You’re sitting there with an ice pack on your back, or maybe staring at your swollen wrist, wondering how you’re going to pay your bills if you can’t work. Or maybe you’re at home right now because your boss sent you away after the accident, and you have no idea what happens next.
We get it. Getting hurt at work feels different than other injuries. There’s embarrassment, worry about your job, and confusion about what you’re entitled to. Most people who call us start with “I don’t want to cause trouble” or “I’m not sure if this is even worth pursuing.”
Let me stop you right there.
You’re Not Causing Trouble – You’re Using a System That Exists for Exactly This Reason
We are Doug Noland and Kate Noland, workers’ compensation attorneys here in Kansas City, Missouri, and we’ve helped hundreds of workers who felt exactly like you do right now. They worried they’d get fired, or that they were being dramatic about their pain, or that they didn’t deserve help.
Here’s what we told them, and what we’re telling you: Missouri created workers’ compensation laws specifically so you’d have somewhere to turn when this happened. This is literally what it’s for.
What Actually Is Workers’ Compensation?
Think of it as a promise Missouri made to workers like you. When the state created these laws, they made a deal: your employer carries insurance for workplace injuries, you get medical care and money to replace your wages, and in return, you generally can’t sue your employer.
The best part? It doesn’t matter whose fault it was. You don’t have to prove your boss messed up or that anyone was careless. If you got hurt because of your job, you’re covered.
Whether you slipped because the floor was wet, hurt your back lifting something, or developed carpal tunnel from years of typing – none of that matters in terms of fault. What matters is that you got hurt doing your job.
We represent many clients injured in workplace accidents due to unsafe conditions. One client was struck by a poorly stacked box that fell from a high shelf at a distribution center, causing a serious shoulder injury. We documented the unsafe stacking practices and obtained witness statements confirming the hazardous conditions. We had an expert who testified about proper workplace safety protocols. Our client received full medical treatment including surgery and wage replacement benefits.
Does Your Workplace Even Have Coverage?
This is probably one of your first questions, and it’s a good one. Most Missouri employers have to carry workers’ compensation insurance, but not all of them do.
Now here’s the thing – if your employer was supposed to have coverage but doesn’t, that’s actually good news for you. It means you can sue them directly in court, which often results in more money than workers’ comp would provide.
Not sure if your workplace has coverage? Just ask your HR department or your supervisor. It’s a simple question, and you have every right to know.
“But I’m Not Sure My Injury Even Counts”
We hear this constantly. People think their injury isn’t “bad enough” or isn’t really work-related because of some detail that seems important to them.
Let us clear this up: Missouri law says your injury needs to “arise out of and in the course of employment.” That means it needs to be connected to your job and happen while you’re working or doing work-related activities. Your job also needs to be the “prevailing factor” – the main cause – of your injury.
Injuries that count:
- You slipped on a wet floor at the warehouse
- You hurt yourself operating machinery
- Your back gave out while lifting boxes
- Your wrists hurt from typing all day
- You got in a car accident while making deliveries
- You’ve been breathing in chemicals and now you can’t stop coughing
Injuries that typically don’t count:
- You hurt yourself during lunch off company property
- You were drunk or high when the injury happened
- Your body just naturally wore down with age, unrelated to work
We represent many clients whose workers’ compensation claims are wrongfully denied due to pre-existing conditions. One client was a delivery driver who suffered a severe back injury while carrying a heavy package. We obtained medical records showing his work duties were the prevailing factor that caused his serious injury. We had an expert who testified about how repetitive heavy lifting significantly aggravated his condition. We successfully obtained coverage for surgery, physical therapy, and a settlement.
What Can You Actually Get?
This is what you really want to know, right? What money are we talking about here?
Your Medical Care
Your employer’s insurance should pay for everything related to your injury:
- All doctor visits
- Hospital stays and surgery
- Physical therapy
- Your prescriptions
- Medical equipment like crutches or a back brace
- Even your mileage to appointments (67 cents per mile)
Now, there’s a catch: your employer picks your first doctor. You can see your own doctor if you want, but you’ll have to pay for it yourself. You can always get a second opinion though, and we can help with that.
