Archive for the ‘ Personal Injury ’ Category

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30
Apr

Bill To Provide Police With Workers’ Compensation Coverage For Mental Conditions

April 30, 2013

For emergency responders, the development of mental disorders and other conditions that can be caused by working in a traumatic environment are a serious occupational risk. Now, the government in Missouri is considering a bill that would allow law enforcement officers to receive Missouri Workers’ Compensation Benefits for such conditions.

The law was heard before the Senate Small Business, Insurance, and Industry Committee this past Tuesday and was approved. The law was introduced to give law enforcement the same benefits firefighters receive.

According to an article from Northwest Missouri News, the law covering firefighters for similar conditions, such a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, was adopted after a hotel collapsed in Kansas City, Missouri, during the summer of 1981. The disaster left a total of 114 people dead and another 216 injured. The event resulted in many of the first responders struggling to mentally deal with the events they witnessed that day.

The new law would require police department insurance policies to cover medical expenses and other costs associated with an officer who developed a life-altering condition as a result of their job.

Similar laws are being considered in the state of Connecticut following a recent school shooting.

The St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers with Cofman Townsley Injury Lawyers recognize the risks emergency responders face daily while on the job. The firm may be able to help an individual who has suffered due to a work-related injury.

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19
Mar

Veterans’ Disability Benefits Wait Times Longer Than Ever Before

March 19, 2013

Numbers show soldiers returning from service overseas are waiting longer than ever to receive Veterans’ Disability Benefits they desperately need. This fact was highlighted when the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) announced it took the agency an average of 327 days to process claims filed by soldiers coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Kansas City Star explains the VA has made efforts to solve the problem by implementing a new computerized processing system; however, there have been numerous reports the new system may actually be slower than the old one.

During recent audits of the system, reports rose of it taking between three and four minutes to open a document. Others stated the system would repeatedly crash, while another employee claimed it took twice as long to perform an integral part of the claim process.

Despite these concerns, the VA has announced the new processing system will be rolled out to all offices by the end of the year. VA spokespeople affirmed the decision by arguing most of the problems were due to factors outside of the agency’s control.

The St. Louis Personal Injury Attorneys with Cofman Townsley are knowledgeable in the complexities of the Veterans Disability system. The firm urges anyone who was permanently disabled during their time in the service to discuss their legal rights with a qualified attorney immediately.

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19
Feb

Missouri Legislators Changing State Workers’ Compensation Laws

February 19, 2013

The Missouri state government is currently in the process of overhauling the policies surrounding the ability of citizens to receive Missouri Workers’ Compensation benefits. A story released by the Insurance Journal Thursday explains senators are currently working to supply funding for special state funds, while also reworking policies that oversee the processing of benefit claims.

In 2005, lawmakers placed a cap on the amount of money employers were required to pay into special funds used to give benefits to disabled workers who suffer further on-the-job injuries. Now, the Second Injury Fund is nearly $25 million in the red. Lawmakers are attempting to build funding back up by temporarily doubling the fees employers pay into the fund and limiting the types of injuries covered by the money.

Lawmakers are also attempting to repair legislation that covers the exclusion of certain conditions from workers’ compensation coverage. Current law states that work-related illnesses, such as cancer from Asbestos exposure, are not “accidents” under legal definition of the word and, therefore, are not covered by the program. Lawmakers are changing this to ensure these workers are not only covered, but also receive special benefit programs.

The St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers with CofmanTownsley Injury Lawyers understand how devastating a work-related injury can be and are hopeful these changes will better protect injured workers’ rights to compensation following an on-the-job accident that occurred at no fault of their own.

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29
Nov

Springfield Worker Seriously Injured In On-The-Job Accident

November 27, 2012

A worker at a Springfield, Missouri, FedEx facility was injured in an accident involving a tractor-trailer. According to Ozarks First, the incident occurred on Tuesday, November 6, around 1:30 a.m. at a warehouse located near the corner of Division and I-44.

