The most common workplace injuries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, are sprains and strains. Work-related sprains and strains in Missouri are no different from elsewhere in the country, and such injuries can occur in virtually every occupation, from construction to healthcare to office-based administrative work.
For anyone injured on the job in Missouri and rendered unable to work for a period, it becomes necessary to file for workers compensation benefits. However, workers often tolerate sprains and strains for weeks and months until the injury becomes intolerable — thereby rendering them unable to work for even longer periods of time. Insurance companies fight these claims as a matter of course, treating almost every such claim as a potential fraud.
The severity of a sprain or strain bears a strong correlation to the disability the injury causes. According to WebMD, this can be measured in a three-tier grading system:
It benefits both the employer and the employee to prevent a Grade 1 or a Grade 2 injury from progressing to a Grade 3 disability. The intervention of a workers compensation attorney at an early stage is therefore advisable. Contact the Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm LLC in Springfield, Missouri to learn more.
4905 S. National Avenue, Suite A128
Springfield, Missouri 65810