$135,000.00 - Missouri Work Comp, Back Injury

Our Missouri workers’ compensation lawyers secured a favorable $135,000.00 settlement for a client who suffered aback injury at work. The details of his injury and disability rating are below. In workers’ compensation cases the disability rating drives the value of the case and any good work comp lawyer knows to get their client into the best doctors, not the insurance company doctors, to properly evaluate their injury and get the best disability rating possible.

Pertaining to and as a direct result of the injuries sustained owe determined the following industrial disabilities exists that is a hindrance to our clients employment or re-employment:

1. There is a 65% permanent partial disability of the body as a whole rated at the lumbar spine and pelvis due to the multiple pelvic fractures, lumbar spine fractures, and sacral fractures that required surgical repairs. The rating accounts for significant ongoing pain, lost motion, weakness, sensory loss, and difficulties with weight bearing and gait.
2. There is a 10% permanent partial disability of the body as a whole rated at the cervical spine due to the cervical contusion and residual myofascial pain causing lost motion.
3. There is a 10% permanent partial disability of the body as a whole rated at the thoracic spine due to the thoracic contusion and myofascial pain causing lost motion.

The doctor we sent our client to was critical in obtaining this settlement as he advised the following:

With regard to work and other activities referable to the spine: 1. He is advised to avoid all bending, twisting, lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying, climbing and other similar tasks to an as needed basis. 2. He should not handle any weight greater than 15-20 pounds, and limit this task to an occasional basis assuming proper lifting techniques. 3. He should not handle weight over his head or away from his body, nor should he carry weight over long distances or uneven terrain. 4. He is advised to avoid remaining in a fixed position for any more than about 30 minutes at a time including both sitting and standing. 5. He should change positions frequently to maximize comfort and rest when needed. 6. He is advised to pursue an appropriate stretching, strengthening, and range of motion exercise program in addition to non-impact aerobic conditioning such as walking, biking, or swimming to tolerance daily.

Our client was 2 years away from retirement when the injury occurred, he used the settlement to retire early.