Getting hurt at work turns your life upside down. Medical appointments, missed checks, and calls from an insurance adjuster can make you feel like you have to go along to get along. You do not. This guide explains how light duty works, what benefits you can expect in Kansas and Missouri, realistic timelines for settlements, how to handle adjuster calls, and when hiring a workers' compensation attorney can improve your outcome.
What benefits can you get after a work injury?
Workers' compensation is a no fault system that should provide:
- Medical care: Paid by the insurer, with no co pays, for treatment that is reasonable and necessary for your work injury. In Kansas the employer typically chooses the doctor. In Missouri you usually must treat with the employer authorized provider to have bills covered.
- Wage replacement: If the authorized doctor takes you completely off work, you should receive temporary total disability (TTD) payments. If you are released to restricted work but earn less than before, you may receive temporary partial disability (TPD). Rates and caps differ by state, but typically lost wages are 66..6% of your Average Weekly Wage (AWW), subject to caps. Kansas caps TTD at $ 869/week for injuries after 7/1/25, and Missouri caps TTD at $ 1280/week.
- Mileage and prescriptions: Often reimbursable when related to authorized treatment. Keep records.
- Permanent benefits: After you reach maximum medical improvement, you may be evaluated for permanent partial disability (PPD) or, in severe cases, permanent total disability (PTD).
What is considered light duty, and how long can you be on it?
- Light duty is work within your doctor assigned restrictions. It might include:
- No lifting over a set weight
- No repetitive bending, squatting, or overhead work
- Sitting or standing as needed
- Alternate tasks that avoid the injured body part
You can be on light duty as long as your doctor says you need restrictions. There is no fixed number of days. If your employer offers a legitimate light duty job that matches your restrictions, you generally must try it. If the work exceeds your restrictions, report it in writing and stop the task. Do not exceed restrictions to be helpful. Doing too much can delay recovery and harm your case.
If your employer cannot or will not accommodate your restrictions, you should receive TTD or TPD depending on the situation. If you are placed on light duty at reduced pay, partial wage benefits may fill part of the gap.
How long do cases last, and what is a realistic settlement timeline?
Timelines vary based on injury severity, treatment needs, and whether there are disputes. A rough guide:
- Reporting and initial care: Within days. Report your injury immediately. Kansas requires prompt notice, and Missouri has strict deadlines as well. Sooner is better. Notice must state the particulars of the accident and that you are requesting immediate medical treatment.
- Active treatment: Weeks to many months. Complex injuries, surgeries, or therapy extend this stage.
- Maximum medical improvement (MMI): Once your doctor says you are as good as you are likely to get, the focus shifts to impairment ratings and settlement value.
- Settlement talks: Often begin after MMI. Simple cases may resolve within a few months. Surgery cases, disputed causation, or contested impairment ratings can push settlement into the 9 to 18 month range or longer. Some cases take years when treatment continues, especially if the claimant is unable to return to work.
How to speed up a workers' comp settlement:
- Report quickly and stick with authorized treatment.
- Keep every appointment and follow restrictions.
- Document mileage, off work slips, and out of pocket costs.
- Ask for copies of work status notes and impairment ratings.
- Address disputes early through your attorney so medical issues are resolved before negotiation.
What are your chances of winning a workers' comp case?
Workers' comp is not about proving fault. Most cases succeed in obtaining some benefits if you report promptly, get care through authorized channels, and your medical records support a work related injury. Disputes arise around whether the work caused the condition, the extent of permanent impairment, and whether you can return to your job. Having an experienced advocate often increases paid benefits, secures the right doctors, and shortens delays.
Is suing workers' comp worth it? In workers' comp you are not suing your employer in the traditional sense. You pursue benefits through an administrative claim. When your medical care or wage checks stall, or when you need a fair settlement, filing and litigating the claim is often the only path to a result. For many injured workers, the difference between going it alone and having counsel is significant in both dollars and peace of mind.
