columbia, Cape Girardeau, etc. need to ready for a fight. Money needs to be spent on experts and the attorney needs to go to trial when the offer is too low. The big law firm advertisers settle everything they can for cheap to meet advertising budgets and attorney quotas. Law Office of James HoffmannSt. Louis personal injury and work comp lawyer.314 361 [email protected]

Response from the owner: Thank you Steve. I wish I handled all of the work comp claims, but I do represent many. Whether it's large employers like Boeing, Ford, Emerson, Anheuser Busch, BJC, or smaller employers, we fight hard for injured workers in Missouri. 30 years of experience. 1000's represented. Over $100,000,000 recovered and the battles rage on. We also had personal injury claims as well. We recently recovered $450,000 for an injured worker who was bit by a dog.Law Office of James M. Hoffmann2001 S. HanleySt. Louis, MO 63144314 361 [email protected]

Response from the owner: Thanks James. Workers' comp, or workman's comp as some say, lawyers need to hire experts such as pain management doctors, or orthopedic doctors who specialize in back surgery, shoulder surgery, knee surgery, neurologists, concussion specialists, and psychiatrists. The political environment in Missouri now favors insurance companies. Work comp claim are no longer simple and informal. They are a jury trial but without a jury. Lawyers need to know how to depose doctors and try a case. Every day we fight for our clients injured at work, injured in car accidents, injured by dog bites, injured medical negligence, and more.James M Hoffmann, attorney2001 S. Hanley, suite 325 St. Louis, MO 63144314 361 [email protected]

Response from the owner: Thanks Eric. Workers comp insurance doctors love to blame ongoing pain on pre-existing arthritis even though all of the employee's pain started with the work injury and prior to the work injury the employer had no pain and had never been diagnosed with arthritis. The insurance doctors always refer to prior, non-symptomatic degenerative changes in a joint as being "arthritis." "Itis" means inflammation and pain. The itis is usually due to the joint becoming inflamed and painful from the work injury and surgery. Thus, the "arthritis" is due to the injury and not because a person has prior naturally occurring non-symptomatic degenerative changes. Ask the work comp doc: "you agree that 60 year old tonsils probably have degenerative changes. Would you call 60 year old non-symptomatic tonsils "tonsilitis": NO!; would you call a 60 year old non-symptomatic appendix "appendicitis":NO!; would you call a 60 year non-symptomatic bursa "bursitis": NO!.. that's because the "itis" means inflammation and pain, non of which I had until the work injury!!! I see this all the time with neck injuries, low back injuries, disc herniations, rotator cuff tears, meniscus tears: doctors do surgery under workmans comp and then blame ongoing pain on a made up pre-existing condition.James HoffmannYour Missouri workers comp and car accident attorney314 361 [email protected]

Response from the owner: Thank you Jennifer. We just went to trial for a disputed total knee replacement. The work comp doctors always allege the knee replacement is due to pre-existing arthritis yet my client has no prior knee pain, no prior limitations, no prior treatment. He had a 60 year old knee that had natural degenerative changes, but he was pain free. In the word "arthritis", itis means inflammation and pain, neither of which my client had before the injury. The itis started with the work injury. It takes 90 days for a ruling. Law Office of James M. HoffmannSt. Louis, MO car accident and workers compensation lawyer314 361 4300

Response from the owner: Thanks Payton. Call it work comp, or workers comp, or workman's compensation, it's all the same. A current battle with a work comp insurer concerns "natural consequences." My client had a L5-S1 fusion under work comp. She has at home transitioning from a walker to a cane, per doctor's orders, when she fell fracturing her elbow and damaging her lumbar fusion. The injuries from the fall are part of the work injury as someone falling, due to balance issues from the surgery, while rehabbing is a known and accepted consequence. Of course the work comp insurer is fighting us arguing that her home rehab should only have been indoors and not outdoors where she fell...absurd! The doctor placer no restrictions on where to practice transitioning. She now has a three level lumbar fusion from L3-4. L4-5. and L5-S1. We'll go to trial if not accepted.Glad to fight for the injured worker in Missouri.Law Office of James M. HoffmannSt. Louis, Missouri workers comp, car accident, injury attorney.314 361 [email protected]

