Injured Employee's Basic Rights

Many times when I meet someone and they learn that I’m a Kansas City work comp lawyer, they ask, “Well, what should I do if I ever get hurt at work?” Of course, my first response is “Call The Dickson Law Firm!” Short of calling us, here are some basic things you need to know if you are hurt on the job:

1.      Immediately report all work related injuries because there are strict time limitations.

2.       Immediately request treatment from your employer.

3.       Clearly describe the work injury to your doctor. Also, fully detail all of your symptoms.

4.       Understand that the insurance company, its adjusters, and/or attorney are NOT on your side.

5.       Do NOT give a recorded statement.

6.       Expect the insurance company to put you under surveillance. (They are almost always in vans –either mini-vans or fake work vans – with tinted windows).

7.       File a Claim for Compensation as soon as possible because, like the Notice requirement (#1), there are strict time limitations.

8.     The insurance company’s doctor’s ratings are usually low and you can almost always settle for a much higher percentage of disability, especially if you have an experienced lawyer.

 9.  You have a right to consult with a lawyer. The Dickson Law Firm always offers free consultations and we never take a fee off of the amount of a settlement offer that has already been presented to you. We usually get our client’s about double of what the insurance company was going to pay before our representation. You will be happy if you call us before you settle.

Why the West Bottoms?

I often hear this question when I tell someone where my office is. I love Kansas City’s West Bottoms and founded The Dickson Law Firm here for couple of reasons. First, the Missouri Workers’ Compensation Division is located in the West Bottoms at 1410 Genessee Street, Suite 210, Kansas City, MO 64102. Second, I enjoy history and the West Bottoms is one of the oldest parts of Kansas City and I would argue the most preserved.

The West Bottoms was founded in the 1700s by French beaver trappers and was initially referred to as the French Bottoms. Since that time the area has had its share of rises and falls. The West Bottom’s low laying footprint on the Missouri and Kansas Rivers made an excellent landing point for steamboats heading west on the Missouri River. But, it was in the middle to late 1800s when railroad tracks began traversing the area that the area really took off. Many factories, packing houses and stock yards filled the area in the early 1900s.  In 1900, 90% of Kansas City’s value was in The West Bottoms. One of the largest factories was Darby Steel Corporation who built amphibious tanks for World War II. After the War, 20,000 jobs were lost. But the flood of 1951 had an even greater impact on the area. Following the flood, many of the factories, packing houses, and stock yards left for good. The area had a resurgence in the 1970s when Kemper Arena was built. However, the flood of 1993 was yet another set back.

The West Bottoms is in another upswing and I think this one is here to stay. So the next time you are in the area, whether you are antiquing, attending the American Royal, or going to the Work Comp Division, take your time and look around. The Dickson Law Firm, located just blocks from the MO Workers’ Compensation Division, is at 1414 Wyoming Street in a freight house that was built around 1900.

Kansas Workers' Compensation Law Changes Effective January 2015

Pursuant to Kansas Bill 187, physicians rating work comp injuries must use the 6th Edition of the AMA Guides if the work injury occurred on or after January 1, 2015. (The 4th Edition was previously used and it's anyone's guess what ever happened to the poor 5th Edition). The 6th Edition requires the rating physician to base their rating on criteria that relies less on an injured workers pain complaints. The initial concern is that this will result in lower impairment ratings, which will translate into less compensation recovered by the injured worker. As a Kansas City work comp attorney who fights to get injured workers compensation for having to live their lives with a disabling injury, this is disheartening. However, I remain optimistic that the rating physicians will adjust and injured workers will continue to be properly compensated.