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If your injury has resulted in lost wages and medical bills, you may be wondering what to do next. The answer depends on the circumstances of the accident. Two types of common injury claims you may be eligible for include workers’ compensation and personal injury. You should learn the difference between the two before filling out any paperwork.

Workers’ Compensation Claims

Workers’ compensation is an insurance plan that employers must take out to cover injuries that happen in the workplace. If you’re hurt at work, regardless of who’s at fault, you can file a claim against your employer’s workers’ comp policy.

After filing the claim, the insurance company will investigate, and you may be required to undergo medical exams. In Missouri, workers’ comp benefits may cover part of your lost wages while out of work, past and future medical treatment, and may also provide you permanent partial disability or permanent total disability benefits, depending on the severity of your injury.  Losses for pain and suffering and loss of quality of life are not available in Missouri workers’ compensation cases.

Personal Injury Claims

Injury ClaimsPersonal injury claims are permitted when you get hurt and it is someone else’s fault. An example would be a car crash when someone else’s negligence caused the collision.

A personal injury claim is usually started by reporting the claim to the at-fault party's insurance company.  If the claim cannot be resolved with the insurance company, a lawsuit may need to be filed.  In the lawsuit, you have to prove that the other party’s negligence resulted in your injury. This will require hiring an attorney and litigation. The compensation from personal injury claims may include damages for lost wages, past medical bills, future medical needs, permanency, physical pain and suffering and mental pain and suffering.  In rare circumstances, punitive damages may be awarded if the at-fault party’s conduct was particularly reckless. 

 

If you need a workers’ comp or personal injury lawyer, contact the professionals at Allen, Nelson & Wilson. They have two convenient locations, one in Columbia, MO, and the second in Springfield, MO. These result-driven lawyers have more than 60 years of combined experience and have earned their clients more than $20 million in settlements. Visit their website to learn more or call them at (573) 441-2667 for a consultation.

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