Overexertion injuries are one of the most common causes of workplace accidents in Missouri. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Every day in Missouri, hardworking employees push themselves to meet deadlines, lift heavy loads, or keep up with demanding work schedules. Unfortunately, those same efforts can sometimes lead to serious overexertion injuries. When they do, many workers find themselves battling not only pain, but also insurance companies that question or deny their workers’ compensation benefits.
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I don't like insurance companies and only represent the injured. I am not a large advertising law firm that settles cheap to meet monthly quotas. We fight hard for every client. The compensation we obtain for the injured is both federal and state tax free. We never ask our clients for a penny as all cases are handled on a contingency fee.
James Hoffmann
314 361 4300
[email protected]
FYI. There are a lot of TV ads and billboards claiming "bigger is better." That is not true. Some of those firms are from out of state and simply hired a few attorneys here in Missouri. And, always remember, quality over quantity. One good trial attorney is way better that 100 average attorneys who only settle cases to meet monthly quotas to pay the millions in advertising fees.
Law Office of James M Hoffmann LLC
Jim Hoffmann
2001 S. Hanley, suite 325
St. Louis, MO 63144
314 361 4300
[email protected]
God bless, love and hugs
Jim
Fighting for the injured.
James Hoffmann
Your Missouri car accident and workers comp lawyer
314 361 4300
[email protected]
Proud to fight for the injured.
Law Office of James M Hoffmann
2001 S. Hanley suite 325
St. Louis, MO 63144
314 361 4300
[email protected]
James Hoffmann
St. Louis, Mo work comp and car accident lawyer
314 361 4300
Law Office of James M Hoffmann
314 361 4300
[email protected]
Law Office of James M Hoffmann
2001 S. Hanley, suite 325
St. Louis, MO 63144
314 361 4300
[email protected]
Your Missouri car accident and workers compensation attorney
The LIRC in Nouraie v. MO. Baptist Medical Center et al, Injury No.: 10-111746, March 13, 2013, sanctioned the employer for refusing medical care in connection with a repetitive use claim. The Employer obtained an expert long after the wrongful denial of benefits. This did not justify the prior wrongful denial. The LIRC explained:
“In any event, whether an employer has sent a worker for a medical examination prior to denying a claim is a factor for our consideration in determining whether an employer had reasonable grounds for denying a claim.”
The LIRC in Nouraie also explained:
“The courts have instructed us we are only to award such costs “where the issue is clear and the offense egregious.” Landman v. Ice Cream Specialties, Inc., 107 S.W.3d 240, 250-251 (Mo. 2003). We think it is clear that employers have an obligation to investigate the circumstances giving rise to alleged work injuries before denying benefits. And where the worker is available to discuss the injury, we think any reasonable employer conducting an investigation designed to determine whether an injury is work-related would discuss the alleged injury with the worker. In the instant case, Ms. Bequette, as employer's agent, denied evaluation, treatment and benefits to employee without even discussing employee's alleged back condition with employee. We think employer's act of denying workers' compensation benefits to employee before even discussing the alleged injury with employee constituted an egregious offense. Based upon the forgoing, we find employer defended this claim at the outset without reasonable ground.”
Merry Christmas.
James Hoffmann, Missouri work comp and auto accident attorney
314 361 4300
[email protected]
Claimant, a full-time carpenter for Employer, developed low back pain in September of 2017 making cabinets and displays for the Employer. Claimant’s job is physically demanding. Cabinets and displays can range from 60 to 500 lbs. Claimant job duties include lifting displays weighing up to 500 hundred pounds during the assembly process. Carts, each with 100 lbs of materials, are brought to Claimant who must lift the materials from each cart and assemble same. In October 2017, Claimant’s job duties caused his low back soreness to become severe pain with numbness down his right leg. At the final hearing, the Employer/Insurer produced no evidence of non-work activities that could have caused, or did cause, Claimant’s low back pain.