Response from the owner: Thanks Joshua. Unlike the big firms that advertise on TV which have monthly settlement quotas for their attorneys, I spend my money on experts such as orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, pain management doctors, vocational experts, and life care plans. These experts are necessary to prove the permanent damage and wage loss caused by back injuries such as paralysis, disc herniations, disc protrusions, and fractured vertebrae, or shoulder injuries such as rotator cuff tears, labral tears, shoulder replacement surgeries and frozen shoulders; or fractured hips and pelvises that require plates, screws, or hip replacement surgery; or TBI's, traumatic brain injuries, also called concussions, PCS, or post concussion syndrome; ankle fusions; ankle joint replacements; knee joint replacements, PTSD from the injury, and depression and anxiety from chronic pain.It does not take a large law firm to fight an insurance company. It takes a good lawyer. There's a reason why injured insurance adjusters and injured insurance doctors call me to represent them. They know I fight and will not back down.Law Office of James M. HoffmannSt. Louis, MO workers comp and auto accident attorney314 361 [email protected]

Response from the owner: It's scary because there are employers who go the attack when an employee gets hurt. There are insurance adjusters who deny claims and create hardships. There are insurance doctors who blame pre-existing arthritis even though you had no or little prior issues.If the doctor says that you suffered a compensable injury by accident, then the legal standard for determining employer’s obligation to afford medical care under the Missouri workmans comp law requires the employer to provide treatment reasonably required to cure and relieve the effects of the injury. The prevailing factor standard no longer applies.Further, it is immaterial that treatment may have been required because of the complication of a pre-existing condition or that treatment will benefit both the compensable injury and a pre-existing condition.The fact that medical treatment may also benefit a non-compensable earlier injury or condition is irrelevant. Whether or not claimant may have needed future treatment even if the injury did not occur is irrelevant to the analysis of whether future medical care flows from the injury actually occurred. With respect to permanent partial disability it is immaterial that the employee had a prior condition as an employee is entitled to compensation for disability rising out of the medical treatment reasonably required to treat the injury. With respect to future medical benefits, the claimant need only show reasonable probability because of the work-related injury, future medical treatment will be required. A claimant need not show evidence of the specific nature of the treatment required.In other words, prior conditions, such as arthritis, is irrelevant if the doctor says you suffered a work injury. The employer/insurer must treat both.James HoffmannSt. Louis, Missouri workers comp and car accident lawyer.314 361 [email protected]

Response from the owner: Thanks Suzanne. Over the past 25 years, we are proud to help families through injuries from car accidents and work accidents in Missouri. James HoffmannSt. Louis, MO auto accident and workers compensation lawyer314 361 4300

Response from the owner: Thanks Cassie. Although the workers compensation statute in Missouri mandates that the process be simple, informal, and summary, it is anything but. Your attorney should use experts such as orthopedic surgeons for shoulder, hip, hand, and knee injuries, or neurosurgeons for herniated discs and other spine injuries, vocational rehabilitation experts to prove permanent and total disability, and pain management doctors to prove the need for future medical care for life. These experts are expensive, but I risk my money as we need them be successful whether at trial or to get a good settlement. Glad to fight for the injured Missouri worker and those injured on car accidents.James HoffmannMissouri personal injury attorney314 361 [email protected],

Response from the owner: Thanks Shane. I have fought for 1000's of injured Missouri workers and car accident victims. Workers compensation doctors and insurance adjusters have hired me to represent them, all saying "you fight for your clients." I hire experts. I take depositions. I try cases. The insurance adjusters know who settles cheap to meet big advertising bills and who fights for their clients. Glad to say I am a fighter.Jim HoffmannMissouri workers compensation and car accident attorney314 361 4300St. Louis, MO

