Law Areas
Automobile Injuries
I have handled tractor-trailer cases, automobile rollover cases, jack-knifed cases, and passenger injury cases, also called single-car accidents. Sadly, serious injuries can result when the driver of a vehicle loses control or drives off the road and collides with an object, and the passenger is seriously injured or killed. I have experience helping uninsured or underinsured people recover compensation for serious high-speed collision issues with heavy vehicles like tow trucks smashing into automobiles can be complete. It is important to take into consideration the special circumstances involved with large trucks like dump trucks or concrete trucks. Some of the most dangerous collisions impact dynamics with head-on collisions typically have more severe injuries with long recovery time periods.
Tractor Trailer Collisions
I have handled cases involving large truck or tractor-trailer collisions. I have handled a case where a tractor-trailer driver was distracted and/or tired and was on his phone when he ran into the rear of a vehicle and stopped at a red traffic light. Also, I have helped an injured person in a “wheel-off” case, also referred to as a wheel run-off, losing tires/axle tandem tractor-trailer case. It is important to understand the forces involved in a big truck accident and the Department of Transportation Safety Regulations that govern truck drivers and their companies. For example, We investigate a jack-knife case to determine a safety violation impacting forces and causing of injuries.
Long-Term Disability
I have helped persons who had long-term disability policies (non- ERISA and ERISA) who received denial letters when trying to obtain their monthly payments or a settlement. It is common to be denied coverage by your insurance company for physical and mental conditions such as gout, PTSD, spinal disorders, and arthritis.
Worker's Compensation
Missouri: - https://labor.mo.gov/dwc
The Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation administers the programs, providing services to all stakeholders, including workers who have been injured on the job or been exposed to occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment. The Division makes sure that an injured worker receives benefits that he/she is entitled to under the Missouri Workers' Compensation Law. The Division's Administrative Law Judges have the authority to approve settlements or issue awards after a hearing related to an injured worker's entitlement to permanent benefits allowed by Missouri law.
If you are injured at work and in the scope of pursuing your employer’s business interests, a proper legal claim is handled by the Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation, which administers claims for injured persons who have been injured on the job or been exposed to occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment. The phrase “arising out of and in the course of employment” is a legal term of art, and its meaning is based on past case law and statutes. Legal counsel is important to finding out if your injury will be covered by your employer or if you will win at trial. The Division will handle your claim and set it up for trial. Mediation is also possible, and you can use it to get compensation. Your benefits are controlled by the current definitions and laws at the time of your injury and set out in the Missouri Workers' Compensation Law and specific statutes.
You can do research on your rights and the current laws by accessing https://labor.mo.gov/DWC/Division Units, and for injured persons – general information on the process, deadlines, etc. is available at https://labor.mo.gov/injured-workers.
If you have received a settlement offer or have questions, call me. Please note that the Division's Administrative Law Judges have the authority to approve settlements or issue awards after a hearing related to an injured worker's entitlement to permanent benefits allowed by Missouri law, and if you haven’t filed a claim with the Missouri Workers’ Compensation Division, your rights and claim are NOT legally protected by law. Specifically, if you don’t file a claim and the deadline for filing has passed, you could be barred from receiving any benefits, including future medical care and other important benefits.
Virginia: - https://workcomp.virginia.gov/
If you are injured, you can access the injured worker’s page and review what rights and legal benefits you have. If you are injured, you should seek legal information about who is considered an employee and what injuries are covered by the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act.
You should file a claim form, but first, you should report to your supervisor/HR person what was injured so they can have enough information to be on notice of the details of your injuries and when/where they happened. Your legal deadline is generally "no later than two years after the accident.” When your health issues are caused by a disease from work, it's more complex, but you will also have a deadline for filing a claim if you are diagnosed with a work-related disease.
General Deadlines: - 30 Days notice to your employer. This can be done in writing or by email; keep your proof of notice and get a receipt that they are aware of in writing. Your employer is obligated to file a report of the accident or disease with the Commission within ten days. So make sure you do this ASAP. Certain benefits and/or your claim can be negatively impacted if you don't—see failure to report your injury: Va. Code § 65.2-600 for more information. If you have witnesses, please keep their information and contact information if needed. You can file your claim in several ways: in person at the local VWCC office, by mail, fax, or by WEBFILE (online filing). Online is a convenient way to set up your claim, but you should consider seeking legal counsel first.
Fee Information
Fees - How We Are Paid:
Tier Contingency or Fixed Flat Fee: For example, with personal injuries, our contingency fee is typically 33 1/3 percent, but it will increase to a higher percentage with litigation and trial.
For Social Security Disability, our fee is set at 25% of back benefits, or a flat fee.
Long-Term Disability (LTD) administrative appeal is a flat fee.
A federal or state court appeal is a contingency.
Read About the Skip's Christian Ministry to Orphans
In 2008, the Ritchie family embarked on an incredible journey of faith together in service to orphans. It began at the Casa Hogar Orphanage in Acapulco, Mexico, Missouri to the World (MTW). It was a very memorable trip.
2008: In July, our family traveled to Cuzco, Peru, to help start the Josephine House Orphanage through Missouri to the world.
2009: Skip enrolled at Covenant Seminary in Saint Louis, Mo., to obtain a degree in counseling to better equipped for serving orphans.
2010: We traveled to DR COngo Africa to aid in the care of more than 150 orphans in Kinshasa, DR Congo. We also visited a project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that seeks to serve the needs of a large community of families with HIV/AIDS.
2011: In January, Skip returned to Addis Ababa with a team of medical and counseling professionals and students to serve the same community of families through convenience through Covenant Seminary.
2012: Over the summer, our family participated in an internship through Gordon Conwell
seminary who partnered with the Theological College of Zimbabwe to offer internships and
training to masters level students from Covenant Seminary.
During that time in Zimbabwe, we were connected to Isaiah’s baby’s home and orphanage for
children age 0 to 5. As we spent time with the children there, we decided that it would be good
to partner with them going forward. Thankfully, we were able to continue to stay connected and
provide training for the caregivers and several of the children were adopted by the caregiver
2013: In November, Skip and his wife Keary founded a non-profit organization for orphans, OARRS, Inc., in Missouri.
2019-2025: Over the past several years, we have focused on trying to provide helpful counseling techniques to caregivers for young children who have been abandoned and neglected. These techniques have been developed through the research-based work of the late Christian psychologist Dr. Purvis and Empowered to Connect and Show Hope, Skip has frequently traveled to Zimbabwe and South Africa to offer trainings to caregivers.
We also partner with ministry leaders and pastors to promote effective orphan care. In the past, we have promoted orphan care by making connections with local pastors through Miami International Seminary (MINTS.EDU) courses Bible Study. Please pray for relationships to be strengthened as we look to build more partnerships that will bless vulnerable children and families.
Currently, we are focused on training care givers of orphan in Northern Zimbabwe
We invite you to partner with us. Click on the link to learn more about our orphan ministry. http://www.oarrs.org/
James 1:27
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are directed to visit/oversee orphans in need.
Support and Give: Pray fully consider supporting this project in Zimbabwe and the greater mission of serving orphans, adoption, and family preservation work in Africa. You can give by donating through the link below or by sending a check to:
OARRS, Inc.
P.O. Box 179342, St., Louis, MO 63117
P.O. Box 2266, Harrisonburg, VA 22801