Basic Benefits in Workers’ Compensation

There are various benefits under the law that an injured worker may be entitled to receive. Unfortunately, employers and workers' compensation insurance companies focused on the bottom-line, do not always follow the law and are not on your side. Companies' insurance providers have attorneys who are well-versed in defending workers' compensation laws and attempt to make sure you the injured worker get nothing or as little as possible. This is part of the reason you must have experienced counsel in combating the enemy. Attorney John A. Christiansen has over 25 years of experience in handling workers' compensation cases and can maximize your recovery under the law. Our office will protect your rights and maximize your benefits, including:

- Medical Treatment - The injured worker is entitled to receive reasonable and necessary medical treatment to cure and relieve the effects of the work injuries. The employer has an obligation to provide such treatment and has the right to select the treating doctor and healthcare providers. You, the injured worker, need to request medical treatment. Benefits can include future medical treatment which will continue or be able to be accessed after the case has settled or gone to trial. This is usually the most important part of your workers' compensation case and where the Law Office Of John Adams Christiansen, LC can often help you most.

- Temporary Total Disability benefits - In the event a doctor has you off work or on such restrictions that your employer cannot accommodate them, then you as the injured worker are entitled to receive "temporary total disability", which amounts to a percentage of your average gross weekly wages. Your compensation rate will determine how much you are paid while off work. In many cases, you may receive these payments for weeks or months. Making sure you are being paid at the correct rate, is part of our job at the Law Office Of John Adams Christiansen, LC.

- Permanent Partial Disability - If you are able to work after your injury, but suffered a permanent injury you may be entitled to a settlement or award of "permanent partial disability". The amount of money this amounts to depends on a variety of factors but is never dictated by a particular statute or case. The Law Office Of John Adams Christiansen, LC can help maximize your recovery under the law.

- Permanent Total Disability - If you are unable to perform all types of employment, then you may qualify for "permanent total disability" payments which can last the rest of your life. You must be unable to perform any type of work in the labor market due to your compensable work injury or occupational disease, or in some cases, a combination of a work injury with pre-existing disabilities is enough to qualify. The weekly rate is the same for temporary total disability. In the event you are permanently and totally disabled, you will also want to pursue a Social Security Disability claim, which we at the Law Office Of John Adams Christiansen, LC can handle as well, if required.

- Other Benefits - There are other benefits under the workers' compensation law. These are different under Missouri law than that of Kansas. Some of the basic ones may include disfigurement (scarring on the face, neck, hands, or arms) and money for mileage incurred in attending medical appointments.

Schedule a free consultation with the Law Office Of John Adams Christiansen, LC so that we can meet with you to assess your case and discuss the benefits and possible outcomes. Contact us to schedule an appointment.