Missouri Workers Compensation Lawyer Blog

As Missouri workers' compensation attorneys, we've written at length about the need for reform in terms of Missouri's Second Injury fund. The fund, designed to supply benefits to reinjured workers, is bankrupt: currently, the fund owes over $921 million. There are 27,000 cases still pending, new cases filed every month, and at present, over 170 injured Missouri workers are not receiving their benefits. Now, a new Senate Bill (No. 572) proposes several changes to state workers' compensation laws, several of which are intended to address the fund's numerous issues.

(To read Missouri Senate Bill No. 572, click here. You can also listen to the "Senate Minute" broadcast about the bill.)

The Second Injury fund is financed by a flat fee assessed to all Missouri employers. This is in contrast to the main worker's compensation fund, which is also funded by employers, but their rates are determined based on the likelihood that an accident will happen in a particular work environment. According to Senator Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau, this system is causing employers to move as many cases as possible into the scope of the Second Injury fund, so they won't have to pay higher rates to the main fund.

Crowell believes the Second Injury fund should be completely eliminated, arguing that there is no need to continue the program. Part of the fund's purpose is to protect injured Missourians from being turned away by employers simply because they are injured. Crowell says that the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act now prevents employer discrimination against handicapped applicants, so the fund is no longer needed for this protection.

Bill No. 572 would keep the Second Injury fund in operation, but it would modify and/or limit certain of the fund's current functions. Notably, it would place limitations on the types of medical conditions and injuries that would be accepted as pre-existing conditions. Only previous military or work-related injuries would be accepted: permanent partial disability claims would be eliminated from the fund. Also, the bill includes a provision that would block payments to claimants who are incarcerated.

Continue reading "Missouri Senate Bill No. 572 Aims to Solve Second Injury Fund Issues Affecting Missouri Workers' Compensation Claimants" »

In this post, the Missouri workers' compensation attorneys would like to discuss a recent decision of the Missouri Court of Appeals. In Rader vs. Werner Enterprises, No. ED95905, ---S.W.3d --- (Mo.App.E.D. 2012), an injured over the road truck driver sought permanent total disability benefits, along with compensation for future medical care, and ultimately prevailed.

Timothy Rader had worked as a truck driver for 6-8 years for the same company, Werner Enterprises. In May of 2003, he sustained a head injury as he unloaded a truck at Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis: a partially empty keg rolled out of the truck and struck him.

Rader was taken to the ER, where he reported pain and numbness in various parts of his body, and he couldn't remember if he had lost consciousness. Over the next several months, Rader continued to experience severe pain (particularly in his back and knees), along with various other symptoms. He received extensive medical treatment and was unable to work.

The Claim:
Rader filed a workers' compensation claim in May of 2005. After a hearing, where an Administrative Law Judge heard testimony from Rader and several experts, Rader was awarded permanent total disability benefits and future medical care expenses. Werner then filed for a review with the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission, but the Commission upheld the award. Ultimately, Werner appealed to the Eastern District Court of Appeals.

The Appeal:
Werner disputed the Commission's ruling, appealing six points:

1. Under the terms of Rader's revised employee agreement, Werner argued, Rader was only allowed to seek workers' comp benefits in Nebraska, where Werner's corporate office is located, and where an alleged employment agreement provides for jurisdiction. Their stance was that the Missouri court did not have jurisdiction over the claim, even though the accident happened in St. Louis.

2.Werner also claimed that Rader was not eligible for workers' compensation benefits because he was an owner-operator and not an employee. In February 2003, Rader had entered into a new employment agreement with Werner, which changed his job title to "independent contractor": he purchased a truck from Werner, began paying his own expenses, and received a larger pay rate.

3. Before he worked for Werner, Rader had suffered previous injuries to his knees and back. Werner contended that the May 2003 accident was not the cause of Rader's present disability, and that Rader instead had a preexisting degenerative condition.

4. Werner disputed the award for future medical care, maintaining that Rader's May 2003 injury did not necessitate future treatment.

5. The company contended that Rader was in fact capable of returning to work, and disputed the award for permanent total disability.

6. Finally, Werner contested the amount of the award, based on Rader's average weekly wages.

Continue reading "Employee Classification, Location Among Factors Affecting Missouri Workers' Compensation Awards" »

When injured workers are trying to decide whether or not they should hire Missouri workers' compensation attorneys, there are a number of factors to consider. In this post, we provide an overview of the services a workers' comp attorney can provide, and outline the different situations where it would be in a worker's best interest to obtain legal representation.

