If you suffer an injury at work, you may be entitled to workers’ comp benefits. Disability and personal injury attorney, David Schmidt, of Woodlawn Law Offices in O'Fallon, MO, explains the basics of Missouri’s workers’ comp laws. This local lawyer has devoted more than 25 years to helping injured employees recover the compensation they deserve.

Employers with at least five employees must carry workers’ comp insurance. Construction industry employers must carry the insurance if they have at least one employee. Employers who aren’t required to carry coverage risk being held liable for workers’ on-the-job injuries. However, employers can protect themselves by purchasing workers’ comp insurance or self-insuring their businesses.

Employees who have accidents at work should give their employers written notice of their injuries. Workers should include their names, addresses, places, dates, and times of their injuries. Once employers receive notice, they must report incidents to their insurers or third-party administrators within five days of the date the employees report their injuries, or within five days of the injury date, whichever is later.

Worker’s comp benefits include medical care, and depending on the injury, workers receive temporary total, permanent partial, or permanent total disability benefits. If a worker entitled to receive benefits dies, the employer or insurer must pay up to $5,000 in funeral expenses. They also may be responsible for paying benefits to the worker’s heirs weekly.

Injured employees should seek legal counsel to ensure they obtain full compensation for their injuries. At Woodlawn Law Offices, workers’ comp clients receive prompt, individualized legal services to ease the hardships that work injuries cause employees and their loved ones. Personal injury and disability lawyer David Schmidt and his staff provide honest, competent representation that puts the client first.    

If you are injured at work, notify your employer, and immediately contact Woodlawn Law Offices, in O’Fallon, MO. Call (636) 240-6667 to schedule a consultation, and visit the website for more information.