WORKERS' COMPENSATION: On the job injuries require special attention and skills to ensure you get the compensation you deserve for critical injuries. Goldson & Hoekel know how this process works, and what it takes to make and win your case.

If you are injured on the job, Missouri law affords you the right to make a claim for workers compensation benefits with the Missouri Department of Labor's Division of Workers Compensation. As a general rule, you need to notify your employer of a job related injury within 30 days of the injury, and all claims must be filed within two years of the date of injury.

You must demand medical treatment from your employer as a first matter when injured on the job in Missouri. Only if your employer refuses to provide you with treatment are you entitled to seek your own medical treatment from a provider of your choosing. When you go to a doctor chosen by your employer, you should consider that that doctor has interests, which align with the employer's worker's compensation insurer. The doctor provided by your employer's insurance company has dual responsibilities to evaluate your injury as well as treat you for it.

Typically, you should consult an attorney about your Missouri Workers' Compensation case. Your attorney can provide advice about the best options for approaching your case and can help you maximize your ultimate recovery.

Your lawyer can advise you of other possible alternatives to recovery. For example, if you are injured in a car accident on the job in Missouri, you may be able to pursue a third party claim against the motorist on top of your worker's compensation claim. Further, if you are injured by a defective product while on the job in Missouri, you may be able to prosecute a claim against the manufacturer of the product. Finally, as discussed elsewhere in this blog, you may have a remedy against a co-employee if that individual injured you.