An on-the-job injury in Missouri can feel overwhelming, especially when the injury is serious and debilitating. When a severe injury results in a physician placing you on permanent work restrictions, you may be facing an uncertain future. Financial hardship is a serious threat when an injury prevents a return to work. A successful workers’ compensation claim for a permanent work restriction can be a critical safety net.
What Workplace Accidents Can Cause Permanent Disability?
According to the CDC, falls are the most common cause of severe or fatal workplace injuries, particularly within the construction industry, but there are many ways that workplace accidents occur, including the following:
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Falls from heights
- Crush injuries
- Traumatic amputations from being caught in dangerous work equipment
- Struck-by accidents, such as being struck by moving vehicles, heavy equipment, or falling objects
- Vehicle crashes during workplace transportation
- Fires or explosions
- Chemical exposures that cause lung injury, blindness, or severe caustic burns
Permanent cognitive impairment from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is another cause of permanent work restrictions in Missouri claims.
Determining Permanent Work Restriction In a Workers’ Compensation Claim In Missouri
After suffering a serious injury in the workplace, a workers’ compensation claim requires the injury victim to see a provider on their employer’s approved provider list. Depending on the severity of the injury, a physician may determine that the injury will not improve enough for the injury victim to return to work, even after reaching the maximum medical improvement for the injury. In this case, the physician may issue a permanent work restriction.
Depending on the type and severity of the injury, a work restriction may prevent a return to work in the previous capacity or may prohibit the injury victim from returning to work at all. Depending on the restriction, the injury victim may be able to work a light-duty position, may be unable to work in their previous place of employment, or may be unable to work at all.
What Are My Options for Compensation After a Permanent Work Restriction?
To file a workers’ compensation claim requires first informing your employer of your injury in writing within 30 days of the injury. Then, you should receive your medical treatment from a provider on your employee’s list and carefully follow your treatment recommendations. If the injury is severe and permanent, the provider may issue a permanent work restriction for one of the following:
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): This occurs when you can return to work, but not in your previous position, performing light-duty work or a reduced work schedule
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): When an injury is severe enough to prevent you from working at all
Most workers’ compensation claims for one of the above permanent work restrictions result in either a lump sum settlement from the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance or weekly paid benefits for two-thirds of your previous wage.
Do I Need an Attorney for a Missouri Workers’ Compensation Claim for a Permanent Work Restriction?
Workers’ compensation is provided by insurance companies. Unfortunately, the insurer’s goal to protect company profits is in direct conflict with your objective to obtain the largest possible settlement for your permanent partial disability or permanent total disability.
A successful claim isn’t always a straightforward process, especially when it involves a large sum that the insurer may try to undervalue or dispute. It’s not uncommon for a claim denial to result from a simple oversight, filing error, or missed deadline. An assertive Missouri workers’ compensation attorney defends your rights and best interests throughout the process to achieve the full and fair compensation your permanent injury requires.