If you’ve been injured at work in Missouri, it’s natural to want to know how long your workers’ compensation case will take. While every case is different, the timeline usually depends on your medical recovery, the seriousness of your injury, and whether there are disputes with the insurance company.
- Your workers’ compensation case should usually not be settled while you are still receiving medical treatment.
- Maximum Medical Improvement is the point where your doctor determines your condition has stabilized.
- Once you reach Maximum Medical Improvement, your attorney can better evaluate your impairment rating, medical records, work restrictions, and overall case value.
- Minor injuries may resolve in a matter of months, while serious injuries involving surgery, long-term care, or permanent restrictions can take a year or more.
- Disputes over whether the injury happened at work, whether treatment is necessary, or whether you can return to work may extend the timeline.
- Injured workers should be cautious about early settlement offers because they may not account for future medical needs, lost wages, or permanent disability.
- An experienced Missouri workers’ compensation attorney at The Krebs Law Firm can help protect your rights, evaluate settlement offers, and keep the insurance company from rushing you into a bad decision.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these main points in more detail.
How Long To Settle A Workers’ Compensation Case in Missouri?
If you were hurt on the job in Missouri and you’re considering filing a Missouri Workers’ Compensation case, one of the first questions you probably have is: How Long Is This Going To Take?
It is a completely reasonable thing to wonder. You have bills to pay, a family to support, and a life to get back to.
You want answers, and you want them now.
But the honest truth is that there is no single answer to this question. Every workers’ compensation case in Missouri is different, and the timeline for settling your case depends on several important factors — the most important being your medical recovery.
Here is what you need to know.
Your Settlement Should Not Come Before Your Recovery
The most important thing to understand about Missouri workers’ compensation cases is this: a good attorney will not push you to settle your case while you are still getting medical treatment.
This might feel frustrating if you just want to get the whole thing over with. But settling too early is one of the biggest mistakes an injured worker can make. Here’s why.
When you settle a workers’ compensation case in Missouri, you are typically giving up your right to future benefits related to that injury.
If you settle before you know the full extent of your injuries — or before your doctor has said you have healed as much as you are going to — you could end up settling for far less than your case is actually worth.
What if you need a surgery six months from now that nobody expected? What if your injury turns out to be more serious than it first appeared?
If you have already settled, you may have no way to go back and get more compensation. That is why a workers’ comp attorney who is truly looking out for your best interest will not talk settlement until your medical situation is clear.
What Does “Maximum Medical Improvement” Mean?
In workers’ compensation law, there is a term called Maximum Medical Improvement, or MMI.
This is the point at which your doctor determines that your condition has stabilized. It does not necessarily mean you are fully healed or 100 percent back to normal.
It means your condition is not expected to improve significantly with more treatment.
Once you reach Maximum Medical Improvement, your doctor will typically give you a rating that reflects any permanent impairment caused by your injury.
That rating plays a big role in determining what your case is worth.
This is the point at which settlement talks usually make sense.
Until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement, neither you nor your attorney can fully know the value of your claim.
Settling before that point means settling without complete information — and that almost always benefits the insurance company, not you.
So How Long Does The Process Actually Take?
The honest answer is: it depends. Some workers’ compensation cases in Missouri resolve in a matter of months.
Others take a year or more. In serious injury cases — think spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or injuries that require multiple surgeries — the timeline can stretch even longer.
Here are some of the main factors that affect how long your case will take:
The severity of your injury. Minor injuries that heal quickly lead to faster resolutions.
Major injuries that require surgery, extended therapy, or long-term care take more time before you are ready to settle.
How long your medical treatment takes. Until your treating physician releases you or determines you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement, your case is not ready to settle.
There is simply no way to know the full value of your claim until that happens.
Whether there are disputes in your case. Sometimes the insurance company disputes whether your injury happened at work, whether a certain treatment is necessary, or how serious your condition is.
These disputes can slow things down and may require hearings or additional medical evaluations.
Whether you are able to return to work. If you can go back to your old job with no restrictions, your case may wrap up more quickly.
If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous work — or from working at all — your case will likely involve more complex negotiations and take more time.
What Happens Once You Are Done With Treatment?
Once your doctor has released you and determined that you have reached maximum medical improvement, things can move more quickly.
At that point, your attorney will review all of your medical records, your impairment rating, your work history, and your ability to return to work. From there, your attorney can put together a clear picture of what your case is worth and begin working toward a settlement.
This part of the process does have more of a defined timeline. Your attorney can give you a much clearer idea of what to expect once you have been released from medical care.
Don’t Let Anyone Rush You Into a Settlement
One warning worth repeating: be careful if someone is pressuring you to settle quickly. Insurance companies have a financial interest in closing your case as fast as possible — and often for as little money as possible.
They may approach you early with a settlement offer that sounds good but does not account for future medical needs, lost wages, or permanent disability.
Before you accept any settlement offer in a Missouri workers’ compensation case, talk to an experienced work comp attorney you can trust.
An experienced workers’ comp lawyer can review their offer, compare it to what your case is actually worth, and advise you on whether to accept it or keep negotiating.
Talk to an Experienced Missouri Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today
If you were injured on the job in Missouri, you don’t have to navigate this process alone.
An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can protect your rights, make sure you are not rushed into a bad settlement, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.
The timeline for your case will depend on your unique situation — but with the right legal help, you can move through the process with confidence.
Contact an experienced Missouri workers’ compensation lawyer at The Krebs Law Firm today for a free consultation and find out where you stand.
Injured at Work in Missouri? Call The Krebs Law Firm Today
If you’ve been hurt on the job in Springfield, MO, or anywhere in southern Missouri, don’t go it alone.
The Missouri workers’ compensation system is full of legal traps.
And insurance companies have experienced lawyers working against you.
Let us help you protect your rights and get every dollar you deserve.
The Krebs Law Firm—Experience. Dedication. Results.
Don’t leave your future in the hands of the insurance company. Get a legal team that fights for you.
Don’t try taking on the insurance companies alone. Call The Krebs Law Firm for a free consultation.
You need an experienced workers compensation attorney at your side to make sure you get what you deserve for your workplace injury.
Call The Krebs Law Firm Springfield office at (417) 883-5886, our Columbia office at (573) 886-8976 or toll free at (800) 345-0535.
There is no upfront cost to hiring a Missouri Workers Compensation attorney for your claim.
If have a potential Missouri work comp case and want to make sure you maximize your Missouri Workers Compensation benefits for your workplace injury, then you should speak to an experienced Missouri Workers Compensation attorney sooner rather than later.
Utilize our years of expertise to get the compensation you deserve and let us help each step of the way.