St. Louis Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

A St. Louis Workers’ Compensation Attorney helps victims of workplace accidents. At Padberg Appelbaum Knepper, our lawyers fight to ensure injured workers get proper medical care and receive timely benefit payments.

You are entitled to receive workers’ compensation (also commonly referred to as workers’ comp) after an injury at work — but insurance companies often try to cut corners and deny benefits to save money. When this happens, seek the advice of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. Example scenarios our legal team can help with include:

• Difficulty getting treatment or choosing a doctor for your claim
• Delayed, denied or disputed benefit payments while you are unable to work
• Penalties related to the use of recreational marijuana
• Adjusters who will not return your phone calls
• Construction Site Accidents
• Complications from repetitive motion injuries, occupational disease and occupational exposure

If you are being treated unfairly by your employer after an injury or not getting the medical treatment you need, you want the best workers’ comp lawyers to handle your claim. Contact our legal team today to set up a complimentary consultation with one of our workers’ compensation lawyers in St. Louis MO.

Notable St. Louis Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Cases

$550,000 Settlement

For a 52-year-old machinist who was found to be permanently and totally disabled after he was struck in the head by a board. The man sustained a traumatic brain injury which caused two neck surgeries, one of which was a fusion. Resulting nerve damage included carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome, which required surgery on both wrists and an elbow. As a result of the accident, the client also suffers from headaches, depression, persistent ringing in the ears, and the loss of taste and smell.

$350,000 Settlement

For a St. Louis County man who sustained several orthopedic injuries in a work accident, rendering him permanently and totally disabled.

$237,000 Settlement

For a workers’ compensation claim.

More Cases

FAQs: Questions to ask a workers’ compensation attorney

Click to jump to a question and answer:

• Am I eligible for workers’ compensation?
• What should I do if I get hurt at work?
• Is there a time limit for filing a workers’ compensation claim?
• What type of damages can I recover?
• How can a workers’ compensation attorney help me?
• Will I lose workers’ comp benefits if I smoke marijuana?
• Can I sue my employer and collect workers’ compensation?
• How much does it cost to hire a workers’ compensation attorney?

Am I eligible for workers’ compensation?

Anyone who is injured while doing work for their employer is entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of whether or not their job involves physical tasks. A workers’ compensation attorney in St. Louis MO can evaluate whether someone is entitled to receive benefits for nontraditional employment, such as an independent contractor or subcontractor.

What should I do if I get hurt at work?

After any workplace injury, employees should:

1. Immediately report the injury to their employer in writing.
2. Get medical help.
3. Collect important documentation.
4. Keep a basic logbook or journal.
5. Contact a workers’ compensation law firm.

Your employer and/or insurance provider must provide treatment for a work-related injury. The procedure of choosing a Workers’ Comp doctor varies by state.

For more information about your rights and responsibilities after a work injury, read our post: What To Do When You Are Injured at Work.

Is there a time limit for filing a workers’ compensation claim?

There are a few deadlines to meet when filing a workers’ compensation claim. First, the employer must be notified of the injury as soon as possible. Notification must be made within 30 days in Missouri, and within 45 days in Illinois. There are also time limits on how long someone can wait to file a claim.

In Missouri, generally a claim must be filed within two years from the date of injury.

In Illinois, the filing deadline is typically three years from the date of injury.

Sometimes there are exceptions to these deadlines. Contact a workers’ compensation attorney near you to discuss your case.

What type of damages can I recover? 

Injured workers or surviving family members can file a workers’ compensation claim to recover payment for:

• Lost Wages
• Medical Expenses
• Permanent Partial or Total Disability
• Death Benefits

After a work injury, the compensation may come in the form of a weekly paycheck, a lump sum payment, and/or ongoing disability or death benefit payments. Consult a workers’ compensation lawyer in St. Louis for more information.

How can a workers’ compensation attorney help me?

Workers’ compensation insurance companies have their own attorneys and law firms working on their behalf. Their top priority is to protect their bottom line, even if that means cheating an injured employee out of necessary medical care. You should not have to defend yourself from insurers when you are recovering from a work injury.

When seeking legal representation, select someone who will fight on your behalf to make sure you receive proper medical care, full and fair compensation, and timely payment of benefits beginning immediately after an injury at work has occurred.

Contact our workers’ compensation law firm for help getting the money you deserve.

Will I lose workers’ comp benefits if I smoke marijuana?

Recreational use of marijuana by adults (21+) is legal in many states, including Missouri and Illinois. However, marijuana use is still illegal under federal law, and employers in any state can prohibit their employees from using marijuana at their discretion. After testing positive for drug use, an employee can be fired and/or denied workers’ compensation benefits.

The ability to recover benefits for an injury involving marijuana use will depend on the unique details of your case. Read more about how the legalization of marijuana has impacted workers’ compensation.

Can I sue a third party and collect workers’ compensation?

Workers’ compensation is typically the exclusive remedy for employees who are injured at work, but there are some exceptions — for example, if someone other than your employer negligently caused your injury.

A workers’ comp lawyer near you will evaluate your case to determine if an additional or alternative lawsuit can be filed.

How much does it cost to hire a workers’ compensation attorney?

Our St. Louis workers’ compensation lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so clients do not pay anything unless we win a settlement or judgment on their case. If benefits are recovered for our clients, a percentage of the recovery will be used to pay the attorney fees and reimburse the firm for costs expended.