Response from the owner: Thanks Austyn. We represent workers all across the state of Missouri. We've won numerous permanent and total disability trials. We've won numerous hardship trials either for additional treatment and/or wage loss, known as TTD. We've helped construction workers, police officers, warehouse workers, production workers, firemen, workers compensation doctors and insurance adjusters have hired us when they get hurt, salesmen, nurses, and numerous others. Across Missouri from St. Louis , Kansas City, Springfield, Kirksville, Milan, Rolla, St. Joseph, Branson, Kennett, Cape Girardeau and other cities, we have helped people recover damages for auto accidents and Missouri workers compensation injuries.James Hoffmann314 361 [email protected]

Response from the owner: Thanks Alex. Recently won a hardship where the work comp adjuster and insurance doctor denied treatment for knee injury. My experts convinced the judge that the injury caused meniscus tears, cartilage damage, and traumatic arthritis, thus leading to the need for a knee replacement. My client's knee is now covered for life by workers compensation and all back pay, or TTD, was recovered too.James HoffmannMissouri workers compensation and auto accident lawyer314 361 [email protected]

Response from the owner: Thanks Dylan. Here are a few things injured Missouri workers should immediately after the injury: report the injury in writing; if the employer says that he/she will fill it out and refuses to let you fill out the injury report, you can prepare a letter about what happened and give it to your boss (keep copies and date it!); ask for treatment: just telling your boss that your back is hurting isn't good enough; say "my back is hurting from breaking up concrete and I'd like to see a work comp doctor:; if your boss refuses, give your boss a letter confirming that you reported a back injury, asked for treatment, and it was refused; when you see the work comp doctor and the front desk gives you intake sheets that don't ask all of the necessary questions about what happened and only what x's and o's: just write anything anywhere you want to so that you explain how you go hurt and what body parts are hurting; on the body chart, circle your low back and write "back pain that shoots down my right leg"; if your employer gives you work that exceeds the light duty restrictions, refuse to do that work and give your boss a letter confirming what has transpired (date it and keep copies); when the work comp doc releases you in pain and blames a pre-existing condition even though you had no prior pain, no prior treatment and no prior limitations; give that doctor a letter :"Dr. No: to confirm, I am very upset that you are releasing me and sending back full duty despite ongoing pain from my work injury. My back pain is still a 4-7/10; it wakes me at night; and light duty was making it worse. You said I've healed from my injury and any ongoing issues are due to pre-existing arthritis. I told you I had no prior pain; no prior treatment; and no prior limitations. All of my pain, treatment, and limitations started with my work injury and have never resolved. If my back gets worse at work working full duty, I will hold you personally responsible."

Response from the owner: Thank you Heather. We represent injured workers and injuries due to car accidents. We frequently retain experts, such as orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, pain management doctors, vocational experts, life care planners, and others to fight for our clients as expert witnesses in court.We represent people across the entire state of Missouri from St. Louis to Kansas City, from Joplin to Kirksville, from Columbia to Kennett. Neck fusions, lumbar fusions, cervical disc replacements, lumbar disc replacements, shoulder replacements, knee replacements, meniscus tears, rotator cuff tears, ankle fusions, loss of limb, paralysis, and death, we have helped many workers and families recover compensation either by settlement or by trial.James Hoffmann, attorney2001 S. Hanley, suite 325St. Louis, Mo 63144314 361 4300

Response from the owner: LexiWriting a proposed award for an upcoming work comp trial for an injured Missouri worker. L4-S1 lumbar fusion with plates and screws. Pursuing permanent and total disability plus denied medical. Here is the case law on denied medical in MO workers compensation:The employer is held liable for medical treatment procured by the employee only when the employer has notice that the employee needs treatment, or a demand is made on the employer to furnish medical treatment, and the employer refuses or fails to provide the needed treatment. Hawkins v. Emerson Electric Co., 676 S.W.2d 872, 880 (Mo.App.1984).The courts have consistently held that an award of past medical expenses is supported when the employee provides (1) the bills themselves; (2) the medical record reflecting the treatment giving rise to the bill; and (3) testimony identifying the bills. Martin v. Mid-America Farm Lines, Inc., 769 S.W.2d 105, 111-12 (Mo. 1989). The pertinent case law requires employee to prove that the past medical expenses were “due” to support an award of interest. McCormack v. Stewart Enters., 956 S.W.2d 310, 314 (Mo. App. 1997). As explained in McCormack, this means employee must show that he actually paid the bills, or received demands that he pay interest on the bills, or suffered some other loss, such as a doctor refusing to provide additional treatment until employee paid his bill. Id.