When Claimant’s low back pain became severe in Oct. 2017, he sought treatment with a chiropractor, Dr. Lynch, on 10/17/20217. Claimant then, on 10/23/2017, reported to Employer a repetitive use work injury to his low back. He went sent to Concentra by the Employer but left due to delays in providing immediate treatment as he had severe pain and radiculopathy. He went immediately to an urgent care and returned to work with a light duty slip for 6 weeks for which the Employer complied.
Despite asking the Employer for additional treatment during the next few months, none was offered. He kept the Employer informed of the treatment he was receiving on his own. IN December 2017, Claimant contacted attorney James Hoffmann who instructed Claimant to hand deliver a letter to the Employer making a written demand for treatment. Claimant delivered the letter in December 2017. At the hearing, Employer presented no evidence that it disputed the contents of the letter.
Immediately after receiving the letter, the Employer contacted the Insurer which then sent medical authorizations to Claimant who signed and immediately returned same to the Insurer. The Insurer then obtained a statement from Claimant in Dec. 2017 where Claimant informed the adjuster of a repetitive use low back injury at work and need for treatment.
After 6 weeks of light duty, Employer requested another light duty slip which Claimant provided.
Claimant continued to work light duty until Feb. 15, 2018, when Employer informed Claimant there was no more light duty and sent Claimant home. In the meantime, neither the Employer nor the Insurer offered treatment. The Employer’s attorney was aware of Claimant’s treatment as he was sending copies of Claimant’s medical records to Claimant’s attorney received via the authorizations signed by Claimant.
In Feb. 2018, Claimant’s attorney obtained a medical report from Dr. Armond Levy who related lumbar disc herniations and the necessity of surgery to Claimant’s work for Employer. Several demands were sent IN Feb. 2018 to the Employer for the surgery recommended by Dr. Levy and for TTD. At the hearing, Employer presented no evidence of any response to the demands for treatment and TTD made by Claimant’s attorney in February 2018.
Claimant then underwent 2 surgeries on his own for his low back, the first being in March 2018 and the second in August 2018. During that time, no TTD or treatment was offered. When Claimant returned to work in November 2018, after recovering from the second surgery, he was informed by the Employer that he was fired.
The Employer eventually sent Claimant to a physician, Dr. Bernardi, in November 2018, who is of the opinion that a person cannot suffer a repetitive use herniated disc. It is his opinion that herniated discs can only acute, and that any degenerative changes in the low back are genetic and cannot be caused by repetitive use occupations. In other words, Employer sent Claimant to a doctor who disagrees with Missouri law which specifically recognizes and accepts repetitive use injuries. Claimant had zero chance of a favorable opinion from Dr. Bernardi
This is the lawyer you want to hire! Just read the reviews. It is all true. Incredible! He will get you every dollar of lost wages, get you every ounce of medical treatment, and get you the highest possible award from the Division of Workers Compensation.
Law Office of James M. Hoffmann
2001 S. Hanley, suite 325
St. Louis, MO 63144
314 361 4300
[email protected]
Your Missouri workers comp and car accident attorney.
James Hoffmann
314 361 4300
[email protected]
Law Office of James Hoffmann
314 361 4300
[email protected]
James Hoffmann
attorney
St. Louis workers comp and car accident lawyer
314 361 4300
[email protected]
Law Office of James Hoffmann
St. Louis personal injury and work comp lawyer.
314 361 4300
[email protected]
Per Tillotson v. St. Joseph Med. Ctr., 347 S.W. 3d 511 (Mo. App. W.D. 2011) to determine need for treatment, surgery, and treatment after surgery. Treatment need only be reasonably required to cure and relieve the effects of the injury. Id. Section 287.140.1 RSMo states in pertinent part that the Employer shall provide such medical as may “reasonably be required.
To be entitled to future medical care the employee must establish that there is a reasonable probability that he will need future medical care. Forshee v. Landmark Exc. & Equip., 165 S.W. 3d 533 (Mo.App. E.D. 2005) An [Employee] does not have to provide evidence of specific medical treatments or procedures which will be necessary in the future in order to receive an award of future medical care. See Chatmon v. St. Charles County Ambulance, 55 S.W.3d 451, 459 (Mo.App. E.D. 2001).
