Do I Have to Pay for Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Mississippi? Find Out About Employer and Employee Obligations when it Comes to Workers’ Compensation in the Magnolia State
When most workers in Mississippi start a new job, the last thing that they probably think about is what will happen if they get into a terrible workplace accident that disables them from working. Indeed, in the excitement of starting a new position and getting a new paycheck, Mississippi workers who have recently been hired are unlikely to be thinking about the intricacies of a catastrophic injury, or how they will pay for and recover from a serious workplace accident. However, the truth of the matter is that terrible, even fatal, workplace accidents happen in Mississippi far too often, and victims of workplace accidents are seriously injured and even killed on the job. Fortunately, to help these injured workers, Mississippi workers’ compensation laws entitle most injured workers to important workers’ compensation benefits to help them financially while they are injured so that they can go back to their regular work and their regular lives. But what are the obligations of employers when it comes to Mississippi workers’ compensation, and what must employees do to obtain these important benefits? To help Mississippi workers better understand employee and employer obligations when it comes to workers’ compensation benefits in Mississippi, we answer those questions here.
Employer Obligations – Mississippi Workers’ Compensation
At the outset, it is important for Mississippi workers to know that they have no obligation to sign up and pay for workers’ compensation insurance in Mississippi. In fact, in Mississippi, employees do not pay for workers’ compensation insurance, but, rather, Mississippi employers who are not exempt from Mississippi workers’ compensation laws must obtain and pay for workers’ compensation coverage. Some employers who are especially small, “mom and pop” employers, and some other types of specific employers are exempt from Mississippi workers’ compensation laws, but the vast majority of Mississippi workers are covered. In sum, it is a Mississippi employer’s obligation to obtain workers’ compensation insurance, and to file a claim on behalf of their employees who have been injured on the job.
Employee Obligations – Mississippi Workers’ Compensation
Injured Mississippi workers may wonder whether it is their obligation to prove that their employer was at fault in order to obtain Mississippi workers’ compensation benefits. Fortunately, the Mississippi workers’ compensation program is a no-fault program, so injured workers do not need to prove that their employer was negligent or otherwise to blame for their workplace injury to get workers’ compensation. However, injured Mississippi workers do have reporting obligations under Mississippi workers’ compensation laws, and should seek medical treatment right away. Injured Mississippi workers may have other obligations in their workers’ compensation cases, so it is best to speak with an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer about your obligations in your specific case.
Finding Legal Help for Your Workers’ Compensation Case in Mississippi
If you were injured on the job and you need legal help obtaining important Mississippi workers’ compensation benefits, contact the experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC. Call Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to a lawyer about your case now.
