Consult With a Missouri and Southern Illinois Wrongful Death Lawyer
A death on the job is a rare event — and is often compensable through workers' compensation benefits. Some workplace death cases are straightforward and not in dispute, while others can present complex issues regarding coverage, causation and dependency.
Larsen & Hess, P.C. is a law firm that focuses exclusively on workers' compensation. We understand the law regarding workers' compensation death cases and work diligently to help our clients get all of the compensation they are entitled to.
Larsen & Hess, P.C., is prepared to stand up in support of family members' right to death benefits acworkers' compensation laws. Our law practice is focused on handling workers' compensation cases exclusively. Each of our partners has more than 25 years of experience. All of our attorneys have qualified or are soon to be qualified as fellows of the nationally-recognized College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers.
Although past success does not guarantee success in any particular case, we have successfully tried hundreds of cases and have handled claims at every administrative and judicial level both in Missouri and in Illinois, including both the Missouri and Illinois Supreme Courts.
One of our attorneys has been elected president-elect of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA), and on behalf of this organization, we frequently lobby the Missouri legislature when proposed new laws will likely have an impact on injured workers. We actively support politicians who protect worker's rights and we are active members of organizations that promote a pro-worker agenda.
Our attorneys stand out in terms of knowledge and experience. Our lawyers regularly volunteer in a variety of public service capacities for the benefit of injured workers in Missouri and Illinois. Each of our partners has been asked to speak at continuing legal education programs on workers' compensation.
Contact us for a free consultation.
How We Can Help
There are two types of workers' compensation death cases:
Undisputed — where the cause of death is not in question and the accident is covered by the employer's workers' compensation policy. In these cases, our firm can provide basic review services to ensure you are treated fairly and getting the full benefits prescribed by law. We charge no fee in these cases.
Disputed — In these cases, there are questions relating to whether the accident is actually covered by workers' compensation. Larsen & Hess, P.C. will review the case and if it has merit, we will seek full and complete compensation as prescribed by law.
Who is Entitled to Death Benefits?
In Missouri and Illinois, those immediately related to the decedent at the time of the accident are entitled to claim workers' compensation death benefits. This includes the spouse and children of the victim, including children born outside of marriage. There are a several complex aspects relating to the question of dependency and our firm will carefully examine these before going forward with your case.
Third-Party Wrongful Death Cases
Some workplace deaths are caused by the negligence of a third party such as a contractor, equipment supplier or vehicle driver not employed by the decedent's employer. In these cases, the family of the deceased has what is known as a third-party claim. This can provide compensation for emotional distress and other non-economic losses which can amount to significantly more than the compensation obtainable from the workers' compensation system.
If a member of your family died because of a third party's negligence, Larsen & Hess, P.C. will work closely with a law firm selected especially for its skill at handling these types of cases. We will work the workers' compensation side of the case and coordinate our efforts with the other law firm to maximize the compensation you receive from all sources.
Contact a St. Louis Workers' Compensation Attorney
For a free initial consultation about a wrongful death case, contact our firm.
