Have you been hurt while on the job in Creve Coeur, MO? If so, you may be entitled to payment for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A Creve Coeur workplace accident lawyer can help determine if you can file a workers’ compensation claim or lawsuit.
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience in personal injury law. This includes helping clients after getting hurt in the workplace. Since 2010, we have recovered over $100 million for our clients.
Contact our office to learn about our attorneys and how we can help you at (314) 444-4444. We offer a free initial consultation so that you can get more information without any strings attached.
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Workplace Accident in Creve Coeur, MO
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers are leading personal injury lawyers in Missouri and around the country.
We are proud to have the following recognitions:
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- Membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Best Lawyers in America
- St. Louis Magazine – Best Lawyers in St. Louis
- Super Lawyers
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating
We work hard to earn our clients’ trust. Our Creve Coeur personal injury attorneys know that workplace injury claims can be confusing and hard to handle on your own.
When you hire us after a workplace accident in Creve Coeur, Missouri, we will take every step to get you paid. This may include:
- Reviewing your medical records
- Investigating the cause of the accident
- Calculating your damages
- Filing workers’ compensation claims
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Consulting with expert witnesses
- Filing a personal injury claim
- Representing you at trial
Choosing a lawyer can be daunting, but Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers make it easy. Call our office to discuss your case during a free initial consultation. There’s no risk in getting information about your legal options.
Workplace Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries and Death
Some workplace accidents cause minor injuries from which you are expected to recover and return to work quickly. Others can be catastrophic and leave you unable to work at all. In the most severe cases, the accident or injury can cause death.
It is not unusual for workers to suffer the following types of injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Skull fractures
- Broken bones
- Amputations
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis and nerve damage
- Sprains
- Crush injuries
- Organ damage and internal bleeding
- Burns caused by fire or chemicals
- Severe lacerations
Our attorneys can handle any type of injury case, even the most complex. We will work with your doctors and experts to understand the nature of your injury, the prescribed treatment, and the impact on your life.
Common Causes of Creve Coeur Workplace Accidents
In 2023, there were over 90,000 workplace injury incidents in Missouri. That averages out to almost 250 every single day.
Some of the most common causes of workplace accidents in Creve Coeur are:
- Improper safety training or emergency procedures
- Inadequate safety equipment
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Slip and falls in the workplace
- Lack of employee training
- Defective tools or heavy machinery
- Poorly maintained equipment
- Lifting heavy objects
- Repetitive movements
Workplace accidents also happen across a variety of industries. Some of the most dangerous industries are:
- Auto manufacturing
- Construction
- Mining
- Agriculture
- Transportation
- Delivery drivers
- Mechanics
Regardless of your type of work or the cause of the accident, our attorneys can help you.
What Is the Value of My Workplace Accident Case in Creve Coeur, MO?
The value of your workplace accident case in Creve Coeur, MO, will depend on your specific type of claim. If you file a personal injury lawsuit, you can generally recover more than if you go through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. However, a lawsuit is not always an option.
Some of the other factors that may impact the value of your case are:
- The severity and permanency of your injuries
- Your medical treatment plan
- The number of days you are unable to work
- Whether or not you can continue working in the same capacity as before the injury
- The effect of the accident on your quality of life
It’s critical that you understand your options after a workplace accident so that you can recover the maximum compensation available. Get in touch with our trusted personal injury lawyers today for a free case review, at which time we can look into your situation and offer legal advice.
How Can I Get Compensated After a Workplace Accident in Creve Coeur?
In general, there are two ways that you can get paid after a workplace accident. One way is by filing a workers’ compensation insurance claim. The second way is through a lawsuit.
Workers’ Compensation Claims
A workers’ compensation claim is a no-fault insurance-based claim. Any Creve Coeur employer with five or more employees is required to have workers’ compensation insurance. When an employee gets hurt, they file a claim with the insurance company. It doesn’t matter if the employee or the employer caused the accident.
The benefit of workers’ compensation is that the employee gets paid relatively quickly. They won’t have to prove who is at fault. The downside is that the damages are limited, and the insurance company might deny the claim.
Workplace Accident Lawsuits
In some cases, you can file a personal injury lawsuit based on an accident that happened at work. This approach is generally only available if someone other than your employer was responsible for the accident.
For instance, if you were involved in a car accident during the course of your employment, you may have a case against the at-fault driver.
If you file a lawsuit, you can recover economic and non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. However, you will need to prove negligence in most cases.
What Damages Can I Ask for After a Creve Coeur Workplace Accident?
If you get damages through a workers’ compensation claim, you are limited to benefits for:
- Medical bills
- Temporary total or partial disability
- Permanent total or partial disability
- Death benefits
This may include lost past and future wages up to a specific amount. You are not entitled to 100% of your lost pay. In most cases, the benefits are limited to 66 ⅔% of your weekly wage.
This is different from if you get damages from a personal injury lawsuit. In a lawsuit, you are entitled to economic damages, non-economic damages, and sometimes punitive damages.
Economic damages include monetary losses like medical bills, full lost wages (past and future), and other out-of-pocket expenses. Non-economic damages are payments for pain and suffering. This can include mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, or permanent scarring and disfigurement.
Punitive damages are only available if you prove that the defendant intentionally acted with deliberate and flagrant disregard for the safety of others. You must prove this by clear and convincing evidence. It is difficult to prove. If you think you have a claim for punitive damages, you should speak with a lawyer to get the best chance for recovery.
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim After a Workplace Accident in Missouri?
The amount of time depends on if you are filing a lawsuit or a workers’ compensation claim. If you are filing a workers’ compensation claim, you must report the injury in writing within 30 days. After the initial report, you have two years to file a claim.
If you are filing a lawsuit, you will have five years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations. Before filing the lawsuit, your lawyer will likely negotiate with the defendant for a settlement. If you can’t reach a fair settlement, then they will sue the defendant.
A Creve Coeur workplace accident lawyer can explain which period applies in your case. Either way, you need to make sure not to miss the deadline. If you do, you may lose your right to recover any benefits at all.
Call a Creve Coeur Workplace Accident Lawyer To Schedule a Free Consultation
Whenever you’re ready to speak with a Creve Coeur workplace accident attorney, call Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers. We will schedule a time to talk for free.
During the consultation, you can ask us about our practice and experience with workplace accident cases like yours. We will also explain the laws that apply in your case, and the best strategy going forward.
Our attorneys work for a contingency fee, which means you won’t pay us a dime in attorney’s fees unless and until you get paid. Please don’t hesitate to reach out today, because time is of the essence in workplace injury cases.
