Blog Posts in May, 2021

Statutory Employers are Immune from Civil Lawsuits

In several recent blog posts dealing with workers’ compensation law, we have looked at what statutory employees are, why they exist, and the “usual course of business” defense that many employers make. While statutory employees can use this legal concept to benefit from workers’ compensation coverage from someone other than their direct employer, it also means that these statutory employers are ...

What Happens if the Jaws of Life Injures a Car Accident Victim?

A single-vehicle car accident in St. Joseph caused such severe damage to the car that both occupants had to be extracted from the vehicle. The crash raises an interesting question: What happens if the extraction causes an injury? Driver and Passenger Extracted from Vehicle After Crash The incident happened just after 9pm on Friday, May 9, 2021. The driver of a Chevy Corvette was speeding and lost ...

Missouri Supreme Court Rules on Second Injury Fund, Again

The Missouri Supreme Court recently waded back into the waters of the Second Injury Fund, one of the most controversial aspects of the state’s workers’ compensation system. While its prior case dealt with Senate Bill 1 and its drastic limitations on who could benefit from the bankrupted fund, this new case is more about clarifying when the worker’s preexisting injury would trigger the Fund. ...

Why to Hire a Lawyer After a Car Crash With a Cop

In the past week, there have been two car accidents in St. Joseph involving police cars. These incidents are extremely problematic for the non-officer, especially if they were severely hurt. Hiring a personal injury lawyer is even more important than normal. 2 Car Accidents Involving St. Joseph Police Officers The first accident happened around 3pm on Thursday, April 29, on King Hill Avenue. While ...