Short answer: If you were hurt on the job in St. Louis, firms worth calling include Niesen, McDonough & Niesen (NMN Injury Law) downtown, Hennessey Law Firm, the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann, Cantor Injury Law and Brown & Crouppen. Several of them handle workers’ comp cases exclusively or almost exclusively.
Every firm below represents injured workers in the St. Louis area, and every fact comes from the firm’s own website. We left out ratings, review counts and results we couldn’t confirm.
Workers’ compensation lawyers in St. Louis: at a glance
| Rank | Firm | Best for | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niesen, McDonough & Niesen (NMN Injury Law) | A family firm handling work comp, personal injury and Social Security disability under one roof | Downtown St. Louis (N. Fourth St.) |
| 2 | Hennessey Law Firm | A work comp-focused practice led by a registered nurse | N. New Ballas Rd. (63141) |
| 3 | Law Office of James M. Hoffmann | Working directly with one Missouri work comp attorney | S. Hanley Rd. (63144) |
| 4 | Cantor Injury Law | Contested and denied claims | Creve Coeur (Olive Blvd.) and downtown |
| 5 | Brown & Crouppen | A large, long-running St. Louis injury firm | Daggett Ave. (The Hill area) |
| 6 | Padberg Appelbaum Knepper | Medical-care and benefit-payment disputes | Chouteau Ave. |
| 7 | The Bruning Law Firm | Work comp plus possible third-party claims | Downtown (Washington Ave.) |
| 8 | Jett Accident & Injury Lawyers | South County and Fenton-area workers | Fenton |
| 9 | Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers | Workplace accidents that may also involve a lawsuit | Downtown (N. 4th St.) |
| 10 | Nelson & Nelson | Metro East workers with Illinois or Missouri claims | Belleville, IL |
Related: Hurt in a car crash or other accident instead? See our best personal injury attorneys in St. Louis.
1. Niesen, McDonough & Niesen (NMN Injury Law)
Niesen, McDonough & Niesen is a family law firm at 319 North Fourth Street in downtown St. Louis, and its attorneys say they have more than 100 combined years of legal experience. Workers’ compensation is one of its core practice areas, alongside personal injury, Social Security disability and estate planning. The firm’s work comp page says it handles denied claims, workers’ comp litigation and retaliation issues for injured employees under both Missouri and Illinois law.
Founding attorney Frank J. Niesen Jr. graduated cum laude from Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to the Missouri bar in 1977. Michael D. McDonough, a University of Missouri School of Law graduate who played college baseball at Ohio State, has practiced for more than 20 years in Missouri’s state, federal and administrative courts, and the firm says he has won permanent total disability benefits for several clients with severe work injuries. Frank J. Niesen III and Mark G. Niesen also list workers’ compensation among their practice areas. The firm says it limits its caseload so each client gets personal attention, and it offers free consultations.
Good fit if: you want a downtown family firm where the same attorneys can also help if your injury leads to a Social Security disability claim or a separate injury case.
Visit Niesen, McDonough & Niesen
2. Hennessey Law Firm
Hennessey Law Firm says well over 90% of its practice is devoted to workers’ compensation in Missouri and Illinois, and that it represents only injured workers and injured clients. Attorney Cynthia Hennessey is a registered nurse and a former insurance company attorney, and the firm cites more than 35 years of legal experience. It also handles personal injury cases, works on contingency and advances case costs. The office is at 425 N. New Ballas Road.
Good fit if: your case turns on medical details and you want an attorney with a nursing background.
3. Law Office of James M. Hoffmann
James M. Hoffmann has represented injured Missouri workers for more than 30 years, and his office handles Missouri workers’ compensation cases exclusively. The firm says clients work directly with him from claim to resolution, and it focuses on serious injuries, surgery, permanent restrictions, future medical care, denied claims and IME or MMI disputes. The office is at 2001 S. Hanley Rd.
Good fit if: you want a solo work comp specialist rather than a larger team.
Visit the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann
4. Cantor Injury Law
Cantor Injury Law, led by Mark Cantor, says it has more than 30 years of experience and is licensed in Missouri and Illinois. The firm says it has helped set Missouri case law for injured workers and focuses on appeals of denied claims. It publishes its fee: 25% of contested benefits, and nothing if it doesn’t win. Offices are on Olive Boulevard in Creve Coeur and downtown at 100 South 4th Street, which is by appointment only.
Good fit if: your claim has been denied and you want clear fee terms up front.
5. Brown & Crouppen
Brown & Crouppen has practiced injury law in St. Louis since 1979, and the firm says it has won over $2 billion for clients across its practice areas, including workers’ comp. Its headquarters is at 4900 Daggett Ave., and it offers free consultations.
Good fit if: you’d rather work with a large, well-known local firm.
