Workers compensation laws in the state of Missouri offer workers some peace of mind. They know that if they get injured, this insurance will generally cover medical expenses and even account for days off work. Employers can also rest assured knowing this policy means they generally cannot be sued by injured employees.
However, if you’re a federal employee and get injured, state compensation laws do not apply, because you are covered by the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act.
What Does the Law Say?
Any civilian employee working for the federal government is covered by the FECA act. Those employed in the military industry are covered by other federal policies unless they are a non-military employee.
Depending on the line of work you do, or the nature of your injuries, you can qualify for one of four programs:
- Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation;
- Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation;
- Division of Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation;
- Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation.
Services Provided
If a federal employee is injured, they can generally get compensation for their condition in a specific timeframe:
- Traumatic injuries - 45 days from the claim;
- Simple occupational illness - 90 days from the claim;
- Regular occupational illness - 6 months from the claim;
- Complex occupational illness - 10 months from the claim.
The process itself is very similar to that of workers compensation. After the event and once you’ve received immediate medical attention, you should notify your employer in writing of your condition within 30 days after you’ve suffered the injury. Then, your employer or supervisor will report to the Secretary of Labor, and you can file for an official claim for compensation.
The claim must be made in writing and delivered to the office of the Secretary of Labor. From here, an investigation into the event will be made to see if there is a cause for your claim, and award compensation.
Know that in these cases you have a legal right to be represented in any hearings, whether you are unable to appear yourself because of your injuries, or want a lawyer to assist you through the process. Moreover, if you feel you haven’t been awarded fair compensation, you have the legal right to appeal the Secretary’s decision and ask for your case to be reviewed again.
What Should You Do?
Though it is not mandatory, you should consider speaking with an experienced workers compensation attorney if you’ve been injured at work. These state programs often involve a rather complicated process, and a lawyer with sufficient experience can help you even with all the paperwork needed for your claim, and advise you what you should do to be compensated properly.
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