St Louis Workplace Injury Lawyer

Not every workplace injury is limited to a workers’ compensation claim.

When a negligent third party contributes to a workplace accident, injured workers and their families may have the right to pursue additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.

TorHoerman Law has represented clients in workplace injury and wrongful death cases involving unsafe job sites, defective products, negligent individuals, and dangerous conditions that resulted in catastrophic injuries and fatalities.

Our attorneys understand how to investigate complex workplace accidents, identify every potentially liable party, and build evidence-based cases designed to maximize recovery.

Whether the injury occurred at an industrial facility, a factory, on a construction site, while operating a vehicle for work, or because of another party’s negligence, we prepare every case with the expectation that it may require litigation.

That approach has helped our clients recover significant settlements and verdicts while holding negligent parties accountable for the harm they caused.

Some examples of our workplace injury and wrongful death results include:

• $2.97 Million Settlement – Represented the family of a worker who lost their life in an industrial accident, securing a settlement on their behalf after a fatal workplace incident.
• $600,000 Settlement – Represented a cleaning professional who suffered severe injuries after a firearm negligently discharged through a wall while she was working inside a client’s home.

A workplace accident can leave an injured employee facing expensive medical treatment, missed work, and uncertainty about what legal options may be available.

Many on-the-job injuries are handled through Missouri’s workers’ compensation system, which generally provides benefits for a work-related injury or illness without requiring proof that the employer was negligent.

Missouri’s workers’ compensation laws in Missouri also make workers’ compensation the exclusive remedy against most employers for covered workplace injuries, although important exceptions exist when a negligent third party contributed to the accident.

Determining whether a case involves only a workers’ comp claim or whether a separate personal injury claim should also be pursued requires a careful review of how the accident occurred and who may be legally responsible.

Because third-party claims can provide damages that are unavailable through workers’ compensation alone, identifying every potential source of recovery is an important part of evaluating a work injury claim.

At our law firm, we investigate workplace accidents to determine which legal options may apply and whether additional claims should be explored to pursue fair compensation.

Every case is different, making an early legal evaluation an important first step after a serious workplace injury.

Workers’ compensation claims and personal injury claims differ in several important ways:

• Who the claim is filed against: A workers’ compensation claim is generally filed through an employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, while a personal injury claim is brought against a negligent third party, such as a contractor, property owner, equipment manufacturer, or negligent driver.
• Fault requirements: Workers’ compensation benefits are generally available without proving negligence, while a personal injury claim requires evidence that another party’s negligence caused the injury.
• Compensation available: Workers’ compensation typically provides medical benefits and partial wage replacement, while a successful personal injury claim may also allow recovery for damages such as pain and suffering and the full extent of economic losses.
• Legal process: Workers’ compensation claims follow Missouri’s administrative system, while personal injury claims proceed through the civil court system when litigation becomes necessary.
• Case evaluation: Some workplace accidents involve only workers’ compensation, while others may involve both a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party personal injury lawsuit.

Understanding the difference between these legal paths can have a significant impact on the compensation available after a workplace injury.

A claim that initially appears to involve only workers’ compensation may warrant additional investigation if another individual or company contributed to the accident.

TorHoerman Law evaluates every workplace injury individually to determine whether additional legal remedies may exist beyond the workers’ compensation system.

What Should I Do After a Workplace Injury in St Louis?

The appropriate response to a workplace injury can vary depending on where the accident occurred and the type of work being performed.

Construction sites, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, hospitals, office buildings, and transportation jobs all present different hazards, which may require different reporting procedures or documentation.

Even so, taking prompt action after an injury can help protect both your health and any potential legal claim, regardless of your industry.

The following steps can help preserve important evidence, comply with requirements for reporting workplace injuries, and protect your ability to pursue benefits or financial compensation when appropriate.

After a workplace injury, consider taking the following steps whenever possible:

• Report the injury to your employer immediately and follow your company’s workplace injury reporting procedures.
• Seek medical treatment as soon as possible, even if the injury initially appears minor.
• Document the accident scene by taking photographs or videos of the area, equipment involved, and any visible injuries if you are able.
• Collect contact information for witnesses who observed the accident or the conditions leading to it.
• Preserve important records, including incident reports, medical records, work schedules, and documentation of missed time from work.
• Avoid discussing fault or giving recorded statements to insurance representatives before understanding your legal rights.
• Keep copies of all medical bills, treatment records, and communications related to the accident.
• Determine whether anyone other than your employer contributed to the accident, such as a contractor, equipment manufacturer, property owner, or negligent driver.
• Speak with a workplace injury lawyer to determine whether your case involves workers’ compensation benefits, a potential third-party personal injury claim, or both.

When Can You File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Workplace Injury?

Most workplace injuries in Missouri are handled through the workers’ compensation system because employers that carry workers’ compensation insurance are generally protected from personal injury lawsuits brought by their employees for work-related injuries.

Instead, injured workers typically pursue benefits through a workers’ compensation claim, often with the assistance of a workers’ compensation attorney when disputes arise.

