St. Louis Workers' Compensation Blog

Warehouse hazards are part of the job

On behalf of Mark E. Moreland, Attorney at Law on Wednesday, October 16, 2019.

When your employer hired you to work in a Missouri warehouse or distribution center, you probably went through a series of training sessions before you could work on the floor. Certainly, you could not operate a forklift until you had completed your certification and training. From the very beginning of your employment, you understood the potential dangers of warehouse work.

If your employer is prudent and diligent, he or she continues to update your training and provide the safest possible environment for you and your co-workers. Nevertheless, the job can be dangerous. Even with the most conscientious co-workers, every day places you at risk of injury. It only takes one moment of carelessness or distraction to result in a warehouse injury.

Can I receive workers' comp and SSDI?

On behalf of Mark E. Moreland, Attorney at Law on Thursday, July 18, 2019.

A workplace injury is bad enough, but when it means you are unable to work for a considerable amount of time, you and your family may face hardships and struggle. Of course, workers' compensation covers some of your lost income as well as your medical bills related to your accident.

However, what can you do if your employer's insurer is disputing your claim for compensation? Additionally, what if your workplace injury will leave you unable to work for a year or longer? Can you claim Social Security Disability while you are receiving workers' compensation benefits?

Overexertion still tops the list of workplace injuries

On behalf of Mark E. Moreland, Attorney at Law on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Injuries on the job happen every day, but you may not realize exactly how often. Many people suffer from workplace injuries that can be debilitating and include a long, painful recovery.

While tragic falls and horrifying machinery accidents may make the news, the most common injury a worker may suffer is overexertion. This injury can affect employees in nearly every industry where physical activity is the norm, and it results in an average of 13 days of missed work each year. That number is more than 60% greater than days lost for all other injuries.

Was your workers' comp claim denied?

On behalf of Mark E. Moreland, Attorney at Law on Sunday, January 20, 2019.

Whether your workplace injury happened suddenly or you have felt the symptoms coming on for a while, you are now facing medical bills, lost wages and perhaps the expense of prolonged treatment. Facing these costs while you are unable to work may create a sense of panic, but you are fortunate that your employer carries workers' compensation insurance to cover those expenses and replace your lost wages.

Workers' compensation is a no-fault system, which means it does not matter if your own actions resulted in your accident or injury. In most cases, you will qualify for benefits. This is to avoid clogging the courts with lawsuits between employees and their bosses for every workplace injury. However, despite the no-fault policies of workers' comp, there are still valid reasons for which the insurer may deny your claim.

Playing it safe could protect you from serious injury

On behalf of Mark E. Moreland, Attorney at Law on Friday, October 26, 2018.

Acrophobia is the fear of heights. You may be surprised just how many people here in Missouri and elsewhere suffer from this phobia. You may not find many of those people working with you in the construction business, however.

It would be almost impossible for someone working in the construction industry to avoid heights. However, there is a distinct difference between having a phobia regarding heights and having a healthy fear of them. One may keep you from working at heights, and the other may help keep you safe while working above the ground.

What should your employer do if you are hurt at work?

On behalf of Mark E. Moreland, Attorney at Law on Tuesday, July 31, 2018.

It can be frustrating and overwhelming to experience an accident in the workplace. You could be left dealing with unexpected expenses, physical injuries and other complications that could impact you and your family. When Missouri workers experience on-the-job injuries, they could have a rightful claim to financial support through workers' compensation benefits.

Filing for workers' compensation benefits is not always an easy process. It can be challenging and frustrating, and you may find it difficult to secure the full amount you deserve. It can be helpful to learn more about what to expect from this process in the event you are in an accident at work. This also includes learning what to expect from your employer as well.

Your workplace might have many potential brain injury hazards

On behalf of Mark E. Moreland, Attorney at Law posted in blog on Monday, April 30, 2018.

You might think your workplace is safe, but very few facilities are accident-proof. Many Missouri workers rely on their employers to protect their safety and health as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration prescribes. However, for many business owners, profits are more important, leaving it up to employees to look out for their own safety.

Workplace accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and the severity of injuries are not always immediately apparent. Brain injuries fall in this category because a medical examination after an on-the-job injury will likely include x-rays to check for fractures, but CT scans to check for brain injuries are expensive and are not likely to form part of the evaluation. This frequently leads to brain-injury workers being sent back to work with undiagnosed injuries. Concussions can cause permanent loss of cognitive functioning and potential life-long problems.

Were you injured because of an unsafe construction site?

On behalf of Mark E. Moreland, Attorney at Law posted in blog on Friday, January 26, 2018.

If you work in construction here in Missouri, you already know that you do dangerous work, even if your workplace is safe. You accept the risks because it's part of the job. You may often work at heights, use dangerous equipment and rely on your co-workers to help keep you from harm.

If your employer fails to take measures to ensure that the construction site you work at provides you with the best possible defenses against those and other hazards, it only makes matters worse. You may know that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration require your employer to follow certain safety regulations, but you may not know what those regulations entail.

Fight for recovery if your job made you sick

On behalf of Mark E. Moreland, Attorney at Law posted in blog on Tuesday, November 7, 2017.

Missouri workers who suffer injury on the job are entitled to financial recovery through their employer's workers' compensation insurance. However, you may be unaware of the fact that you could also be entitled to compensation if you become sick as a direct result of your job. Occupational illnesses could be valid grounds to file a workers' compensation benefits claim.

When your work makes you sick, you have the right to seek the support you need in order to achieve a full recovery. You are entitled to medical care, continued rehabilitation as needed and possibly even recompense for lost wages. In order to understand more about your rights, you may find it useful to seek an evaluation of your case.

Raise your hand if you suffered a rotator cuff injury at work

On behalf of Mark E. Moreland, Attorney at Law posted in blog on Friday, August 4, 2017.

Oh, wait. You probably can't raise your hand above your head. Being able to do so without pain often becomes the primary goal of everyone who suffers from this type of injury. Unfortunately, it could be months before you can reach for the sky again. Even so, you may still experience some pain when you do.

A rotator cuff injury can happen suddenly in a fall or some other accident, or it can happen over time from performing the same motion hour after hour, day after day and week and after week at work. Regardless of how it happened, your treatment plan may depend on the type of injury and its severity.

Helping Injured Workers Recover The Benefits They Deserve