Helping Families of Deceased Workers After Work-Related Fatalities in Missouri

Winning workplace death claims for victims’ loved ones

When the unthinkable happens and a loved one is killed at work, The Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm, LLC acts with compassion and perseverance to obtain the best possible compensation for the families left behind.

As a surviving spouse, parent or child, you may be worried about how you will pay household and medical bills, how you will get by without your loved one’s wages and probably even how your family will fare emotionally. Our experienced wrongful death and workers’ compensation attorney understands how difficult these cases are and provides sound counsel and compassionate advocacy. We help secure damages and benefits that cover those costs as well as funeral and burial expenses.

We take the time to listen to your concerns and develop a strategic approach. By combining our significant understanding of Missouri’s workers’ compensation statutes with our extensive experience, we achieve justice and fair compensation for victims’ families.

Understanding Missouri death benefits

When an employee dies as a result of a work-related accident or disease, the survivors are entitled to weekly benefits from the company or its workers’ compensation insurance carrier. The weekly death benefit is two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage for the year before the fatal accident. This figure is capped at a specific amount that varies each year. The family also is entitled to collect up to $5,000 in funeral expenses.

A surviving spouse is entitled to the weekly benefit until death or remarriage. Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse receives a lump sum of two years of benefits.

Dependent children share in that benefit until they are between the ages of 18 and 22 if they attend college full time.

Third-party actions for negligence

In addition to workers’ compensation death benefits, survivors can file a civil wrongful death lawsuit against any responsible person or company that was not the employer. A wrongful death action is available to parents, children and spouses of individuals who died as a result of someone else’s negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct. In addition to recovering economic losses for medical and funeral expenses, you may also be able to recover significant compensation for loss of the relationship, pain and suffering to the victim and future lost wages.

You may be entitled to significant compensation

In both workers’ compensation and civil wrongful death cases, it is critical not to settle with an insurance company before knowing your rights and the full damages you may be entitled to. At The Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm, LLC we have the experience and requisite trial skills to effectively protect your interests.

We conduct a thorough investigation and immediately begin building a case. We work swiftly to preserve evidence and obtain the statements of key witnesses so that we have an accurate picture of the accident. Attorney Murphy also fully understands the Missouri wrongful death statute and how to meet its many complex requirements.

Additionally, we work with experts, including life planners, financial specialists, accident reconstructionists and many others who can best determine the cause of the accident and the appropriate value for your claim.

We are experienced in wrongful death claims for workers in every type of industry, from construction to truck driving.

You have questions about fatal job accidents. We have answers. Contact us for a free consultation.

If you and your family have recently lost a loved one in a work-related accident, it is important to consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. While we know there is no substitute for the life of your loved one, we can help you move on and have peace of mind.

Contact The Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm, LLC online or at 417-888-0000 for a free consultation with an attorney in Springfield and Joplin who has the knowledge to pursue every available option after a deadly on-the-job accident.

You pay no fee until our firm recovers benefits for you.