A separate personal injury lawsuit may be available, however, if someone other than the employer (such as a negligent driver, contractor, subcontractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer) caused or contributed to the accident.

Those third-party claims are governed by Missouri negligence law rather than workers’ compensation statutes and may allow recovery of damages that are not available through the workers’ compensation system.

Because workplace accidents can involve multiple parties and overlapping employment laws, an experienced workplace injury lawyer can evaluate the facts of the case and determine whether a third-party personal injury claim should be pursued in addition to any workers’ compensation benefits.

Can You File a Personal Injury Case and a Workers Compensation Claim at the Same Time?

In some situations you may be able to pursue both a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury lawsuit arising from the same workplace accident.

This most commonly occurs when your injury is covered by workers’ compensation, but a third party also contributed to the accident.

In that situation, the workers’ compensation claim seeks the benefits available under Missouri law, while the personal injury lawsuit seeks damages from the third party that may not be available through the workers’ compensation system, such as pain and suffering.

Not every workplace accident qualifies for both types of claims, making it important to investigate how the injury occurred and identify every potentially responsible party.

An experienced workplace injury lawyer can evaluate the facts of your case and determine whether both legal avenues should be pursued to maximize your potential recovery.

Workplace injuries occur across nearly every industry, from construction and manufacturing to healthcare, transportation, warehousing, retail, and office environments.

The type of injury often depends on the physical demands of the job, the equipment being used, and the conditions in which employees work.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, private employers reported approximately 2.5 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2024, while injuries involving days away from work continue to affect hundreds of thousands of workers each year.

Construction, transportation, warehousing, manufacturing, and healthcare consistently report some of the nation’s highest numbers of serious workplace injuries because employees frequently work around heavy machinery, vehicles, hazardous materials, patients, or elevated work areas.

Some injuries result from a single traumatic accident, while others develop gradually through repetitive motion, overexertion, or prolonged exposure to hazardous conditions.

Regardless of where an injury occurs, identifying how the accident happened is often an important step in determining whether workers’ compensation benefits, a third-party personal injury claim, or both may be available.

Common workplace injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Often caused by falling objects, falls from ladders or scaffolding, vehicle collisions, or struck-by accidents on construction sites and industrial workplaces.
• Spinal cord and back injuries: Frequently result from falls, heavy lifting, machinery accidents, or being struck by equipment, potentially causing permanent disability.
• Broken bones and fractures: Common in falls, forklift accidents, crush incidents, vehicle collisions, and machinery-related accidents.
• Sprains and strains: Often caused by lifting, pushing, pulling, repetitive movements, or overexertion and remain among the most frequently reported workplace injuries.
• Burn injuries: May result from fires, explosions, electrical accidents, chemical exposure, steam, or contact with hot equipment.
• Crush injuries and amputations: Can occur when workers become caught in heavy machinery, conveyor systems, industrial equipment, or collapsing materials.
• Repetitive stress injuries: Conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendon injuries may develop after months or years of performing the same physical tasks.
• Respiratory illnesses and toxic exposure injuries: Exposure to asbestos, silica dust, chemicals, fumes, or other hazardous substances can lead to both acute and long-term occupational illnesses.
• Lacerations and eye injuries: Frequently caused by power tools, machinery, flying debris, broken materials, or inadequate protective equipment.
• Psychological injuries: Serious workplace accidents can also contribute to anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly after catastrophic incidents or traumatic events.

A workplace injury lawsuit begins with a thorough investigation into how the accident occurred and whether someone other than the employer may have contributed to the worker’s injuries.

Attorneys evaluate the available evidence, identify potentially liable third parties, and determine whether the facts support a negligence claim in addition to any workers’ compensation benefits.

Building a viable case often requires preserving evidence early, consulting experts when necessary, and documenting the full extent of the injured worker’s damages.

While every case follows its own timeline, most workplace injury lawsuits progress through a series of common legal steps before reaching a settlement or trial.

Steps in the legal process include:

1. Initial case evaluation: An attorney reviews the accident, the injuries sustained, and whether the case involves workers’ compensation, a third-party personal injury claim, or both.
2. Investigation and evidence collection: Medical records, accident reports, witness statements, photographs, safety records, maintenance logs, and other evidence are gathered to establish how the accident occurred.
3. Identification of liable parties: The investigation determines whether contractors, subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, negligent drivers, or other third parties may share legal responsibility.
4. Calculation of damages: Attorneys evaluate medical expenses, lost income, future treatment needs, and other recoverable damages to determine the value of the claim.
5. Filing the lawsuit: If the evidence supports a third-party negligence claim, a personal injury lawsuit is filed against the responsible party or parties within the applicable statute of limitations.
6. Discovery: Both sides exchange documents, conduct depositions, and gather additional evidence to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the case.
7. Settlement negotiations: The parties attempt to resolve the lawsuit through negotiations based on the evidence, liability, and the extent of the injured worker’s damages.
8. Trial, if necessary: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, the case proceeds to trial, where a judge or jury determines liability and any compensation that may be awarded.