Employee has already satisfied the burden of proving a compensable injury. Here, defense's authorized Dr. Spears on 4/26/2010 opined "if she doesn't get improvement in her radicular pain, then the next step is going to be a microscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion to remove the foraminal stenosis." He went on to state the January 2010 incident was a "fall (that) aggravated significantly a pre-existing condition". This is enough under Tillotson, Forshee, and, Chatmon (supra) to award further treatment.
Please also see Maness v. City of De Soto, 421 S.W.3d 532 (Mo. App. 2014). The court rejects Employer's contention that the mere existence of degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine and neck symptoms prior to the work accident requires a determination that Claimant's injury is not compensable.
See also the following in support:
If the evidence establishes that an accident caused a
disability or aggravated a preexisting condition or infirmity of an employee,
which produces a condition that would not have resulted in a normal, healthy
individual, an award is authorized. Fogelsong v. Banquet Foods Corp. 526
S.W.2d 886 (Mo. App., K.C.D. 1975)
An aggravation of an existing infirmity caused by an accident or occupational
exposure arising out of and in the course of employment is compensable under
Chapter 287, RSMo, even if the particular accident (occupational injury) would
not have produced such result in a normal and healthy individual. Mashburn v.
Chevrolet-Kansas City Division, General Motors Corp., 397 S.W.2d 23 (Mo.
App., K.C.D. 1965)
Law Office of James M. Hoffmann
2001 S. Hanley
St. Louis, MO 63144
314 361 4300
[email protected]
James M Hoffmann, attorney
2001 S. Hanley, suite 325
St. Louis, MO 63144
314 361 4300
[email protected]
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 Hoffmann
Your Missouri workers comp and car accident attorney
314 361 4300
[email protected]
Law Office of James M. Hoffmann
St. Louis, MO car accident and workers compensation lawyer
314 361 4300
Glad to fight for the injured worker in Missouri.
Law Office of James M. Hoffmann
St. Louis, Missouri workers comp, car accident, injury attorney.
314 361 4300
[email protected]
These reviews are correct. This attorney is incredible. He knows workmans compensation, fights for denied treatment and wages, and gets your on the job injury rated by the best doctors. I will be using him from here on our great experience.
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. Hoffmann
St. Louis, MO workers comp and auto accident attorney
314 361 4300
[email protected]
The Law Office of James M Hoffmann was referred to me from a previous client, that was extremely impressed, with his service and outcome.
I met with Jim Hoffmann to discuss a car accident. Three cars were involved, my car was totaled, and I was seriously injured. After meeting with Jim the very first time, I immediately felt comfortable, and knew that he would have my back, and would fight for me.
Throughout my journey, I dealt with a lot of pain and several issues that lasted for years. During this time I had to contact Jim and Jamie (Jim’s wonderful assistant) many times. Every time I sent an email with questions, I received feedback extremely quickly!
I feel Jim negotiated a great settlement for me!
The Law Office of James Hoffman will be the first place I contact if I ever need his help again!
Suzanne Charles
James Hoffmann
St. Louis, MO auto accident and workers compensation lawyer
314 361 4300
Glad to fight for the injured Missouri worker and those injured on car accidents.
James Hoffmann
Missouri personal injury attorney
314 361 4300
[email protected],
Jim Hoffmann
Missouri workers compensation and car accident attorney
314 361 4300
St. Louis, MO
Compensation? Get this lawyer. Simply better than all the rest.
James Hoffmann
314 361 4300
[email protected]
James Hoffmann
Missouri workers compensation and auto accident lawyer
314 361 4300
[email protected]
Law Office of James M. Hoffmann
314 361 4300
James Hoffmann, attorney
314 361 4300
[email protected]
Gold bless
James Hoffmann, attorney
314 361 4300
Law Office of James M Hoffmann
St. louis, MO injury attorney
314 361 4300
James Hoffmann
Missouri personal injury and workers comp lawyer.
