Workers Compensation

There are many ways an employee can be hurt at work, such as hurting your back in a fall, getting burned by a chemical, getting hurt in a car accident while working for your employer, or injuring yourself while picking up heavy items. You can also get hurt by repeated exposures at work, such as hurting your wrist or back from doing the same motions over and over again or losing your hearing because of constant loud noise.

The Jackson workers' compensation lawyers at Liston/Lancaster PLLC help employees receive the medical care and compensatory benefits they need and deserve after suffering a job-related illness or injury.

Mississippi Workers' Compensation Law

Workers' compensation is essentially a no-fault insurance plan mandated by Mississippi law, supervised by the Workers' Compensation Commission in Jackson, and paid for entirely by employers. An employer covered by the law is required to secure the payment of workers' compensation benefits to its employees, including certain medical and wage loss benefits, by purchasing workers' compensation insurance or by obtaining approval to self-insure.

•Medical Benefits - An injured worker is entitled to whatever reasonable and necessary medical services are required to treat his or her injury and achieve maximum cure. These include but are not limited to doctor and hospital services, nursing services, medication, physical therapy, crutches and any other medical service or treatment necessary. Mileage expense reimbursement for trips to the doctor is also included. Certain rehabilitation services may also be provided to assist in recovery and return the worker to gainful employment.

•Wage Loss Benefits - If an employee is required to miss work because of an injury, he or she is entitled to a wage loss benefit equal to as much as two-thirds of his or her average weekly wage, subject to a maximum weekly amount and certain time limits set by law. While the worker is under the continuing care of a doctor and is unable to work or to earn full pay, this benefit is known as a temporary disability payment. Once the doctor finds the worker has achieved maximum improvement, additional wage loss benefits, known as permanent disability payments, may be due if the worker has a permanent disability.

If an injury causes death, Mississippi workers' compensation law also guarantees the payment of benefits to any surviving spouse and certain surviving dependents. These benefits equal a certain percentage of the deceased employee's average weekly wage and are subject to a weekly maximum. In addition, the employer or its insurance carrier is obligated to pay up to $2,000 in funeral expenses.

As a Mississippi injury law firm with more than 50 years of experience, our workers' comp attorneys in Jackson fully understand how the workers' compensation system works and can readily navigate the pitfalls that employees often encounter when filing for benefits.

Contact a Knowledgeable Workers' Compensation Lawyer in Jackson,Winona or Grenada, MS

If you or a loved one has been injured at work and needs help filing for workers' compensation benefits, or if you have been denied benefits, please contact Liston/Lancaster PLLC to speak with one of our experienced workers' comp attorneys in Jackson. We offer a free initial case evaluation in all injury matters.