Missouri Legislators Changing State Workers' Compensation Laws

February 19, 2013
The Missouri state government is currently in the process of overhauling the policies surrounding the ability of citizens to receive Missouri Workers’ Compensation benefits. A story released by the Insurance Journal Thursday explains senators are currently working to supply funding for special state funds, while also reworking policies that oversee the processing of benefit claims.
In 2005, lawmakers placed a cap on the amount of money employers were required to pay into special funds used to give benefits to disabled workers who suffer further on-the-job injuries. Now, the Second Injury Fund is nearly $25 million in the red. Lawmakers are attempting to build funding back up by temporarily doubling the fees employers pay into the fund and limiting the types of injuries covered by the money.
Lawmakers are also attempting to repair legislation that covers the exclusion of certain conditions from workers’ compensation coverage. Current law states that work-related illnesses, such as cancer from Asbestos exposure, are not “accidents” under legal definition of the word and, therefore, are not covered by the program. Lawmakers are changing this to ensure these workers are not only covered, but also receive special benefit programs.
The St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers with CofmanTownsley Injury Lawyers understand how devastating a work-related injury can be and are hopeful these changes will better protect injured workers’ rights to compensation following an on-the-job accident that occurred at no fault of their own.