Here are some specific points to think about when determining whether or not you need a lawyer:

Hiring an experienced Missouri Workers Compensation Law Firm helps to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries or disabilities. The Missouri Department of Labor defines a workers' comp case as a legal proceeding. Although the workers' compensation system was designed to be a simple no-fault benefit system, the law has been repeatedly changed over the years: it can be a complicated system. Also, you can be sure that your employer and his insurance company will have a lawyer present at all docket settings before the Division of Workers' Compensation--in fact, it is required by law.

In general, attorneys are able negotiate higher permanent partial disability settlements. Also, workers' comp claimants typically need to undergo a series of evaluations to get disability ratings and to assess future medical issues that may arise. An attorney can facilitate those and many other processes.

Any cases that involve Social Security Disability, Medicare, unemployment benefits or Second Injury Fund claims are bound to have complications that a layperson might not understand. A workers' comp attorney makes sure all your interests are represented: after all, the settlement you receive can strongly affect your life for years to come.

The Department of Labor recommends hiring a qualified Missouri workers' compensation attorney in the following situations:

• Your employer or his insurance carrier is denying your claim.
• You have been unable to receive appropriate medical care.
• Although your doctor says you cannot work, you are not receiving benefit checks.
• Your employer's insurance company claims a penalty against you.
• You are being penalized by your employer because of your workers' compensation claim (including being fired, demoted or harassed at work).
• You have applied for (or are receiving) social security disability benefits.

For a full list of the Department of Labor's recommendations, click here.

Continue reading "When Should You Hire an Attorney For a Missouri Workers' Compensation Case?" »

According to Missouri's Workers' Compensation Law, your employer has the right to choose the injured employee's health care provider. Most employers will then delegate that responsibility to their insurance carrier. However, this does not mean that an injured worker's medical care is in under the control of the insurance company. Medical treatment is always under the control of the treating physician selected by the employer or insurer. Problems can arise, however, because insurance companies are responsible for authorizing and directing care--which means that there are situations where reasonable care is not provided.

What if the injured employee disagrees with the diagnosis, or is unhappy with the health provider chosen for him/her?

Missouri law allows employees to select their own doctor, surgeon, or other medical provider, but the employee must pay for that treatment themselves. This happens infrequently, because of the high cost of medical treatment. Even if the injured party has medical insurance, many policies will not cover an injury sustained in the work[lace.

Sometimes it might be necessary to travel to see a physician: for example, when an injured worker needs a specialist, and there are none in the immediate area; or when an accident happens in a small town or rural location, without access to the medical services needed. If you are required to travel outside the local metropolitan area of the employer's location, then the employer is required to pay your travel costs: these are considered necessary and reasonable expenses. If you cannot travel, or believe that the travel is making your condition worse, speak to your employer/insurer about the situation. If nothing satisfactory can be worked out, at this point you can request a conference with an administrative law judge (ALJ) to discuss the situation. It might also be helpful to consult a Missouri Workers' Compensation Attorney.

If an injured worker is unhappy with the medical treatment he is receiving, or believes he needs a specialist, more tests, or a different type of treatment, these situations need to be handled carefully. First, discuss the issue with the insurance company. If this approach doesn't provide a solution, a workers' comp attorney can formally dispute the employer's treatment plan. On the other hand, if the insurer or employer disagrees with a doctor's diagnosis, they then have the qualified right to authorize a change of physician.

Continue reading "Managing Medical Treatment Issues as a Missouri Workers' Compensation Claimant" »

Springfield, Missouri workers' compensation lawyers believe that construction injury claims can be very different than other types of injury claims. It is not news to anyone that the construction industry can be extremely hazardous for its workers. Handling heavy machinery, power tools, great heights, and heavy weights makes construction jobs more dangerous than other types of employment.

According to David Michaels, OSHA Assistant Secretary, "Every day in this country, more than 14 workers lose their lives in preventable workplace tragedies -- close to 100 deaths every week."

OSHA has a list of safety requirements for all construction sites. Read the Safety and Health Regulations for Construction. Most Missouri employers comply with these requirements; however, despite all precautions and good intentions, serious accidents still happen. Some of the main injuries suffered by construction workers include the following:

*falls
*fractures and broken bones
*burns and electrocutions
*machinery accidents
*hit by falling objects
*accidental amputations
*exposure to toxic materials, such as silica or asbestos

A common scenario in construction accidents is a separate third party claim, along with the workers' compensation claim. Missouri employers are required to pay the medical bills for any worker injured in a job related accident, but there can also be liability to someone else. For example, a defect in the design or manufacture of the machinery or tools being can cause an injury accident, or another party's negligence can play a role. These kinds of third party claims must be prosecuted with civil lawsuits though the Missouri court system; not through the Division of Workers' Compensation.

Continue reading "Springfield, Missouri Construction Accidents Can Involve a Third Party Claim In Addition to a Workers' Comp Claim" »