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Brannock & Soto Workers' comp lawyers
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Settlements and return to work

Light duty, restrictions, permanent ratings and settlement offers. We help you understand the trade-offs before you sign anything.

Free case evaluation

What comes next

Why this stage matters most

At some point most claims reach a fork. Your doctor says you have improved as much as you are likely to, you get an impairment rating, and the insurer may offer to settle. Or you are offered light duty that may or may not fit your restrictions.

A settlement can close your right to future medical care and wage benefits for good. We walk through what you are giving up, what the numbers are based on and whether waiting makes sense. Sometimes taking a fair offer is the right call; sometimes it is not. The decision is yours, made with clear facts.

A settlement is permanent. The question is not only how much, but what you give up to get it.

You may be in this spot if

  • The insurer made a settlement offer and wants an answer
  • Your doctor gave you a permanent impairment rating
  • You were offered light duty that doesn't match your restrictions
  • You can't go back to your old job and need a plan
  • Your wage benefits are about to stop

How we help

  • Check the rating

    Impairment ratings drive many settlement numbers. If the rating seems low, a second medical opinion may be possible.

  • Price future care

    We look at what medical treatment you may need later, and who will pay for it after the claim closes.

  • Test the light-duty offer

    If the job breaks your restrictions, refusing it may not cost you benefits. If it fits, it can protect your income.

  • Explain every line

    Before you sign, we go through the settlement papers with you in plain language, in English or Spanish.

Before you sign: questions we answer with you

Every offer is different. These are the questions that matter most.

Before you sign: questions we answer with you
Question Why it matters
QuestionDoes this close future medical care? Why it mattersSome settlements keep medical open, others end it. That can change the value a lot.
QuestionWhat is the offer based on? Why it mattersUsually the impairment rating, your wage rate and your state's benefit formula.
QuestionIs there a lien to repay? Why it mattersHealth insurers or Medicare may want repayment from the settlement.
QuestionCan I keep working there? Why it mattersSome offers ask you to resign. That is negotiable more often than people expect.
QuestionDoes a judge need to approve it? Why it mattersMany states require approval, which is a check on whether the deal is fair.

Deadlines, in general terms

Settlement offers often come with a response date, but you can usually ask for time to review. Benefits that are about to stop may have their own short dispute window.

Every state writes its own deadlines. We give you the dates that apply in Missouri and Kansas in writing after the first call. What varies by state

A related example outcome

Example outcomes are illustrations written for this sample website, not real clients. Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any other matter, and some cases do not succeed.

All example outcomes

Example outcome Return to work

Wage benefits restored after a light-duty offer broke restrictions

Delivery driver

The situation
Benefits were stopped when the client turned down a "light duty" job that required lifting above his doctor's limit.
What we did
We compared the written job offer with the restrictions line by line and asked for an expedited conference.
How it ended
Wage benefits were restarted. The request for a vocational evaluation was not granted, and the client later took a different job on his own.

Partly successful

Example outcome Settlement

Knee claim settled for less than the client hoped

Retail stocker

The situation
A knee injury healed better than expected, and two doctors gave a low permanent impairment rating.
What we did
We asked for a third opinion, which came back close to the first two. We explained what a hearing would likely add and what it would cost in time.
How it ended
The client chose a modest settlement that kept future knee care open for a set period. She told us it was smaller than she wanted, and she understood why.

Modest result

Questions we hear

All questions
How do I know if an offer is fair?

We compare it with what your state's formula and your medical records suggest, and with the cost of future care. We tell you our view; you make the call.

Do I have to settle?

No. In most states a settlement is voluntary. Some people keep an open claim instead, especially when future medical care is uncertain.

What if I can't go back to my old job at all?

Some states offer vocational help or additional benefits when you cannot return to your old work. We look at those before any settlement.

Other ways we help

Talk to a lawyer about a settlement or going back to work

The free case evaluation takes about five minutes. We call back within one business day, in English or Spanish, and tell you plainly whether we think we can help.

Start a free case evaluation Call (816) 555-0142

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