Sgt. Steve Schwind with the Springfield Police Department said a tractor-trailer was backing up to a loading dock when the victim stepped between the truck and the dock. The driver of the truck failed to see the victim and backed into him, pinning him between the truck and a wall.

Rescue crews were immediately called to the scene where they were able to free the worker and take him to the hospital.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the transportation and warehousing industry is one of the most dangerous types of work, accounting for a total of 733 workplace fatalities in 2011 alone. The industry also reported an injury rate of 15 workers hurt per 100,000. Many of these accidents resulted in workers needing to file a St. Louis Workers’ Compensation claims to be reimbursed for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

The insurance companies may not always have an injured person’s best interests at heart. That is why the St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers with CofmanTownsley are here to answer your questions if you’ve been hurt on the job.

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23
Oct

Programs Educate Medical Students On Care For Disabled Veterans

October 23, 2012

To ensure wounded Missouri veterans receive the best care possible, many organizations are working to better educate those entering the medical profession on the distinctive care injured soldiers require. Stjoechannel.com reports the Wounded Warrior Project recently hosted an event on the campus of Missouri Western State University.

During the program, Col. Tim Karcher, a former battalion commander for the U.S. Army, spoke to a group of nursing students about his experiences after being seriously wounded twice during his three tours of Iraq. As he spoke to the group, he told them of how three years ago, his legs were blown off when a roadside bomb hit his vehicle. He explained that without the care he received from St. Louis veterans’ disability benefits, he would not be where he is today.

He explained the physical injuries soldiers suffer may not be the only wounds they carry. Estimates show as many as one in six soldiers returning from combat suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injuries. He added the key to treating these patients is evaluating what each soldier neds to get back on his or her feet.

The St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers with Cofman Townsley understand receiving these benefits is not always an easy or simple task and are here to answer any questions you may have about a current or previously denied veterans’ benefits claim.

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17
Jul

“Slow Down and Move Over” Law Expands To Include MoDOT Workers

July 17, 2012

Since 2000, four Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) workers have been killed on the job and dozens more have been injured. A total of 128 employees have died in the line of duty since the inception of the department in 1946. In an effort to prevent any further accidents, Governor Jay Nixon signed a new “Slow Down and Move Over” law into the books.

According to a press release issued by MoDOT, some variation of the “Slow Down and Move Over” law has been on the state’s books since 2002, and requires that motorists slow down and change lanes to offer more space to emergency vehicles and crews that are working on the side of the road. The newest version of the law, which was signed this past Monday and will take effect on August 28, expands that law to include MoDOT vehicles with amber and white flashing lights on.

MoDOT officials praised the move, saying that employee safety is of highest concern and the department appreciated the state giving workers the same protection that emergency responders receive. There is also the benefit to the state of fewer St. Louis Workers’ Compensation claims from workers.

The Personal Injury Lawyers Serving St. Louis with Cofman Townsley Injury Lawyers are confident that, if obeyed by motorists, the new law will be successful in its goal of reducing accidents that result in the injury of highway workers.

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29
May

New Technology Designed To Battle PTSD In Soldiers And First Responders

May 29, 2012

A large number of soldiers are coming back from their tours of duty with deep psychological and mental scars. These injuries, known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), affect roughly one-third of all enlisted troops who have seen combat over the past decade.

In an effort to curb the growing numbers of these injuries, researchers at the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies have developed a computer program that will help better prepare soldiers for the stress of combat and let returning veterans work through their mental injuries in a safe and controlled environment, according to KSDK News.

The simulator program plays out much like a virtual reality video game with gun fire, loud noises, and even rumbling of the players’ floorboards when a bomb goes off. The idea is to allow the soldier to return to the combat setting in a safe environment to learn to control their emotions and physical responses when placed in high stress situations.

“We teach them tactics to help them to manage stress like deep breathing or thought focusing exercises,” said Skip Rizzo, a psychologist at USC.

