Missouri Workers’ Compensation Laws

Missouri workers’ compensation laws outline the rules and regulations that must be followed when an employee is injured or becomes ill on the job and requires workers’ compensation benefits while he recovers from his injury or illness.

Claims under Missouri Workers’ Compensation Laws

Missouri workers’ compensation insurance provides compensation benefits to employees who are injured in accidents at work, such as trips or slip and fall accidents. An occupational illness, or one that results from a worker’s repeated exposure to harmful worksite conditions, is another type of condition for which an employee may receive Missouri workers’ compensation benefits.

Keep in mind, however, that if an employee’s accidental injury results from his being under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the accident occurred, or arises because he failed to follow his employer’s stated safety policies, he will not be eligible for Missouri workers’ compensation benefits.

In the unfortunate event that an employee’s occupational illness or accidental injury causes his death, his surviving dependents may receive death benefits.

Missouri Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Medical care to treat your workplace injury or illness (for instance, hospital or physician bills) will be paid for by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance provider. Payments will be made directly to your medical provider. Wages you lose traveling to and from doctor appointments related to your injuries, as well as the mileage costs of transport, may be reimbursed by your employer’s insurer.

In addition to mileage reimbursement and medical care, you may also receive income replacement benefits, the amount of which varies depending on the type of injury or illness you suffer. The following income replacement benefits may be available:

1) Temporary Total Disability Benefits (TTD): When a worker is completely unable to work for a time because of his work-related injury or illness, he will be paid 2/3 of his average weekly wage each week.

2) Temporary Partial Disability Benefits (TPD): When the employee is recovering from his injury and he cannot work full-time or perform his old job duties, but he can do some work at a reduced wage or for fewer hours. He will be paid 2/3 of the difference between his weekly wage prior to and after his injury or illness.

3) Permanent Total Disability Benefits (PTD): The severity of the injury or illness means the employee is unable to obtain gainful employment. He will be paid 2/3 of his average weekly wage on a weekly basis.

4) Permanent Partial Disability Benefits (PPD): The worker’s injury has reached maximum improvement but the worker will still be hindered by his injury and unable to perform all the duties he performed before the injury or illness. As compensation, the employee will receive 2/3 of his pre-injury average weekly wage each week.

Lastly, death and funeral benefits may be paid to the dependents of a worker whose occupational injury or illness results in his death. The dependents will be paid 2/3 of the deceased worker’s average weekly wage each week for one year after his death. No more than $5,000 will be paid for funeral expenses.

Missouri Workers’ Compensation Statutes

Refer to the Missouri Revised Statutes for the specific text of these relevant Missouri workers’ compensation laws.

Employers Subject To Workers’ Compensation: Missouri Revised Statutes, Chp.287, § 60; Covered Employees: Missouri Revised Statutes, Chp.287, §60; Benefits: Missouri Revised Statutes, Chp.287, §§ 149, 220, 240; Claims Procedure: Missouri Revised Statutes, Chp.287, § 140.