According to The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the state of Missouri allows any worker that suffers illness or injury on the job or at their place of employment the ability to apply to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Every worker has the legal right and ability to receive either temporary total disability, permanent partial disability, or permanent total disability benefits depending on the facts and circumstances of their workplace injury. Learn more about your legal rights following a workplace accident below.
Seek Medical Evaluation
Before you do anything else, you must seek medical attention and evaluation. This will not only benefit you and your health but provide an official diagnosis for your workers’ compensation claim. First, it is critical you seek medical evaluation in order to obtain medical assistance if you have any life-threatening medical issues following your workplace injury. Additionally, after receiving a medical diagnosis, you will also be provided with a plan of care that may include surgeries, physical therapy, medications and more.
Minor Medical Injuries
At this time, you may not have an official determination regarding any long-term medical challenges. In fact, you may receive a diagnosis that indicates that you will be able to come back to work within a short period of time with minimal treatment or medication. If this is the case, then your attorney can help you understand what paperwork you need to file to receive reimbursements for your lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering.
More Serious Injuries
If you suffered more serious or substantial injuries that may have led to a diagnosis of either a temporary or permanent disability, you may qualify for additional workers’ compensation reimbursement. The types of disabilities that you are covered under this type of workers’ compensation benefits include the following:
- Temporary Total Disability. A temporary total disability is when a worker has a total disability preventing them from returning to work, but medical professionals do not believe that the illness or injury will remain permanent.
- Permanent Partial Disability. A permanent partial disability is when a worker is only partially disabled, but the injury appears to be permanent according to medical professionals. This may or may not impact a worker’s ability to perform their job.
- Permanent Total Disability. If the injuries related to a workplace accident resulted in permanent total disability, it means that a medical professional has determined that the worker is totally disabled and this condition is not expected to improve. In most cases, the worker will not have the physical ability to return to work.
Contact an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Benefits Attorney in Missouri
If you suffered either a temporary medical condition, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability, or permanent total disability related to a workplace accident, contact an experienced workers’ compensation benefits attorney today in order to ensure that your rights are protected and you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact our workers’ compensation attorneys today at Walton Telken today to help you understand your next steps. Contact us online or at (844) 515-2997 today.
