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Missouri Workers' Compensation: The Basics

This guide explains procedures and practice tips specific to workers' compensation claims in Missouri.

The Process

What Employees Are Covered?

  • Employers with five or more employees must have workers’ compensation insurance.
  • Employers in the construction industry are required to have workers' compensation insurance regardless of the number of workers.
  • Railroad, postal and maritime workers are covered by federal laws, not by the Missouri Workers’ Compensation law. 

How Do Employers Obtain Insurance?

Employers can either purchase workers' compensation from a Missouri authorized insurance carrier.

OR

Employers can meet the Division of Workers’ Compensation requirements to self-insure its liabilities.

What Types of Injuries Are Covered?

  • Occupational Diseases
  • Physical Injuries
  • Psychological Injuries

*As long as work is the

For more information on what employees must prove in order to have a compensable injury, click on the tab above titled "Frequent Issues."

GOOD TO KNOW!

Hundreds of cases that have held that the standard of review requires a reviewing court to view the evidence and all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the award were overruled. See the link below for the case that overruled Hundreds of cases. 

Furthermore, it is good for attorneys dealing with workers' compensation cases to know that most attorneys and lawyers still cite to cases that have been overruled based on the standard of review. As a policy matter, this raises the fundamental question as to whether the law has actually changed as was intended by the decision in the case cited below.