Statute of Limitations for Workplace Injuries in Missouri

The deadline for taking legal action after a workplace injury depends on the type of claim being pursued. For most workers’ compensation cases,

Missouri law generally requires an injured worker to file a claim with the Division of Workers’ Compensation within two years of the date of the injury, death, or the last workers’ compensation payment; that period may be extended to three years if the employer failed to timely file the required Report of Injury.

Employees should also report a workplace injury to their employer within 30 days, as failing to do so may jeopardize their ability to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

If a workplace accident gives rise to a separate third-party personal injury lawsuit, Missouri generally applies a five-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120.

Because workplace accidents can involve both workers’ compensation and third-party negligence claims with different deadlines, speaking with an attorney as early as possible can help preserve your legal rights and avoid missing an important filing deadline.

Whether you qualify for a workplace injury claim depends on how the injury occurred, where it happened, and which parties may be legally responsible.

Most employees who suffer a work-related injury or occupational illness while performing their job duties may be eligible to pursue workers’ compensation benefits under Missouri law.

Some workplace accidents also qualify for a separate personal injury claim when a negligent third party, such as a contractor, property owner, equipment manufacturer, or negligent driver, caused or contributed to the injury.

Construction accidents, delivery vehicle crashes, defective equipment incidents, and accidents involving outside vendors are among the situations where both types of claims may need to be evaluated.

Because every workplace accident presents different facts, determining eligibility often requires a careful investigation into the circumstances surrounding the injury and the parties involved.

TorHoerman Law can review your case, explain your legal options, and determine whether you may have grounds to pursue compensation beyond the workers’ compensation system.

Common Damages in Workplace Injury Claims

A workplace injury lawsuit may allow an injured worker to recover compensation that is not available through the workers compensation process alone.

While workers’ compensation is designed to provide financial relief for medical treatment and a portion of lost income after a work-related injury or illness, a third-party personal injury lawsuit focuses on recovering the full extent of a person’s damages from a negligent party.

Because of that distinction, compensation in a workplace injury lawsuit is often broader than the benefits available through workers’ compensation.

Although many people search for the average workers compensation settlement, every workplace injury lawsuit is evaluated based on the severity of the injuries, the available evidence, and the damages suffered.

When employees injured on the job have a viable third-party claim, pursuing a personal injury lawsuit may significantly increase the compensation available beyond standard workers’ compensation benefits.

Damages available in a workplace injury lawsuit may include:

• Past and future medical expenses not otherwise recovered.
• The full amount of lost wages and loss of future earning capacity.
• Pain and suffering resulting from the physical injuries.
• Emotional distress and mental anguish.
• Loss of enjoyment of life caused by long-term or permanent injuries.
• Permanent disability or disfigurement.
• Out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury and recovery.
• Loss of consortium, when recognized under Missouri law.
• Wrongful death damages when a workplace accident results in a fatal injury.

A successful workplace injury lawsuit can provide compensation beyond the limited benefits available through workers’ compensation when another party’s negligence contributed to the accident.

TorHoerman Law investigates every workplace injury to identify all potentially liable parties and pursue the maximum compensation available under Missouri law.

Gathering Evidence For Your St Louis Workplace Injury Claim

Evidence plays a central role in both workers’ compensation claims and workplace injury lawsuits.

Medical records, accident reports, and other documentation help establish how the accident occurred, the severity of the injuries, and whether another party may have contributed to the incident.

Preserving evidence early can strengthen a claim and reduce disputes with insurance companies or opposing parties later in the process.

At TorHoerman Law, we gather and review the available evidence to determine every potential source of recovery after a workplace accident.

Important evidence in a St. Louis work injury case may include:

• Medical records documenting the diagnosis, treatment, work restrictions, and long-term prognosis.
• Accident reports describing when, where, and how the workplace incident occurred.
• Photographs and video footage of the accident scene, equipment involved, hazardous conditions, and visible injuries.
• Witness statements from coworkers, supervisors, contractors, or others who observed the accident.
• OSHA reports, incident logs, and safety inspections identifying potential workplace hazards or safety violations.
• Maintenance and inspection records for machinery, vehicles, tools, or other equipment involved in the accident.
• Employment and wage records documenting lost income and time away from work.
• Work schedules and job assignments establishing the employee’s duties when the injury occurred.
• Product specifications and maintenance history if defective equipment may have contributed to the accident.
• Communications with employers, insurance carriers, or third parties related to the claim.

A serious work accident can leave you facing physical injuries, financial uncertainty, and difficult decisions about your legal rights. Whether your case involves workers’ compensation benefits, a third-party personal injury lawsuit, or both, understanding every available legal option is an important step toward protecting your future.

At TorHoerman Law, we investigate workplace accidents throughout St. Louis to determine whether another negligent party may be responsible and whether you may be able to seek compensation beyond the workers’ compensation system.

Our attorneys prepare every job injury case with a thorough investigation, careful evaluation of the evidence, and a strategy tailored to the specific facts of the accident.

If a third-party claim is available, we are prepared to provide the experienced legal representation needed to pursue the maximum compensation allowed under Missouri law.

Contact TorHoerman Law today for a free consultation, or use the chat feature on this page for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal options after a workplace injury.