Workers’ Compensation Attorney Camdenton and Lebanon, MO

How Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in Camdenton and Lebanon, MO, Can Help

There may be nothing more frustrating than being told that your workers’ compensation claim has been denied when you know that your claim has merit. Our workers’ compensation attorneys in Camdenton and Lebanon are prepared to answer any and all questions you might have, help you file your initial request for benefits, and guide you through the entire appeals process.

Our attorneys have represented employees in all types of work injury claims, including:

• Work-related auto accidents
• Workplace slip-and-fall accidents
• Workplace explosions and fires
• Chemical exposure
• Illnesses caused by exposure to chemicals
• Carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress injuries
• Back and neck injuries
• Permanent partial or total disability claims
• Fatal workplace injuries

Is Workers’ Comp Required in Missouri?

Employers with five or more employees are required by law to have workers’ compensation insurance or be self-insured. An exception to this is that almost all construction companies with at least one employee are required to have workers’ comp insurance. However, Missouri businesses do not need to offer coverage for postal, railroad, and maritime employees, as they receive coverage at the federal level.

Other exceptions to Missouri’s workers’ compensation law include:

• Agricultural workers
• Domestic workers (such as babysitters or housekeepers)
• Qualified real estate agents
• Direct sellers
• Independent contractors
• Occasional labor performed for or related to a private household
• Volunteers

Additionally, sole proprietors and members of a partnership are not covered unless they elect to be with their insurer.

How To Report a Workplace Injury

If you have been involved in a workplace accident, follow these five steps after an injury at work. You must report your workplace injury to your employer within 30 days to ensure that you receive workers’ compensation benefits; however, you should report your injury or occupational disease as soon as possible.

Your notice to your employer should be in writing and include:

• Your name
• Your injury
• The date, time, and place the injury occurred

Your employer/insurers will then assist in filing a report of your injury or occupational disease to the Missouri Workers’ Compensation Division within 30 days from your notice to them. To verify that your injury has been reported, call the Missouri Workers’ Compensation Division at 800-775-2667.

Workers’ Comp Explained

The workers’ compensation system is like a compromise between employees and employers that allows employees to get benefits regardless of who was at fault, and in return, employers get protection from most lawsuits. However, after a workplace accident, employers and their insurance companies may try to make the process of obtaining workers’ compensation benefits extremely difficult. They may attempt to argue that the injury was not work-related, and the insurance company may deny a legitimate claim solely for the purpose of protecting its bottom line.

Workers’ compensation laws do not protect employers from ALL lawsuits. An employee may sue their employer in civil court if:

• The employee did not receive the workers’ compensation benefits they were entitled to
• The employer or a coworker intentionally caused harm to the employee
• The employee was fired for filing a workers’ comp claim

We provide the best legal representation to work injury victims across Missouri and ensure they get the compensation they deserve. Employees are often unaware of the laws governing workers’ compensation and do not know their rights. Our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys in Camdenton and Lebanon know that these issues can be difficult and confusing, and we are here to help.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ compensation benefits cover the expenses of employees who are harmed while performing job-related duties. This includes injuries that occur while traveling on business, running an office errand, or at a work-related social function. Injuries that develop over time are also covered, such as strain or stress injuries from performing repetitive physical tasks. Illnesses covered by workers’ comp include diseases that result from workplace conditions, such as lung disease or cancer from exposure to toxic chemicals, for example.

Employees can recover:

• Lost wages
• Medical expenses such as costs associated with emergency room and hospital visits, drug prescriptions, required surgeries, ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, and retraining
• Short- and long-term disability payments

In incidents where an employee is killed in a work-related accident, the employee’s family may be entitled to workers’ comp survivor benefits including funeral and burial expenses.

Discuss Your Claim With an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Camdenton and Lebanon, MO

We have experience handling all types of workers’ compensation cases. Our personal injury attorneys understand how the system works and know what it takes to help you obtain a favorable outcome. Our knowledgeable attorneys serve clients in the Lake of the Ozarks region and throughout Missouri. You can reach a Deputy & Mizell workers’ compensation attorney in Camdenton and Lebanon, MO, by phone at 417-344-8055 or toll-free at 1-877-532-2191. Contact Deputy & Mizell, L.L.C. today to schedule your free initial consultation.