Response from the owner: Thanks DJ. When the workers comp doctor treats you for an on the job injury, releases you still in pain, and then blames pre-existing arthritis as the cause of your ongoing knee, hip, shoulder, or back pain, make that doctor answer these questions: Please explain why you allege pre-existing arthritis when, before the injury, I had no knee/neck/shoulder pain; I had no limitations at work; I sought no treatment; I enjoyed xyz activities. All of my pain, my limitations, my need for treatment. started with the work injury and my pain has never stopped. Then say "let's look up the definition of arthritis": arthr means joint and itis means inflammation and pain... I had no inflammation or pain before the work injury. I may have had natural degenerative changes in my joints, but I had no pain, no limitation, no treatment. All of my pain and inflammation started with the work injury.

Response from the owner: Missouri work comp law mandates compensation for either partial disability (PPD) or permanent total disability ( PTD). Employees who can no longer work seek PTD which is either a lump sum by settlement or, if the parties cannot settle, then a trial a weekly check for life is sought, plus back pay and future medical care.

Response from the owner: Thanks Angela. You are correct. You get one chance to win. Injured workers from across Missouri have hire me to represent them. Joplin, Springfield, Cape Girardeau, Kennett, Fenton, Kansas City, Poplar Bluff, St. Louis, Moberly, Kirksville, Columbia, Chillicothe, Sedalia, Moberly, St. Joseph, Nevada, Neosho, West Plan, Sikeston and other Missouri residents have hired me for their work comp or car accident case. Permanent total disability claims are life changing. Your attorney needs to hire experts and be thoroughly prepared for trial. Law Office of James M. Hoffmann314 361 4300

Response from the owner: Thanks Leisa. We are proud to fight for injured Missouri workers. Our clients have required neck and low back fusions, shoulder replacements; knee replacements; carpal tunnel surgery; amputations, disc replacements, and other various injuries. We fight for future medical care as well as either perm partial or perm total benefits.James Hoffmann, attorney314 361 [email protected]

Response from the owner: Thanks Hadleigh. I've handled 100 plus trials and 1000's of injury claims for injured workers over the past 25 years across the entire state of Missouri. Unlike these large law firms with their silly ads and their monthly settlement quotas, I hire experts and try cases. I've represented Missouri workers comp claim adjusters and insurance company doctors because they know I fight for injured workers.Gold blessJames Hoffmann, attorney314 361 4300

Response from the owner: I appreciate your kind words ReAnna. I do not hesitate to hire experts for reports from pain management doctors, shoulder specialists, back specialists and life care plans for catastrophic injuries. If a biased work comp doctor releases my client too early and my client wants more treatment, we send the injured worker to our docs for opinions on additional treatment. Whether the injuries are work comp or a car accident, we spend a lot of money on expert witnesses.Law Office of James M HoffmannSt. louis, MO injury attorney314 361 4300

Response from the owner: Proud to be representing injured Missouri workers and car accident victims for over 25 years. The law firms advertising bigger is better is a bunch of crap. Being in Missouri courts for 25 years, trying cases for 25 years, and taking 1000's of expert depositions for 25 years makes you a good lawyer.James HoffmannMissouri personal injury and workers comp lawyer.314 361 4300

Response from the owner: Thank you Gladys. It is my passion to fight for the injured in Missouri. You suffered severe injuries requiring surgery. Insurance companies think injury claims are a game but its not. People have bills to pay and family to provide for. Unlike the "big" law firms that settle cheap to pay for advertising costs, I hire experts and try cases. God bless.

Response from the owner: Very kind of you Sonya. Both workers comp and car accident insurance companies like to play the game of blaming pre-existing degenerative changes even though someone had no prior pain, no prior limitations, and no prior treatment to the body part at issue. This happens a lot with back injuries such as herniated or ruptured lumbar and cervical discs that require a fusion or disc replacement surgery. I have developed an extensive cross examination of the insurance company experts to expose their flawed opinions. Glad to fight for the injured.Jim HoffmannSt. Louis injury attorney314 361 4300

Response from the owner: Car accidents, work comp, and other injury claims in Missouri are my specialty. But, glad to help anyone in need. If I don't practice in the area, such as discrimination or medical malpractice, I will refer only to the best attorney's who I know and trust.