6. Padberg Appelbaum Knepper
Padberg Appelbaum Knepper’s workers’ comp team works to get injured workers proper medical care and on-time benefit payments, including when an employer treats them unfairly after an injury. The firm works on contingency and is at 1926 Chouteau Ave., just west of downtown.
Good fit if: the problem is delayed checks or a fight over your treatment.
Visit Padberg Appelbaum Knepper
7. The Bruning Law Firm
The Bruning Law Firm cites more than 40 years of collective experience with injury and workers’ comp cases. It helps with denied claims, delayed benefits, medical-treatment disputes and work restrictions, and it looks at whether a third-party injury claim might also apply. The firm lists an office at 555 Washington Ave. downtown and mentions a Creve Coeur office as well.
Good fit if: someone other than your employer, like a contractor or equipment maker, may share the blame.
8. Jett Accident & Injury Lawyers
Attorney Matt Jett and his team handle Missouri workers’ comp claims from filing through hearings and appeals. The office is at 900 S. Highway Dr. in Fenton, and the firm serves workers across St. Louis and St. Charles counties, including Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Brentwood and Manchester. It charges no upfront fees.
Good fit if: you live or work in South County or along I-44.
Visit Jett Accident & Injury Lawyers
9. Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers
Schultz & Myers handles workers’ comp claims for injured St. Louis workers, including catastrophic and fatal workplace injuries. It also handles workplace accident cases where a lawsuit against someone other than the employer may be possible. The St. Louis office is at 319 N. 4th Street, Suite 835, and it offers free case evaluations.
Good fit if: you were hurt in a work-related car crash or construction accident.
10. Nelson & Nelson
Nelson & Nelson has practiced from Belleville, Illinois, for more than 40 years, and its attorneys are licensed in both Illinois and Missouri. It handles workers’ comp claims, appeals, disability and death benefits, and it serves St. Louis city, St. Louis County and St. Charles County along with southern Illinois. The office is at 420 N. High St. in Belleville.
Good fit if: you live in the Metro East or your injury could fall under Illinois law.
How we chose
- Workers’ comp is a real practice area. Each firm has a dedicated workers’ compensation page and represents injured workers, not just employers.
- Local presence. Each firm has an office in the St. Louis metro and serves St. Louis city or county.
- Verifiable experience. We only used facts the firms publish about themselves, like years in practice, attorney backgrounds and fee terms.
- Clear access. Every firm listed offers a free consultation or charges no fee unless it recovers benefits.
We didn’t rank firms by verdict amounts or online reviews, because those are hard to compare fairly.
What to look for in a Missouri workers’ comp lawyer
Missouri workers’ comp claims are handled by the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation, part of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. A few basics help you judge whether a lawyer knows the system:
- Deadlines. Missouri law generally requires you to give your employer written notice within 30 days of an injury. You generally have two years to file a claim with the Division, or three years if your employer never filed a report of injury.
- Who has to carry coverage. Most Missouri employers with five or more employees must carry workers’ comp, and construction employers must carry it with even one employee.
- Medical care. In Missouri, the employer has the right to select the treating doctor. You can see your own doctor, but generally at your own expense. A good lawyer will explain how to handle disagreements over care and when an independent medical exam matters.
- Wage benefits. Temporary total disability generally pays 66â…”% of your average weekly earnings, up to a cap tied to the state average weekly wage.
- Fees. Work comp attorneys usually work on contingency, and Missouri law says their fees are subject to regulation by the Division or the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission and must be fair and reasonable. Ask for the percentage in writing.
- Missouri vs. Illinois. If you live on one side of the river and work on the other, ask whether the firm is licensed in both states.
FAQ
Do I need a lawyer for a workers’ comp claim in Missouri?
Not always. A simple claim that’s being paid may not need one. A lawyer helps most when a claim is denied, benefits stop, you need surgery, or you’re offered a settlement for permanent disability.
How much does a workers’ comp lawyer cost in St. Louis?
Most charge a percentage of the benefits they recover and nothing upfront. Cantor Injury Law, for example, publishes a 25% fee on contested benefits. Under Missouri law, work comp attorney fees are regulated by the Division or the Commission.
How long do I have to report a work injury in Missouri?
Generally 30 days to give your employer written notice, and two years to file a claim (three if your employer didn’t file a report). Report it as soon as you can.
Can I sue my employer instead of filing workers’ comp?
Usually not. Workers’ comp is generally the only remedy against your employer, and it doesn’t pay for pain and suffering. You may have a separate case against a third party, like a negligent driver or equipment maker.
Can I be fired for filing a workers’ comp claim?
Missouri law (RSMo 287.780) bars employers from firing or discriminating against an employee when exercising workers’ comp rights is the motivating factor, and the employee can sue for damages. If that happens, talk to a lawyer quickly.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and every case is different. Talk to a licensed attorney about your situation.
Looking for more local guides? See the rest of our Industries lists on Insite Advice.