How employers typically react, and your protections
- Many employers do the right thing. Some do not. Common reactions include:
- Offering light duty that truly fits your restrictions
- Offering busy work that looks compliant but pushes you beyond restrictions
- Pressuring you to use sick time or personal insurance
- Discouraging reporting or suggesting the injury happened off the job
Both Kansas and Missouri have anti retaliation laws that prohibit firing or punishing you for filing a workers' comp claim or reporting an injury. If you feel targeted after reporting, write down dates, names, and what was said. Save texts and emails. Talk to a lawyer about how to protect your job rights while your medical claim moves forward.
What not to tell a claims adjuster
Adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. Be polite, brief, and accurate. Do not guess. Here is what not to say:
- Do not give a recorded statement before you understand your rights.
- Do not speculate about fault, prior pain, or off duty causes.
- Do not minimize symptoms to seem tough. Underreporting hurts your claim and your health.
- Do not agree you are at maximum recovery or ready for full duty unless your doctor says so.
- Do not discuss side jobs, hobbies, or activities in a way that invites doubt. Keep it medical and work focused.
- Do not accept a quick settlement before you finish treatment or know your permanent limitations.
A simple script you can use:
Thank you for calling. I reported my injury to my employer on [date]. My current symptoms are [brief, factual]. My authorized doctor is [name], and my next appointment is [date]. I will follow the doctor's
restrictions. Please send any forms in writing, and I will respond after reviewing them. I am not comfortable giving a recorded statement today.
Light duty offers, step by step
- Get written restrictions from the authorized doctor.
- Ask for a written job description of the light duty assignment.
- Compare the two. If anything conflicts, tell your supervisor in writing and ask for clarification or adjustments.
- If tasks drift beyond restrictions, stop and report it. Keep copies of all notes.
- If no work is available within restrictions, ask your adjuster, in writing, to start or continue TTD.
How to talk to the adjuster without hurting your case
- Keep it short and factual. Dates, providers, restrictions, and missed time.
- Move medical questions back to your doctor.
- Follow up verbal calls with a short email confirming what was said.
- If you feel pressured, say, I prefer to communicate in writing.
When hiring a workers' comp attorney helps
Consider hiring counsel if:
- Your checks are late, low, or denied
- The insurer will not approve a specialist, MRI, or surgery
- Light duty exceeds your restrictions
- You are asked for a recorded statement or broad medical authorizations
- You are nearing MMI and want a fair impairment rating and settlement
- You suspect retaliation or are told to resign
Our model is straightforward. Your initial consultation is free. If we take your case, there is no fee unless we recover money for you. We manage deadlines, push for the right medical care, calculate accurate wage rates, and negotiate settlement once you reach MMI. If needed, we litigate to protect your benefits. If you are searching for experienced help with a work injury in the KC metro, our team serves Kansas and Missouri. You can also review our page for workers comp attorney kansas city to see how we approach these
claims.
Practical checklist to protect your claim
- Report the injury immediately and in writing
- List every injured body part from day one
- Ask who the authorized doctor is and get there quickly
- Keep copies of restrictions and off work slips
- Follow restrictions on and off the job
- Track mileage and out of pocket costs
- Do not miss appointments
- Decline recorded statements until you have advice
- Call a lawyer early if anything seems off
Summary and next steps
You do not have to navigate workers' comp alone. Light duty should respect your medical restrictions. TTD or TPD should cover lost wages when you cannot work or earn less. Cases move at the speed of medical recovery, and settlements usually make sense once you reach MMI and have a clear impairment rating. Talk carefully with adjusters, avoid guesses or downplaying symptoms, and put important communications in writing. If your benefits stall, or if you need experienced guidance on the Kansas and Missouri rules, our team is ready to help on a contingency basis, starting with a free consultation. For more details on work injury help in the Kansas City metro, you can call or email for a free, no obligation consultation.
