Helping You Recover From Your Losses
LAW AREAS:
Automobile Injuries:
I have handled tractor trailer cases, automobile rollover cases, jack-knifed cases, and passenger injury cases, also called single-car accidents. Sadly, serious injuries can result when the driver of a vehicle loses control or drives off the road and collides with an object and the passenger is seriously injured or killed. I have experience helping uninsured or underinsured people recover compensation for serious high-speed collisions into the rear of my client’s automobile or heavy vehicles like tow-trucks smashing into automobiles. It is important to take into consideration the special circumstances involved with dump trucks or concrete trucks as well. Some of the most dangerous collision impact dynamics occur with head-on collisions.
I have handled tractor trailer cases, automobile rollover cases, jack-knifed cases, and passenger injury cases, also called single-car accidents. Sadly, serious injuries can result when the driver of a vehicle loses control or drives off the road and collides with an object and the passenger is seriously injured or killed. I have experience helping uninsured or underinsured people recover compensation for serious high-speed collisions into the rear of my client’s automobile or heavy vehicles like tow-trucks smashing into automobiles. It is important to take into consideration the special circumstances involved with dump trucks or concrete trucks as well. Some of the most dangerous collision impact dynamics occur with head-on collisions.
Tractor Trailer Collisions:
I have handled cases involving large truck or tractor trailer collisions. I have handled a case where a tractor trailer driver was distracted and/or tired and was on his phone when he ran into the rear of a vehicle stopped at a red traffic light. Also, I have helped an injured person in a “wheel-off” case, also referred to as a wheel run-off/ losing tires/axle tandem tractor trailer case. It is important to understand the forces involved in a big truck accident. For example, a jack-knife case has substantial impact forces from the tractor and trailer buckling where it ends up facing the opposite direction.
I have handled cases involving large truck or tractor trailer collisions. I have handled a case where a tractor trailer driver was distracted and/or tired and was on his phone when he ran into the rear of a vehicle stopped at a red traffic light. Also, I have helped an injured person in a “wheel-off” case, also referred to as a wheel run-off/ losing tires/axle tandem tractor trailer case. It is important to understand the forces involved in a big truck accident. For example, a jack-knife case has substantial impact forces from the tractor and trailer buckling where it ends up facing the opposite direction.
Social Security Disability/SSI:
I have helped people with physical and mental disability claims. These claims involve physical and mental limitations from:
I have helped people with physical and mental disability claims. These claims involve physical and mental limitations from:
- heart attacks,
- strokes,
- blood clots,
- digestive disorders,
- blood disorders like Sickle Cell,
- spine disorders,
- degenerative disk disease,
- traumatic or acquired brain injury,
- paralysis,
- PTSD,
- Agoraphobia,
- panic Attacks,
- OCD,
- severe anxiety and depression.
Long Term Disability: I have helped persons who had long-term disability policies (non- ERISA and ERISA) who received denial letters when trying to obtain their monthly payments or a settlement. It is common to be denied by your insurance company for physical and mental conditions such as gout, PTSD, spinal disorders and arthritis.
Worker's Compensation:
Missouri - https://labor.mo.gov/dwc
The Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation administers the programs providing services to all stake holders including workers who have been injured on the job or been exposed to occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment. The Division makes sure that an injured worker receives benefits that he/she is entitled to under the Missouri Workers' Compensation Law. The Division's Administrative Law Judges have the authority to approve settlements or issue awards after a hearing related to an injured workers entitlement to permanent benefits allowed by Missouri law.
If you are injured at work and in the scope of pursuing your employer’s business interests, a proper legal claim is handled by the The Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation which administers claims for injured persons who have been injured on the job or been exposed to occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment. The phrase “arising out of and in the course of employment” is a legal term of art and its meaning is based on past case law and statutes. Legal Counsel is important to finding out if your injury will be covered by your employer or if you will win at trial. The Division handles your claim and will set it for trial. Mediation is also possible and you can use this to get compensation. Your benefits are controlled by the current definitions and laws at the time of your injury and set out in Missouri Workers' Compensation Law and specific statues.
You can do research on your rights and the current laws by accessing https://labor.mo.gov/DWC/Division_Units and for injured persons – general information on process, deadlines etc - https://labor.mo.gov/injured-workers.
If you have received a settlement offer or have questions, call me. Please note that the Division's Administrative Law Judges have the authority to approve settlements or issue awards after a hearing related to an injured workers entitlement to permanent benefits allowed by Missouri law and if you haven’t filed a claim with Missouri Workers’ Compensation Division, your rights and claim are NOT legally protected by law. Specifically, if you don’t file a claim and the time deadline for filing has passed, you could be barred from receiving any benefits including future medical care and other important benefits.
Virginia - https://workcomp.virginia.gov/
If you are injured you can access the injured worker’s page and review what rights and legal benefits you have. If you are injured, you should seek legal information about who are considered employees and what injuries are covered by the the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act.
