At The Gogel Law Firm, our workers’ compensation attorney in St. Louis knows that Missouri employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have five or more employees unless it is a construction company, then the employer must carry the coverage if they have one or more employees.
Workers’ compensation coverage and benefits apply to all employees, whether they are part-time, full-time, or family members.
When employees are injured at work, they may be eligible to pursue different types of workers’ compensation benefits, based on the extent of their injuries. Workers’ compensation benefits include full medical benefits and may include lost wages paid in the form of temporary total disability benefits and permanent partial or permanent total disability benefits.
Here we discuss the differences in these benefits, so Missouri employees know what types of coverage they may be entitled to after suffering an injury at work.
What are the Temporary Total Disability Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Missouri?
When employees are hurt on the job, and their injuries are severe enough to keep them from returning to work right away, they may be eligible for Temporary Total Disability, or TTD, benefits.
TTD benefits are calculated at 66 2/3% of the injured worker’s average gross weekly wage and will be paid until the employee’s physician says they can return to work, or when they have completed their medical treatment, whichever comes first.
If an employee can return to work in a modified capacity, temporary partial benefits will be paid, which is calculated at 66 2/3% of the difference between their previous earning rate, and the amount the modified duty pays, instead of TTD benefits.
What are the Permanent Partial Disability Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Missouri?
Permanent Partial Disability, or PPD, means the employee’s injury affects their ability to do certain work tasks but they are still capable of working in some capacity, even if it is not at the same job they had at the time of the injury.
PPD benefits are calculated at 66 2/3% of the employee’s average weekly earnings as of the date of the injury, which may be paid weekly or in a lump sum based on the nature and extent of the disability.
What are the Permanent Total Disability Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Missouri?
Permanent Total Disability, or PTD, means the employee is no longer able to work at any job.
PTD benefits are calculated at 66 2/3% of the employee’s average weekly earnings at the time of the injury, which may be paid weekly for the injured employee’s lifetime or negotiated in a lump sum settlement.
What Happens When an Employee is Fatally Injury at Work in Missouri?
When an employee loses their life in the course of their employment, certain surviving individuals may be entitled to weekly benefits from the employer and their insurer, including up to $5,000 in funeral expenses.
To learn if you are eligible to receive death benefits after losing a loved one to a work injury, contact our skilled workers’ compensation attorney in St. Louis to schedule a free consultation.
Contact Our Experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri for a Free Consultation
If you have been injured at work, and are receiving resistance from your employer’s insurance company, or have already been denied workers’ compensation benefits, contact our dedicated personal injury lawyer in St. Louis today and allow us to review your case by calling (314) 370-8173 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation today.