Money to Replace Your Wages
If you can’t work because you’re hurt, whether short term or long term, Missouri law provides you with income to replace your wages. The amount will depend on many factors, so make sure you have an attorney so you receive the maximum amount you deserve.
“Can They Fire Me for Filing a Claim?”
This is the fear that keeps people from calling us. You’re scared that if you file a claim, you’ll lose your job.
Here’s the truth: Missouri law makes it illegal for your employer to fire you just for filing a workers’ compensation claim. That’s explicit retaliation and it’s against the law.
But – and this is important – they can still fire you for legitimate reasons like layoffs, poor performance, or if they’re restructuring the company. The key word is “just for filing a claim.”
If you think you were fired because of your workers’ comp claim, that’s a separate wrongful termination case we can help with. It’s different from your injury claim and could get you additional money.
What’s Your Case Actually Worth?
I know this is what you’re wondering. You want a number. But here’s the honest answer: it depends on your specific situation.
Your settlement depends on how badly you’re hurt, how much you were making before, whether you can go back to your old job, how expensive your medical treatment is, and even your age.
Rather than throwing out some random number that might give you false hope or make you settle for too little, let us look at your actual case. We’ve handled hundreds of these, and we can give you a realistic idea based on cases similar to yours.
Your Biggest Questions Answered
“How long do I have to file?”
You’ve got a limited time frame from when you got hurt to report your claim or file a claim
“What if I had health problems before this?”
Having a bad back or weak wrists before your injury doesn’t disqualify you. What matters is whether your work made it worse. This is another area where having an attorney helps prove your case.
“What if the injury was kind of my fault?”
Doesn’t matter. Workers’ comp is no-fault, remember? Even if you made a mistake, you’re still covered. The only exception is if you were drunk or high and that’s what caused the accident.
“What if my employer doesn’t have insurance?”
If they were supposed to have it but don’t, there are additional options available. Make sure you contact an attorney to discuss your options.
You’re Probably Thinking You Can Handle This Yourself
A lot of people think that. They figure they’ll just call the insurance company, answer some questions, and get their checks. How hard could it be?
Here’s what actually happens: the insurance company will be friendly at first. They’ll ask you to give a recorded statement. They’ll send you to their doctor. They’ll offer you a settlement that sounds like a lot of money.
And then you’ll sign papers that prevent you from getting any more money, even when you discover your injury is worse than you thought. Or they’ll deny your claim for some technical reason you didn’t even know about.
These insurance companies have teams of people whose entire job is to pay you as little as possible. They know the system inside and out. You don’t – and that’s completely normal. Why would you? This is probably your first workplace injury.
Here’s What Happens When You Call Us
When you call our office here in Kansas City, you’ll talk to someone who gets it. We won’t make you feel stupid for not understanding the process. We won’t judge you for being scared about your job or your bills.
We’ll just listen to what happened and give you honest advice about what comes next.
If you have a case, we’ll handle the insurance company, gather your medical records, deal with all the paperwork, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve. You focus on healing. We’ll focus on the legal stuff.
Most of our cases settle without going to court. Insurance companies know we’re not afraid to take cases to trial if we need to, so they usually offer fair settlements to our clients.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Right now, you might be in pain. You might be worried about money. You might be scared about losing your job or causing problems at work.
But waiting doesn’t make any of that better. It actually makes it worse.
Medical records get lost. Witnesses’ memories fade. Deadlines pass. The insurance company’s doctors will say you’re fine when you’re not.
The insurance company is already protecting themselves. Your employer is already protecting themselves. Who’s protecting you?
Take the First Step Today
We know calling a lawyer feels like a big deal. But calling us is just having a conversation with someone who can actually help. You’re not committing to anything by picking up the phone.
If you got hurt at work anywhere in Kansas City or anywhere in Missouri, call us. Let’s talk about what happened and figure out your next steps together.
You’ve been hurt enough already. Let us handle the rest.
