Workers Compensation in Missouri
A workplace injury can disrupt everything—your health, your job, and your financial stability. Suddenly, you’re facing medical bills and lost wages, unsure of how long it will take to recover. What happens next?
Missouri’s workers’ compensation system is here to help. If you’ve been hurt on the job, you may be eligible for benefits that cover your medical treatment, provide income while you recover, and even offer job retraining if you can’t return to your previous role.
However, navigating the system isn’t always easy. Insurance companies may delay payments, dispute claims, or offer settlements that don’t fully cover your needs. Understanding your rights and taking the right steps can make all the difference.
This guide breaks down how workers’ compensation works in Missouri, the actions you should take after an injury, and how an experienced attorney can help protect your claim and secure the benefits you deserve.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Missouri?
Workplace injuries remain a significant concern for Missouri employees. In 2023, private-sector employers reported approximately 51,600 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses, with an incidence rate of 2.6 cases per 100 full-time employees—right in line with the national average.
Some industries in Missouri experience higher injury rates than others:
- Construction: Falls, heavy machinery accidents, and electrical hazards contribute to an incidence rate of 3.9 per 100 workers.
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: With a rate of 4.2 per 100 employees, this field sees frequent injuries from lifting patients, exposure to illness, and repetitive motions.
- Manufacturing: Common injuries include machinery-related accidents, repetitive strain injuries, and exposure to hazardous materials.
The most frequent workplace injuries in Missouri include:
- Slips, Trips, and Falls: A leading cause of fractures, concussions, and soft tissue damage.
- Muscle Strains and Overexertion: Often caused by lifting heavy objects or repetitive motion tasks.
- Repetitive Stress Injuries: Carpal tunnel syndrome, back injuries, and joint pain from repetitive tasks.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Missouri?
Missouri’s workers’ compensation system ensures that employees injured on the job receive medical treatment and wage replacement benefits. To qualify, the injury must have occurred while performing job-related duties.
Most Missouri employers with five or more employees are legally required to provide workers’ compensation coverage. The benefits available include:
- Medical Benefits: Covers doctor visits, surgeries, physical therapy, and prescription medications.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): If you’re unable to work while recovering, you can receive two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to state maximums.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): If you can return to work in a limited capacity, TPD benefits cover part of your lost wages.
- Permanent Partial or Total Disability (PPD/PTD): Compensation for long-term impairments that affect your ability to work.
- Vocational Rehabilitation: Provides retraining services if your injury prevents you from returning to your previous occupation.
- Death Benefits: Financial support for dependents, including coverage for funeral expenses, if a workplace injury results in death.
Wage replacement benefits typically begin after a three-day waiting period and continue until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) or can return to work.
Get Medical Attention
After a workplace injury, your health should be your top priority. Seeking immediate medical treatment not only ensures you receive the care you need but also establishes a medical record linking your injury to your job—an essential factor in a successful workers’ compensation claim.
In Missouri, your employer has the right to choose your doctor for treatment. If you wish to see another provider, you may have to pay out-of-pocket unless you receive approval from the workers’ compensation insurer.
Even if your injury appears minor, don’t ignore it. Some conditions, like repetitive motion injuries or internal damage, may develop over time and worsen without treatment.
Keep detailed records of all medical visits, treatments, and prescriptions. These documents will be crucial if your claim is disputed or if additional benefits are needed.
File a First Report of Injury
Once you have received medical care, notifying your employer is your next critical step. Missouri law requires workers to report injuries within 30 days of the incident, though reporting sooner can prevent unnecessary delays in processing your claim.
Your employer must then file a First Report of Injury with their workers’ compensation insurance provider and the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation. This report must include:
- The date, time, and location of the injury.
- A detailed account of how the accident occurred.
- Information regarding medical treatment received.
The insurance carrier will review your claim and determine whether benefits will be granted. In some cases, you may need to undergo an Independent Medical Examination (IME) if there are disputes about the severity of your injury.
Missouri imposes a two-year statute of limitations for filing a workers’ compensation claim. If you fail to act within this period, you may forfeit your right to benefits.
Missouri has a three-day waiting period before beneficiaries can receive payments. If the injuries are severe enough to justify permanent total disability, an employee may receive weekly payments for the rest of their life or a lump-sum settlement.
Why You Should Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While Missouri’s workers’ compensation system is designed to help injured workers, securing benefits isn’t always a smooth process. Insurance companies often challenge claims, delay payments, or try to settle for less than what you’re owed.
A workers’ compensation attorney can help you:
- File your claim correctly to avoid unnecessary delays or denials.
- Negotiate with insurance providers to ensure you receive full medical and wage replacement benefits.
- Represent you in hearings before the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation if disputes arise.
- Advocate for additional compensation, such as permanent disability benefits or vocational retraining.
If your claim has been denied or your benefits have been cut off prematurely, an attorney can help you appeal and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Missouri
Your health and well-being need to come first. If you are hurt while working or find out an illness you are suffering is the result of your job, you will want to seek compensation.
We can connect you with a local attorney or one across Missouri state lines.
Submit a request online or call us at (866) 345-6784 to find a workers’ compensation lawyer today!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
If you still have some urgent questions about your situation, take a look at another area of Missouri law.
