If you have been injured on the job, there are certain steps you must take in order to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Each year, thousands of employees are injured on the job throughout the state of Missouri. Because of the frequency of workplace injuries, Missouri requires almost all business owners to carry workers’ compensation insurance to protect both themselves and their employees.
The law enables workers to claim workers’ compensation for work-related injuries, even if the injury is the worker’s fault. However, the trade-off is that they cannot sue their employer for negligence.
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Reporting Workplace Injuries
If you have been injured on the job, there are certain steps you must take in order to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
The first thing you must do is report your injury to your employer. It is important that you notify your employer in writing, including the date, time, and location of the injury. Explain, in as much detail as possible, the type of injury you have suffered. Be sure to make a copy of the letter before turning it in. Write down as many details as you can, such as the date you turned in the notice and the name of the person you gave it to.
It is important that you notify your employer within 30 days of the incident, or you may jeopardize your eligibility for benefits.
Your employer will tell you where you can go to receive the necessary medical treatment, unless, of course, the injury requires emergency medical help.
Once you notify your employer, it is up to them to submit the claim to the insurer. The law requires your employer to do so. If they do not report it they are then subject to a fine or even imprisonment, sometimes even both.
To verify that your injury has been reported properly, you may contact the MO Division of Labor at 1-800-775-2667.
When to Contact a Workers Compensation Lawyer
You may contact the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann about your case regardless of where you are in the process. For more than 30 years, we have worked with employees from a wide range of industries to pursue the right benefits or to appeal a denial of your injury claim.
The Missouri Workers’ Compensation system is not your friend. We can help you take the necessary steps to protect your rights and recover payment for lost wages, medical care for your injuries, or a settlement for permanent partial disability or permanent total disability if you are unable to return to work.
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