Does Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Cover Off-Site Injuries?

Employees who suffer injuries on the job are eligible for Mississippi workers’ compensation coverage. The majority of workers’ compensation claims are related to incidents that occurred at the employer’s place of business.

Employees may not be certain if injured while on business trips or delivering goods are covered by the policy. Off-site injuries may also be the subject of complaints.

59 workers were killed in workplace accidents in Mississippi in 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of work-related fatalities has declined by 24% from 78 in 2018. From a high of 128 fatal work-related injuries in 1995 and 1999 to a low of 59 in 2019, the state has experienced fatal workplace injuries.

Eligibility of Workers in Mississippi:

There are a few things to keep in mind about eligibility for this program. Employers with one or more employees must provide workers’ compensation coverage to be eligible for the Workers’ Allowance program:

How Does It Apply to Off-Site Accidents?

The short answer is that if you suffer an injury while working for a business that provides coverage, you should be eligible for benefits. The injury could have occurred off-site, but you should still be entitled to benefits.

Examples of Off-Site Work-Related Activities:

Many different situations may be covered by a licensed attorney. However, the following are some possible examples:

• When you are injured while you are working, you may be covered for damages. If you are injured while making a delivery, your accident can be covered. If you are injured while on duty, you may be covered for damages. If you get injured while out of town on a business trip to meet with a client, you may be covered. You are probably doing business when you run errands while performing your employment duties. 
• The office or workstation where you eat in the canteen may technically be far away from your workspace. Employees would not have to travel outside the premises for lunch. The employee would be entitled to compensation for injuries suffered in the dining room. However, you still work there, so if you are injured during this time in any way your injury is more likely to be covered by your insurance policy.
• If you are injured while traveling through a company vehicle, you cannot recover your Mississippi workers’ compensation for it. This is when you travel to work or engage in any other type of activity outside of work.

What About Recreational Activities?  

Some states may cover employees for injuries sustained during an event sponsored by the company, such as accidents sustained at company picnics or during company parties. 

A workplace injury that occurs during an after-hours recreation activity organized by the employer and not related to the employee’s job duties will not be covered under state workers’ compensation law if participation is not compulsory or team building events are not reimbursed. 

In the event of an injury, you may be reimbursed by your employer if you planned the event during normal business hours.

How to Cope With an Offsite Injury?

The eligibility criteria in order to qualify for compensation for an off-site injury may vary from case to case. 

Even if you are having second thoughts regarding the subject, you should seek immediate medical attention because your injury is linked to your workplace. This is one of the main points your lawyer must prove for a positive verdict. With immediate medical attention, potentially life-threatening injuries can be stabilized and prevented from worsening. 

However, we suggest that your employer and any other stakeholders should be promptly informed in the event of any such legal proceedings. If it is established that there was in fact a connection between your job and your injury, you may still face severe complexities in order to prove your claim. 

Should I Hire a Lawyer for My Mississippi Workers’ Compensation? 

Unlike other federal laws, Mississippi workers’ compensation laws are state laws, which means there can be a lot of variation from state to state. You should submit any workers’ compensation forms required by your employer as soon as possible if you were injured on the job.

Our lawyers are knowledgeable about the Workers’ Compensation Act and can advise you about your rights and options when your claim is denied. They can also represent you in court if that is what you need. Call our workers’ compensation attorneys to schedule a free consultation if you think you were working at the time of the injury.