When workers suffer on-the-job injuries in Missouri, serious questions usually rise immediately in their minds. Will I make a full recovery? How long will that take? When can I return to work? How will I earn an income in the meantime? These questions, among many others, can leave injured workers facing a world of uncertainty.
Workers’ compensation in Missouri
Fortunately, most injured workers can benefit from the workers’ compensation system in Missouri. Most people have heard of workers’ compensation, but perhaps not many have actually had to use these benefits.
A short overview of how the system works can help answer some of our readers’ questions.
For starters, when workers suffer on-the-job injuries, those injuries need to be reported to the employer immediately. If this doesn’t occur, the injured worker may not be able to submit a workers’ compensation claim.
And, of course, injured workers should get the medical care they need as soon as possible. Then, when a workers’ compensation claim is submitted and approved, most people can expect to receive not only medical benefits, but disability benefits as well. The type of benefits, and amount, will depend on how your injury is categorized.
Of course, there are situations in which a workers’ compensation claim is denied. In that situation, you may need to appeal the denial. In fact, in some situations, there may be multiple levels of appeals to go through. There may also be other legal aspects of the situation to consider as well. Make sure you get the right information for your unique workers’ compensation issue.