Work Injury Lawyer in Kansas City
Representing Injured Workers in Kansas City, Missouri & Kansas Since 1997
When a job injury derails your income, your health, and your sense of security all at once, the legal decisions you make in the first weeks matter. Bertram & Graf, L.L.C. has been representing injured clients in Kansas City since 1997, and we bring that depth of experience directly to workers hurt on the job across the metro area on both sides of the state line. Our background in product liability and complex litigation means we can pursue avenues that go well beyond a standard workers’ compensation claim when the facts support it.
We handle work injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you owe us no legal fees unless we recover on your behalf. Free consultations are available, including virtual consultations.
If you’ve been hurt at work in Kansas City, call us today at (888) 398-2277 to schedule your free consultation and find out what your options are.
Work Injuries We Handle in Kansas City
Kansas City’s economy draws heavily from construction, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and healthcare. These are all industries where serious injuries happen. We represent workers hurt in construction site accidents, forklift and machinery incidents, falls from height, vehicle accidents that occur while on the job, and injuries caused by defective or dangerous equipment.
Catastrophic outcomes, including traumatic brain injury, amputation, paralysis, and permanent disability, often require more aggressive legal strategy than a standard claim allows. When a third party, such as an equipment manufacturer, contributed to the accident, a personal injury claim separate from workers’ compensation can pursue compensation that the workers’ comp system simply doesn’t provide.
We’ve litigated cases against some of the largest medical device manufacturers and technology companies in the country. That experience with complex, high-stakes corporate defendants translates directly to work injury cases where defective machinery or negligent contractors are part of the picture. We aren’t deterred by large institutional opposition.
Workers’ Compensation & Third-Party Claims: Two Different Paths
Injured workers in Kansas City may have access to two separate legal avenues, and understanding both is essential to pursuing recovery. Attorney Tim West is licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, so we can advise workers across the entire metro area on both systems.
Workers’ Compensation in Missouri & Kansas
Workers’ compensation in Missouri is administered by the Division of Workers’ Compensation under the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. In Kansas, the Division of Workers’ Compensation in the Kansas Department of Labor oversees those claims. Both systems are no-fault, meaning you generally don’t need to prove your employer was negligent to receive benefits.
Benefits in both states typically include medical treatment coverage, wage replacement, and temporary or permanent disability payments. Filing deadlines are strict: Missouri generally requires you to report the injury within 30 days and file a formal claim within two years. Kansas generally requires you to report within 20 calendar days and file an application within three years of the accident or two years from the last compensation payment.
When a Third-Party Claim May Also Apply
Workers’ compensation is ordinarily the exclusive remedy against your employer. But if a third party contributed to your injury through negligence, whether a defective equipment manufacturer, a negligent subcontractor, or an at-fault driver, you may be able to pursue a separate personal injury lawsuit alongside your workers’ comp claim. That third-party claim can recover damages the workers’ compensation system doesn’t provide, including compensation for pain and suffering.
Why Kansas City Workers Choose Bertram & Graf, L.L.C.
Our approach to every case starts from scratch. We don’t apply a template; we build a strategy around the specific facts, injuries, and parties involved. That deliberate, meticulous approach is what sets our work apart in complex matters where the details can affect the outcome.
Our attorneys carry credentials that reflect sustained performance. Attorneys J. Scott Bertman and Benjamin A. Bertram have each been rated by SuperLawyers for five years. Attorney Benjamin A. Bertram was named a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers Association in both 2016 and 2017, and was also named in the 2017 Mass Tort Trial Lawyers Top 25. Attorney Gregory C. Graf holds an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
We manage all communications with insurance carriers and opposing parties on your behalf. Insurance companies and their legal teams may look for ways to minimize what they pay out, and having a work injury lawyer in Kansas City handling those interactions from the start can help protect the value of your claim.
Steps to Take After a Work Injury in Kansas City
The actions you take immediately after a job injury can affect both your workers’ compensation claim and any potential third-party case. Taking these steps as promptly as possible can help protect your rights:
- Report the injury to your employer in writing as soon as possible, within 30 days in Missouri and within 20 calendar days in Kansas.
- Seek authorized medical treatment and keep records of your symptoms, diagnoses, and bills.
- Don’t give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney.
- Consult a workplace injury lawyer in Kansas City early to help reduce the risk that filing deadlines are missed and to identify any potential third-party claim before evidence is lost.
Contact Bertram & Graf, L.L.C. at (888) 398-2277 to schedule your free consultation. There’s no upfront cost, no obligation, and no legal fee unless we recover on your behalf.