You should file a claim form, but first should Report to your supervisor/HR person – what was injured so they can have enough information to be on notice of the details of your injuries and when/where it happened. Your legal deadline is generally ”no later than two years after the accident”. When your health issues are a disease from work it's more complex but you will also have a deadline for filing a claim if you are diagnosed with a work-related disease.
General Deadlines - 30 Days – Notice to your employer – This can be done in writing or email – keep your proof of notice and get a receipt that they are aware in writing. Your employer is obligated to file a report of the accident or disease with the Commission within ten days. So make sure you do this ASAP. Certain benefits and/or your claim can be negatively impacted if you don’t – see failure to report your injury: Va. Code § 65.2-600 for more information. If you have witnesses, please keep their information and contact information if needed. You can file your claim several ways: in person at the local VWCC office, mail, fax, or by WEBFILE – ONLINE Filing. Online is a convenient way to set up your claim, but you should consider seeking legal counsel first.
Missouri - https://labor.mo.gov/dwc
The Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation administers the programs providing services to all stake holders including workers who have been injured on the job or been exposed to occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment. The Division makes sure that an injured worker receives benefits that he/she is entitled to under the Missouri Workers' Compensation Law. The Division's Administrative Law Judges have the authority to approve settlements or issue awards after a hearing related to an injured workers entitlement to permanent benefits allowed by Missouri law.
If you are injured at work and in the scope of pursuing your employer’s business interests, a proper legal claim is handled by the The Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation which administers claims for injured persons who have been injured on the job or been exposed to occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment. The phrase “arising out of and in the course of employment” is a legal term of art and its meaning is based on past case law and statutes. Legal Counsel is important to finding out if your injury will be covered by your employer or if you will win at trial. The Division handles your claim and will set it for trial. Mediation is also possible and you can use this to get compensation. Your benefits are controlled by the current definitions and laws at the time of your injury and set out in Missouri Workers' Compensation Law and specific statues.
You can do research on your rights and the current laws by accessing https://labor.mo.gov/DWC/Division_Units and for injured persons – general information on process, deadlines etc - https://labor.mo.gov/injured-workers.
If you have received a settlement offer or have questions, call me. Please note that the Division's Administrative Law Judges have the authority to approve settlements or issue awards after a hearing related to an injured workers entitlement to permanent benefits allowed by Missouri law and if you haven’t filed a claim with Missouri Workers’ Compensation Division, your rights and claim are NOT legally protected by law. Specifically, if you don’t file a claim and the time deadline for filing has passed, you could be barred from receiving any benefits including future medical care and other important benefits.
Virginia - https://workcomp.virginia.gov/
If you are injured you can access the injured worker’s page and review what rights and legal benefits you have. If you are injured, you should seek legal information about who are considered employees and what injuries are covered by the the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act.
You should file a claim form, but first should Report to your supervisor/HR person – what was injured so they can have enough information to be on notice of the details of your injuries and when/where it happened. Your legal deadline is generally ”no later than two years after the accident”. When your health issues are a disease from work it's more complex but you will also have a deadline for filing a claim if you are diagnosed with a work-related disease.
General Deadlines - 30 Days – Notice to your employer – This can be done in writing or email – keep your proof of notice and get a receipt that they are aware in writing. Your employer is obligated to file a report of the accident or disease with the Commission within ten days. So make sure you do this ASAP. Certain benefits and/or your claim can be negatively impacted if you don’t – see failure to report your injury: Va. Code § 65.2-600 for more information. If you have witnesses, please keep their information and contact information if needed. You can file your claim several ways: in person at the local VWCC office, mail, fax, or by WEBFILE – ONLINE Filing. Online is a convenient way to set up your claim, but you should consider seeking legal counsel first.
Disclaimers:
The documents and brochures contained on this website are general discussions regarding very complex legal issues. This is not legal advice for your specific legal issue or claim advice. There is no attorney client relationship between you and Roger Ritchie, Jr. and the Ritchie Law Firm by using these documents. A competent, independent insurance agent and experienced attorney who considers your assets, goals, needs and particular circumstances should be consulted. Any information sent via Internet e-mail or through this website is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis.
“This is Attorney Advertising”.
Roger A. Ritchie Jr., PLC/LLC
The documents and brochures contained on this website are general discussions regarding very complex legal issues. This is not legal advice for your specific legal issue or claim advice. There is no attorney client relationship between you and Roger Ritchie, Jr. and the Ritchie Law Firm by using these documents. A competent, independent insurance agent and experienced attorney who considers your assets, goals, needs and particular circumstances should be consulted. Any information sent via Internet e-mail or through this website is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis.
“This is Attorney Advertising”.
Roger A. Ritchie Jr., PLC/LLC