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The Importance of Pursuing Workers’ Compensation Benefits to the Fullest
Today, we are going to talk about The Importance of Pursuing Workers’ Compensation Benefits To The Fullest
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As a worker in Missouri, you are entitled to certain benefits if you are injured on the job. These benefits, outlined in the state’s workers’ compensation laws, are designed to protect you and ensure you receive the medical care and financial support you need while you recover. However, the reality is that many employers and their insurance providers will try to avoid paying the full extent of these benefits.
In this blog post, we’ll explore why it’s so crucial to fight for your rightful workers’ compensation benefits, even if it means going to a hearing. We’ll break down the three key benefits you’re entitled to, explain how insurance companies often try to deny or minimize them, and discuss the importance of having an experienced trial lawyer like Jason Hackett in your corner to hold them accountable.
The Three Key Workers’ Comp Benefits in Missouri
Under Missouri law, injured workers are entitled to three main benefits:
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits: These benefits provide you with two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you are off work due to your injury and unable to perform your job duties.
- Authorized Medical Care: The insurance company is required to cover the cost of all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your work-related injury, including doctor visits, hospitalization, physical therapy, and more.
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits: If your injury results in a permanent impairment, you are entitled to a lump-sum payment to compensate you for that disability.
These benefits are critical to ensuring you can get the care you need, replace lost wages, and be fairly compensated for any lasting effects of your injury. However, the reality is that insurance companies will often try to deny or minimize these benefits, forcing you to fight for what you’re rightfully owed.
The Insurance Company’s Playbook: Denying and Delaying Benefits
Insurance companies are in the business of making money, not paying out claims. As a result, they will use a variety of tactics to try to avoid paying the full extent of your workers’ compensation benefits.
Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits
When it comes to TTD benefits, the insurance company may try to argue that you are not truly “totally disabled” and therefore not entitled to the full two-thirds of your average weekly wage. They may claim that you could perform “light duty” work, even if your treating physician has taken you completely off work. This forces you to fight to get the TTD benefits you deserve.
Authorized Medical Care
The insurance company’s biggest battle is often over the medical care they are required to authorize and pay for. They may send you to their own “company doctor” who is incentivized to downplay the severity of your injuries and prematurely release you from treatment. When this happens, we immediately need to get you an independent medical evaluation with a physician who will advocate for the care you truly need.
The insurance company will then fight tooth and nail to deny authorization for additional treatment, tests, or procedures recommended by your independent doctor. This is where the real battle begins, as we have to take them to a hearing to prove that the recommended care is reasonable and necessary.
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits
Finally, when it comes to the lump-sum PPD payment at the end of your case, the insurance company will try to lowball you. They may claim your injury is not as severe as your doctor says, or that you’ve reached maximum medical improvement sooner than you actually have. Again, we have to be prepared to take them to a hearing to ensure you receive the full and fair compensation you deserve.
The Importance of Aggressive Representation
Given the insurance company’s incentive to deny or minimize your workers’ compensation benefits, it’s absolutely critical that you have an experienced trial lawyer like Jason Hackett in your corner. He and the team at Cantor Injury Law are not afraid to take these cases to a hearing and put up a fight.
The purpose of these interim hearings is to hold the insurance company accountable and force them to provide the benefits you’re entitled to under Missouri law. Whether it’s getting approval for a crucial medical test or treatment, securing your TTD benefits, or negotiating a fair PPD settlement, we will aggressively advocate for your rights every step of the way.
The insurance company is betting that most injured workers will simply accept their lowball offers or give up when benefits are denied. But with Cantor Injury Law on your side, you can count on us to never back down. We will put witnesses on the stand, cross-examine the insurance company’s representatives, and do whatever it takes to ensure you get the care and compensation you deserve.
The Proof is in the Pudding
The employer was unlawfully denying an injured worker’s request for an MRI. By putting the employer’s representatives on the stand and exposing their attempts to “bury their head in the sand,” the necessary medical care was secured.
This is just one example of how our team at Cantor Injury Law is willing to go the extra mile to fight for our clients. We understand that these interim hearings are just the beginning, and that we may have to take the case all the way to a final hearing to get the full benefits you deserve. But we’re prepared to do whatever it takes, because we know how critical these benefits are to your recovery and your financial well-being.
Key Takeaways: The Importance Of Pursuing Workers’ Compensation
- In Missouri, injured workers must pursue benefits aggressively to ensure they receive Temporary Total Disability, Authorized Medical Care, and Permanent Partial Disability benefits.
- Insurance companies often use tactics to deny or minimize these workers’ compensation benefits, making legal representation crucial.
- Having an experienced trial lawyer like Jason Hackett can help hold insurance companies accountable and secure rightful benefits.
- Cantor Injury Law focuses solely on personal injury and workers’ compensation cases, offering dedicated legal support without upfront fees.
- If injured on the job, contact Cantor Injury Law for a free consultation to discuss your rights and ensure you receive full compensation.
Why You Should Choose Cantor Injury Law
When you come to Cantor Injury Law, you’re not just getting a lawyer – you’re getting a dedicated team of trial-tested professionals who will be in your corner every step of the way. Unlike some larger, national firms, we are a local, boutique practice that focuses solely on personal injury and workers’ compensation cases.
We’re not afraid to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work required to get you the best possible outcome. And the best part? You don’t pay us a dime unless we win your case. Our fees come out of the final settlement or award, so you can rest assured that we have a vested interest in maximizing your recovery.
So if you’ve been injured on the job in Missouri, don’t settle for less than you deserve. Call Cantor Injury Law at 314-628-9999 or visit us online at cantorinjurylaw.com to schedule a free consultation. We’ll review the details of your case, explain your rights and options, and put together a winning strategy to hold the insurance company accountable. When you work with us, you can truly count on Cantor to fight for every benefit you’re entitled to.
FAQ: The Importance Of Pursuing Workers’ Compensation
Q: What benefits can Missouri workers receive after a job-related injury?
A: Injured workers may receive medical care, weekly wage replacement (TTD), and lump-sum disability payments (PPD), depending on their condition.
Q: Why do insurance companies fight workers’ comp claims?
A: Insurance companies often try to reduce payouts by questioning disability, delaying authorizations for treatment, or underestimating the severity of injuries.
Q: Should I fight a denied workers’ comp benefit?
A: Yes. Insurance carriers have financial incentives to deny or reduce benefits, and fighting denials ensures you receive what you’re legally entitled to.
Q: Do I need a lawyer for a workers’ comp claim in Missouri?
A: While not required, having an experienced attorney greatly increases the likelihood of successfully securing full benefits, especially in contested cases.
