Lawyer Monthly Magazine - October 2019 Edition

Workers’ Compensation When Should You Seek Workers’ Compensation? Having an accident at work is usually something we do not expect will occur, and if it does, we never expect it to have dire consequences. Unfortunately, for some, injuries do heavily impact their lives and legal action must be sought if the employer has not given the injured what they are entitled to. Terry Crouppen, who states he ‘hates the idea of losing’, represents those in workers’ compensation cases. We speak to him this month on when employees should seek legal action when they have had an accident at work and when they may be entitled to workers’ compensation. What has been your flagship piece of work in this field and how did you apply thought leadership to this scenario? I had done criminal law previously, and it became my responsibility to take worker’s compensation cases. I went from a novice in this field to learning the best ways to help injured people and taking a full caseload. I developed a good understanding of how work injuries affect, not only the worker, but also their families. Workers’ compensation is a life rope, a way to pull a person out of a deep, dark hole. Can you expand on when employees are entitled to worker’s compensation? A person is entitled to worker’s compensation when they are hurt in the course of their employment while doing their job or any activity the job requires of them. If they are injured, they are entitled to benefits, depending on the severity of their injuries. Anywhere from medical treatment in the most minor of injuries to full total disability benefits. In what instances can employees seek legal action? When a worker is injured or killed while in the course and scope of their employment, they may bring a cause of action to protect their rights. Super Lawyers By Terry Crouppen, Brown & Crouppen Law Firm 54 WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM | OCT 2019 Contact Terry Crouppen Founding Partner Brown & Crouppen Law Firm in St. Louis, MO. Tel: 877-448-5415 (Toll Free) Fax: 314-421-0359 www.brownandcrouppen.com WORKERS’ COMPENSATION IS A LIFE ROPE, A WAY TO PULL A PERSON OUT OF A DEEP, DARK HOLE.