The new technology is being utilized at 20 different locations across the nation as part of those facilities’ PTSD treatment.

The St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers with Cofman Townsley Injury Lawyers hope that the new technology will help benefit many of the combat veterans who are in need of Missouri Veteran’s Disability Benefits.

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8
May

GM Worker Injured When Car Battery Explodes During Testing

May 8, 2012

While hybrid and electric cars may be the next big breakthrough in the automotive industry, the research to get them to the market has proven to be quite dangerous. For instance, The Wall Street Journal recently reported that several General Motors employees were injured at a research center when a lithium-ion battery exploded.

The accident occurred last month when chemical gases from the battery ignited. Windows and an eight-inch thick door were blown out of the building. In all, five workers were injured and taken to a local hospital to receive treatment. One of the researchers who was hurt is in stable condition after being treated for a concussion and severe chemical burns.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the number of injuries and deaths on the job due to fires and explosions has been on the rise in recent years. There was a 65 percent jump in the number of fatal instances caused by explosions reported between 2009 and 2010, accounting for 113 and 187 worker deaths respectively. The number of fire-related deaths also saw a dramatic increase, going from 53 fatalities in 2009 to 109 in 2010.

Workers who are injured in fires and explosions while on the job can often qualify for Missouri Workers’ Compensation benefits. The Missouri Personal Injury Lawyers with Cofman Townsley Injury Lawyers understand what it takes to get a claim approved and may be able to help you.

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2
May

St. Louis Tent Collapse Kills One And Injures Hundreds Of Others

May 1, 2012

Tents and canopies are common during outdoor spring or summer events. They provide shade and refuge from inclement weather; however, if not set up properly, these structures can become extremely dangerous and deadly.

Take, for instance, the recent story reported by KSDK 5 News of a tent collapsing in St. Louis, Missouri, in the midst of a violent storm. The accident occurred Saturday around 4:00 p.m. at Kilroy’s Bar near Busch Stadium. Several hundred people had gathered to celebrate when a storm system that dropped baseball sized hail moved into the area. Gusts of wind reportedly over 50 mph picked the tent up and blew it away, battering the patrons inside.

In all, more than 100 injuries were reported, requiring dozens to be hospitalized. In addition, a 58-year-old Illinois man perished as a result of the accident.

The building commissioner for St. Louis, Frank Oswald, confirmed that the tent had a permit and had been inspected for safety by the city, but the assembly of the tent must be to manufacturer standards, which is the responsibility of the contractor who set it up.

These types of tents and canopies could be considered a Missouri Defective Product if they are not set up to withstand the conditions that surround them. That’s why the St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers with Cofman Townsley Attorneys At Law would suggest staying away from these structures during high winds or thunderstorms.

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13
Mar

St. Louis Man Charged With DUI In Connection To Fatal Car Crash

March 13, 2012

A 32-year-old St. Louis, Missouri, man was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter after being involved in a fatal accident with another vehicle Sunday. According to reports from KSDK 5 News, the accident happened around 1:00 a.m. at the intersection of South Lindbergh Boulevard and East Concord Road.

Officers with the St. Louis Police Department say the man was driving on South Lindbergh when he ran a red light and collided with a vehicle driven by a 58-year-old woman. The woman was taken by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center where she later died.

Police were able to determine that the driver who ran the red light was under the influence of alcohol at the time after he failed field sobriety tests. The man was arrested at the scene and taken to St. Louis County Jail. He was released Monday morning after posting $50,000 bond.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), a national non-profit organization aimed at eliminating drunk driving, 10,839 people will die in drunk driving crashes this year—or one every 50 minutes. At this rate, one in three Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their life.

The Missouri DUI Accident Attorneys with Cofman Townsley Injury Lawyers would like to remind citizens just how dangerous drinking and driving is. Do your part to eliminate the problem by always utilizing a designated driver when drinking.

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