Many injured workers are not aware of their rights under workers’ compensation and are not clear as to what benefits they are entitled to.
Quite often, an injured worker settles their case for a far less amount compared to what they actually deserve. Kansas City Missouri workers’ compensation lawyers are often flooded with questions from injured workers relating to what kind of benefits they can claim under workers’ compensation.
Reporting the Injury
An injured worker should immediately report the injury to his/her supervisor or employer as soon as it occurs or it is diagnosed. After this, the worker will have to file an official workers compensation claim with the Missouri division of workers compensation. The statute of limitations on a workers compensation claim requires the injured worker to file a claim within two years of the date of injury.
However, Kansas City workers compensation lawyers suggest that an injured worker should never wait this long to file a claim, as any delay would only jeopardize their chances of receiving fair compensation. An injured worker may be entitled to the following benefits under workers compensation.
Medical Benefits
The worker who gets injured at the workplace needs to report the injury to the employer. Once this has been done, it becomes the responsibility of the employer to make available medical treatment for their injury. The worker will have to go to a doctor designated by the employer. The employer or the insurance company will pay all the medical bills.
Benefits While Off Work
Depending on the degree of the injury, the treating doctor will certify whether or not the injured worker is able to return to work, and if not, then for how long. If the worker is not able to return to work for a short period of time, they may be entitled to temporary total disability benefits amounting to two-thirds of their weekly wage.
Lumpsum Settlement for Permanent Disability
If there is permanent disability because of a work-related injury or illness, the injured worker may be entitled to permanent disability benefits amounting to 66 2/3% of the injured worker’s weekly wages.
If you have any questions relating to your workers compensation claim, contact The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann at (816) 399-3706 to understand your legal rights.
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