HanDBook on MISSOURI WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAW

hanDBook on

MISSOURI WORKERS' COMPENSATION

LAW

PrePareD BY

Schuchat, cook & werner

Dean L. christianson colleen Joern Vetter

clare r. Behrle the SheLL BuiLDing 1221 LocuSt Street, SeconD FLoor St. LouiS, MiSSouri 63103-2364

(314) 621-2626 (866) 621-2626 (toll free)

Fax (314) 621-2378

? 2010 Schuchat, cook & werner

MISSOURI WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW

Dean L. Christianson Colleen Joern Vetter

Clare R. Behrle Schuchat, Cook & Werner 1221 Locust St., Second Floor St. Louis, MO 63103-2364

(314) 621-2626 (866) 621-2626 (toll free)

Fax (314) 621-2378

PREFACE

This is a Handbook about Missouri Workers' Compensation Law. It will provide some answers to the questions you may have if you are injured at work through either a sudden accident, a more gradual, "repetitive" injury, or a disease of one sort or another. Because of the complexity of the Law, and out of necessity, not every kind of problem could be included in this Handbook. Therefore, it should not be considered a substitute for seeking advice from an attorney when you are confronted with a possible workers' compensation claim. If you have an injury that does not seem to be compensable under the Workers' Compensation Law, it is important to talk to an attorney before giving up on making a claim for benefits. This Handbook will provide you with a basic overview of Workers' Compensation Law in Missouri and assist you in obtaining the full benefits to which you are entitled under the Law.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-1II. What Injuries Are Covered By The Law? . . . . . -1-

A. Accidental Injuries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-1B. Occupational Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2III. What Is Meant By "Arising Out Of And In The Course Of Employment"?. . . . . . . . . -2A. Arising Out Of Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2-

1. Acts of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -32. Assaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -33. Alcohol And Drug Related Accidents . . . . . . -34. Horseplay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -3B. In The Course Of Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . -41. Going To And From Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . -42. Personal Errands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -43. 24 Hour Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -4IV. What To Do If You Are Hurt At Work . . . . . . . . . -5A The Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -5B. Reporting The Injury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -5C. Asking Your Employer For Medical Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -5D. Keeping A Notebook Of Your Injury And Complaints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -6E. Other Concerns When You Are Hurt At Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -61. Should I Sign An Accident Report

Prepared By My Employer? . . . . . . . . . . . . -62. What Should I Do If I Am

Called By An Insurance Adjustor? . . . . . . . -73. When Should I Speak To An Attorney? . . . -74. Time Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -8V. Benefits Provided Under Missouri's Workers' Compensation Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-9A. The Basic Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -9B. Medical Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -91. Choice Of Medical Provider . . . . . . . . . . . -102. Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -10-

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3. Protection Against Bill Collection. . . . . . . -104. Prosthetic Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -10C. Temporary Total Disability Benefits . . . . . . . -101. Compensation Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -112. Three Day Waiting Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . -123. Light Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -124. Temporary Partial Disability . . . . . . . . . . . -12D. Permanent Disability Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . -121. Permanent Total Disability Benefits . . . . . -132. Permanent Partial Disability Benefits . . . . -13E. The Second Injury Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -141. Theory Of The Second Injury Fund . . . . . -142. Sample Second Injury Fund

Calculation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -143. Permanent Total Disability Against

The Second Injury Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -154. Second Injury Fund Thresholds . . . . . . . . -15F. Death Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -161. Burial Expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -162. Weekly Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -16G. Disfigurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -16H. Penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -16VI. Workers' Compensation Procedures . . . . . . . . . . -17A. Where To File Workers' Compensation Claims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -17B. Location Of Division Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . -17C. The Employer's Answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -18D. Settlement Of Workers' Compensation Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -18E. Hearings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -19VII. Should The Employee Retain An Attorney? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -19Exhibit A: Maximum Weekly Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . -21Exhibit B: Schedule of Injuries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -22A. Scheduled Injuries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -22B. Unscheduled Injuries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -23Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -24-

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