Workers Compensation in Springfield, MO
You aren’t alone if you ask “How does workers comp work?” Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work. The extent of workers’ comp coverage an employer is required to carry is governed by Missouri state law. Thus, in trying to figure out how workers comp works, it helps to understand the laws on the books in the state where the business operates. If the injury or illness a worker sustains is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the financial burden the illness or injury created on the worker. Learn some of the basic principles of Springfield, Missouri workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Springfield, Missouri?
The Missouri Survey of Occupational Injuries reports 54,200 incidents from private employers in 2019. The average rate of injury or illness was 2.7 per 100 workers. As of March 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor reported there were 238,200 full-time civilian workers in the Springfield area. If we apply the same rate for two years prior, then approximately 6,431 people in Springfield may need workers’ compensation coverage in 2021.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Springfield, Missouri?
Unfortunately, going through the process of applying for workers’ compensation begins with getting sick or injured on the job. The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to your problems are especially crucial. For example, the injury had to occur during your regular work duties. While an event that happens during your lunch break wouldn’t apply, getting into a car accident while running an errand for your boss would qualify for a claim.
Any organization with 5 or more employees in Springfield has to carry workers’ compensation policies. If you’re injured or fall ill due to your job, this coverage helps keep you and your family afloat. Cash payments, medical coverage, and even out-of-pocket costs for mileage can become reimbursed. If an employer or insurance company balks, an attorney in Springfield can help you obtain benefits.
For example, say your supervisor asked you to drop something off on your lunch break. While running this errand you then get in a car accident on your way to the destination. Any resulting injury is eligible for workers’ compensation. However, if you are on your lunch break, performing no such task when you get in an accident, it does not qualify for a claim.
The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Springfield, Missouri are critical for purposes of filing a claim for compensation. Follow the following steps to preserve your rights and learn how workers comp works.
Get Medical Attention
After you get injured or feel ill, the first step is to see a doctor. Don’t delay seeking help from a Springfield, Missouri healthcare professional. This could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing time-sensitive deadlines in the workers’ compensation process. Having a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occured is the first step in the process. Your employer cannot file a claim with their insurance carrier without this information.
When dealing with a job-related illness, the symptoms and diagnosis may not happen right away. You may find yourself attending regular checkups and testing for weeks or months before a doctor finally associates your illness with your job. Your doctor may make the determination that the illness is either the result of your work conditions or aggravated by them. Once they do, see your human resources representative to file a workers’ compensation claim.
File a First Report of Injury
The first report of an on the job injury or illness will provide the workers’ compensation insurance carrier with the details of the events leading up to the injury. In this report, you will provide your physical injuries, the medical treatment you received and the facilities that provided it. It’s always a good idea to bring a copy of the doctor’s report to submit with the report of injury.
The Department of Labor asks that employers and employees submit a First Report of Injury within 30 days of an incident in Springfield. Failure to act within this time may result in a denial of benefits. The state requires more evidence of your illness or injury, so keep your documents neat, organized, and nearby.
Timeline and Other Information
You must wait a least 3 days before receiving wage loss payments or other benefits. After the state and your employer become aware of the situation, several processes go into motion. While you’re on workers’ compensation, your employer can request a doctor of their choice to examine your injuries. If you’re able to return work even at a limited capacity, you have legal expectations to do so in Springfield.
Your employer should furnish you with information about the claims process. The adjuster or insurance carrier representative may want to speak to you at some point about the incident and any possible witnesses to the event. In the meantime, the workers’ comp insurer may begin paying medical benefits while the investigation into your claim continues.
Why You Should Hire a Springfield, Missouri Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While workers’ compensation claims may be straightforward for some cases in Springfield, Missouri, in others, it may be more difficult. For example, your employer may decide to question whether you were hurt on the clock or your own time. It’s also common for a company to question the full extent of your injury. Hiring a Springfieldworkers’ comp lawyer ensures that you have an advocate to fight for your rights as a victim.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Springfield, Missouri
If you are hurt or contract an illness as a result of your job in Springfield, Missouri you need to find the right people to help. Since the workers’ compensation claims process can have pitfalls, you should consider getting a local attorney who knows how to avoid them.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
