In 2001 over 6% of Missouri workers suffered non-fatal on the job injuries. This rate is higher than the national average of reported workers' compensation claims. Work-related accidents in 1992 caused 8,500 deaths and injured 3.3 million people. During that year, work-related accidents cost 115.9 billion dollars in medical bills and insurance payments. These numbers apply to you.

The injured worker is often taken advantage of because they do not know their rights. Your employer may not tell you of all the rights you have and the insurance company is strictly concerned with minimizing the cost of your claim. This means that they will not tell you about job retraining, overtime pay benefits, wage differential benefits, statute of limitations, notice requirements, repetitive traumas, maintenance payments when being retrained and settlements. If you have been injured at work, you should immediately contact the attorneys at Brown & Crouppen so that you can be assured that you are receiving all the benefits available to you.

Worker’s Compensation benefits entitle you to medical treatment to cure and relieve the effects of your industrial injury. Treatment may include consultations, physical therapy, surgery, hospitalization, drug treatment, and nursing care, as well as physical and vocational rehabilitation services. You are entitled to be reimbursed for costs of mileage going to and from your medical appointments. The injured employee may also be entitled to lost wages.



It is important that you are aware of the following:

• Insurance Company Doctors
  Your employer may tell you to visit an insurance company doctor to get a "second opinion." That second opinion may lead to the cancellation of your benefits. Unless your lawyer says differently, avoid the insurance company doctor.
   

• The term “reasonable medical care”
  "Reasonable medical care" includes, but is not limited to, surgery, special treatments, medications or physical therapy. If you refuse recommended treatment, your employer has the right to petition to have your benefits suspended.
   

• Vocational Rehabilitation Services
  Although your employer may suggest otherwise, you have the right to refuse any vocational rehabilitative services. The law says that you must make a "good faith effort" to return to work. This means that if you can work under certain restrictions, you should do so. The vocational rehabilitation specialist will advise you on what jobs are available and the specific duties involved with the work.
   

• The No Discrimination Rule
  No one can penalize you for filing a workers' compensation claim if you have a work-related injury, illness or disease. If you feel that you have been discriminated against because of a worker’s compensation claim, contact Brown & Crouppen immediately.
   

• Retirement
  Retirement benefits should not affect the amount you receive under workers' compensation. Sometimes, however, there are instances where an unsuspecting worker gets benefits reduced upon retirement. Know the details of your pension agreement so that you don't lose all that is coming to you.

If you have been injured while on the job, please consider contacting Brown & Crouppen. Even if you are already receiving benefits, it may be to your advantage to consult an experienced attorney to ensure that you are receiving the maximum benefits available under the law.

Call Brown & Crouppen at 1-800-536-HELP for your free legal consultation or save time with our online Contact Form.

I’m Ronald Caimi, I’m a lawyer at Brown and Crouppen. I’ve worked exclusively in the area of workers’ compensation for almost 15 years. In that time I’ve talked to thousands of injured people. I have seen first hand how injuries on the job can impact whole families. I know what it takes to have a successful workers’ comp case. Let me share with you what I look for in determining if an injured worker is entitled to compensation.  CONTINUE

My name is Stephanie R. and my story begins with my being injured on the job in November of 1997. I injured my left arm and it had a huge impact on me, both personally and professionally. I attempted physical therapy but it didn’t do any good. Ultimately I required surgery in February, 1998. After I was finally released from medical treatment, my attorney...   CONTINUE

Many people are afraid to exercise their right to be compensated when they’re injured on the job because of the fear of being fired. While the law in most states is clear that people cannot be fired because they file workers’ compensation claims it’s also true that occasionally an employer will violate the law and terminate an employee. At Brown and Crouppen we believe that retaining a lawyer in a workers’ compensation.  CONTINUE

Call Brown & Crouppen at 1-800-536-HELP for your free legal consultation or save time with our online Contact Form.

1-800-536-HELP