Nothing can truly compensate you for the loss of a loved one in an on-the-job accident. However, if you are the spouse or dependent of an employee who was fatally injured at work, you may be entitled to workers' compensation payments that could help you carry on financially in the wake of your loved one's death. There are two circumstances under which a spouse or dependent may receive compensation for such a fatal accident:

• His or her loved one was an employee and died in a work-related accident.
• His or her loved one was an employee and received permanent partial or permanent total disability before dying of unrelated causes.

If your family member was lost in a tragic on-the-job accident, you have enough to deal with without worrying where the next paycheck will come from. At The Law Firm of Webster & Carlton, we are experienced fatal work accidents attorneys in Missouri, committed to helping you recover payments you may be owed after the tragic work-related death of your loved one.

Stabilize Yourself After A Shock

When an employee dies in a work-related accident, his or her spouse and dependent children are entitled to:

• Weekly benefits at the rate of 66 2/3 percent of the family member's wage the year before the accident
• A maximum of $5,000 in funeral expenses

A spouse in such a wrongful death case is entitled to lifelong benefits unless he or she remarries. Dependent children are eligible for benefits until the age of 18. Benefits for dependents can be extended in some cases, for example if:

• The dependent has a disability.
• The dependent is in the military.
• The dependent is in college at the time of the death.

When an employee dies of unrelated causes after receiving disability benefits, his or her spouse and/or dependents are not entitled to lifelong benefits. Instead, they may receive a lump sum of the disability benefits to which the injured spouse had been entitled.

Find Out Your Rights Today

Sorting through death benefits after a tragic work accident can be complicated and stressful. Let our knowledgeable, sympathetic fatal work accident lawyers do it for you. For your free initial consultation, call us toll free at 800-560-0822 (Springfield) or 888-351-9185 (Joplin), or use our contact form.