314 361 4300
Jim Hoffmann
St. Louis injury attorney
314 361 4300
Thanks
Law Office of James M Hoffmann
314 361 4300
What Is an Overexertion Injury?
Overexertion injuries happen when the body is pushed beyond its safe physical limits. This can occur in a single, sudden event or result from repeated strain over time. Common examples include:
- Lifting or carrying heavy objects
- Pulling, pushing, or shoving equipment
- Bending or twisting awkwardly
- Working in extreme heat or cold
- Performing the same motion repeatedly without breaks
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overexertion is one of the leading causes of workplace injuries nationwide, costing workers and employers millions in lost wages and medical expenses every year.
Common Overexertion Injuries in Missouri Workplaces
Overexertion can cause both acute injuries (sudden, severe pain) and chronic conditions that develop over time. Some of the most common include:
- Back injuries – Herniated discs, muscle strains, and sprains
- Shoulder injuries – Rotator cuff tears, dislocations, or tendonitis
- Knee injuries – Meniscus tears, ligament sprains, and chronic pain
- Neck injuries – Whiplash-like strains and nerve impingements
- Heat-related illnesses – Heat exhaustion or heat stroke from physical work in high temperatures
- Cumulative trauma injuries – Damage from repetitive lifting, gripping, or twisting
Does Missouri Workers’ Compensation cover Overexertion Injuries?
Yes—if the injury occurred while performing work-related duties, you are generally eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Missouri.
This includes injuries that:
- Happen suddenly (e.g., lifting a heavy box and pulling a muscle)
- Develop over time (e.g., back pain from years of repetitive lifting)
However, insurance companies often dispute overexertion claims, arguing the injury was:
- Pre-existing and not work-related
- Caused by activities outside of work
- Due to “normal aging” rather than workplace duties
That’s where having an experienced Missouri workers’ comp lawyer can make a major difference in protecting your benefits.
Benefits You May Be Entitled to After an Overexertion Injury
If your claim is approved, you may receive:
- Medical treatment at no cost to you – Includes doctor visits, physical therapy, medications, and surgery if needed.
- Temporary total disability (TTD) – Wage replacement while you’re unable to work.
- Temporary partial disability (TPD) – Partial wage replacement if you can only work light duty.
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) – Compensation for lasting impairment.
- Permanent total disability (PTD) – Benefits if you can no longer work in any capacity.
How to Protect Your Workers’ Comp Claim for Overexertion
- Report the Injury Immediately
- Even if the pain seems minor, please report it to your supervisor immediately. Waiting can give the insurance company an excuse to deny your claim.
- Get Medical Care from an Approved Provider
- In Missouri, your employer has the right to choose your treating physician. Going to an unauthorized doctor may jeopardize your benefits.
- Be Detailed in Your Injury Report
- Describe exactly how the injury happened, what you were doing, and the body parts affected.
- Don’t Downplay Your Symptoms
- Workers often try to “tough it out,” but underreporting pain can hurt your claim.
- Speak with a Missouri Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Early
- An attorney can gather evidence, deal with the insurance company, and fight for the full benefits you deserve.
Why Overexertion Claims Are Often Denied
Insurance companies may try to save money by:
- Claiming your injury was not work-related
- Arguing that it’s due to age or a pre-existing condition
- Suggesting you can return to work earlier than you should
- Using private investigators to catch you doing physical activities that could be twisted against you
If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal—and with legal help, you can often turn a denial into an approval or settlement.
Get Help Fighting for the Benefits You Deserve
Overexertion injuries can be just as life-changing as falls or machinery accidents, and you shouldn’t have to fight for your benefits alone. For over 30 years, Attorney James M. Hoffmann has helped injured Missouri workers secure maximum compensation, even when their cases were denied or disputed.
📞 Call us today at (314) 361-4300 or fill out our online form for a free, confidential consultation. We don’t get paid unless you win.