Workers Comp Disability Ratings
Finder Law Serves Clients Across Jefferson City, Columbia, and Central Missouri
If you’ve been injured on the job, you may qualify for a worker’s compensation settlement. In Missouri, the amount of compensation will be based on several factors. Regardless of employee fault or negligence, the employer & their insurance companies are deemed liable for their injuries if they happen on the job. This blog post is intended to be a brief overview of how worker’s compensation is determined in Missouri & what you can expect from the process.
Settlement Amounts
The amount of settlement is partially based on the average weekly wage for the employee. Missouri uses the Missouri Workers’ Compensation Body Chart to do this. What the employee earned for the prior 13 weeks will be divided to determine the average wages per week. If the employee worked fewer than 13 weeks prior to injury, the amount earned divided by the number of weeks worked is used instead. Once this amount is determined, that is usually 2/3 of the average weekly wage. Based on that number, you will simply use the chart.
The amount of disability & the body part(s) affected also have a huge impact on settlement amount. A doctor or medical expert will examine the patient & give their opinion on the percentage they believe the affected part(s) has been injured. That would be called a “Partial Disability.” If they determined the entire body as disabled, that would be considered an “Entire Person” claim. Usually, the amount of the settlement will be calculated based on the number of weeks of disability (from the chart) multiplied by the percentage of disability times the compensation rate (from the chart).
As an example, if an employee injured their knee at work, that would be worth 160 weeks of compensation. After the doctor examined them, they determined the knee was 40% disabled. If their average weekly wage was $600, the settlement equation would be:
40% X 160 weeks X $600 = $38,400
Contact an Attorney to Ensure a Fair Settlement
If you have a question about a worker’s compensation settlement you were offered or you want to submit a benefits claim, it is in your best interest to hire an attorney with experience in the field. Every case is different & the process is not always straightforward. Daniel Finder of Finder Law, LLC has valuable knowledge, experience & expertise in Worker’s Compensation Law.
This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific guidance, please contact our office directly.