Response from the owner: Work comp and car accident cases in Missouri for over 25 years. We have sued trucking companies for wrongful death. Our clients have undergone lumbar/cervical fusions, shoulder surgeries,knee surgeries, hip replacements, carpal tunnel, ankle replacements.. we know injuries. We hire experts. We try cases.ThanksLaw Office of James M Hoffmann314 361 4300

Response from the owner: Thank you Edward. Missouri workers compensation has become a battle ground. The insurance companies have taken over Jeff City and the laws are become more employer/insurer friendly. We hire experts, take a lot of depos, and try cases every year. Missouri injury claims are our speciality. Jim Hoffmann

Response from the owner: Thanks Danielle. Whether a work comp case or a car accident injury, people need an injury lawyer to battle the insurance companies. Adjusters claim they are not trained to deny claims, but when deposed they admit to profit sharing retirement plans: more they deny means more profits they share. Thank you for your confidence in my practice. Glad to help those injured in Missouri.Jim Hoffmann

Response from the owner: Fighting insurance companies for injured workers is our passion. Across the state of Missouri, we represent those hurt on the job. Work comp insurance companies are nothing but bullies to injured employees. Thank you for the kind words Jerry!

Response from the owner: Missouri workers compensation recognizes both acute and repetitive use on the job work injuries. And, even if you have prior degeneration in a joint, that doesn't mean that the joint cannot be hurt. Be clear with the work comp doc if you had no prior issues and that all of your pain started with your job duties.

Response from the owner: Thank you. It's our passion to fight for the injured Missouri worker. Across Missouri we have helped 1000's of employees injured on the job in areas such including Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Cape Girardeau, and Hannibal. Work comp and car/truck accidents are our specialty.Law Office of James Hoffmann2001 S. Hanley 63144314 361 4300

Response from the owner: Thank you Dave. Glad to help anytime!JimLaw Office of James M. HoffmannBrentwood, MOPersonal Injury and Work Comp

Response from the owner: Thank you Mike. I don't like insurance companies. They bully people in an effort to pay as little as possible. Glad to lead the fight. Injuries can be life changing and fair compensation should be paid.

Response from the owner: Thank you. It's our job to fight the workers comp adjusters for injured workers across Missouri. 100% you need a work comp attorney as the employer/insurer have a lawyer from day one.Law Office of James M Hoffmann314 361 4300

Response from the owner: Thanks Sophia and apologies for the late reply. This just popped on my screen to reply to. Injured workers need a lawyer. Fighting alone against an insurance company, the insurance company lawyer, the employer, and the insurance company doctors is an impossible battle for an injured employee. The insurance company will schedule FCE, functional capacity evals, which are not allowed. The adjuster will schedule neuropsych evals which are not allowed. Insurance doctors will blame ongoing pain and limitations on pre-existing arthritis even though the patient had no prior issues. I am glad to lead the way and will fight the insurance companies with my experts and my trial experience.Jim Hoffmann

Response from the owner: Thank you Sofia. A work comp insurer refused to pay for medical care that was ordered per a trial award I won for an injured client. I then went back to court for a second trial and the court "commuted" the future medical award to a lump sum of $800,000. These work comp adjusters simply don't care. Workers' compensation attorneys need to hire experts and go to trial so a message is sent.God bless,James Hoffmann314 361 4300St. Louis, Mo work comp lawyer

Response from the owner: Thank you John. As you now know, Missouri work comp can be a battle with insurance doctors trying to downplay your condition. We are fighting for you. Thank you for allowing me to be your workers compensation lawyer.James HoffmannSt. Louis, MO314 361 4300

Response from the owner: Glad we won the work comp hardship hearing and got medical/wage loss benefits reinstated. Very happy to be your St. Louis workers compensation lawyer. I appreciate your kind words. James Hoffmann