The details of the case and the injury itself become extremely important to prove to your employer and the insurance company that your injury is indeed work-related.
Workers’ compensation laws do not apply to every single scenario. Missouri workers need to understand exactly how these laws apply to know what are the instances when the are fully covered, and when they are not.
Case in point: injuries occurring during overseas trips. Are they eligible?
What Does the Law Say
In general terms, Missouri courts recognize that for some people, traveling is part of their job description. So while for some, workers’ compensation laws only apply if they occur at their place of employment, some jobs are added as exceptions to this rule. For instance, someone who works as a deliveryman is most likely never at the office. As a result, Missouri courts state they too should be compensated if they get hurt on the job because part of their regular work activity involves traveling.
The same principle can apply to those who have to travel overseas as part of their work. However, it may be necessary to prove that the injury is work-related. The details of the case and the injury itself become extremely important to prove to your employer and the insurance company that your injury is indeed work-related.
Interpreting the Law
Missouri workers comp laws generally apply when the worker gets injured at the job, performing a work activity, while they are on the clock. That means that if you get injured at the office during work hours, performing your regular work activities, you generally have nothing to worry about.
But situations that deviate from this scenario can be tricky. For instance, it is already established that driver to or from work is generally not covered under workers comp, so if you get injured at these moments, then your medical costs usually won’t be reimbursed. The same principle may also apply while you are traveling to another country for work – the journey itself may not constitute as on the clock activities even if arguably it’s something your job requires you to do.
Additionally, the insurance company may ask extra details regarding how you got injured to see if it is indeed work-related. If the accident occurred while you were doing your job, such as during a meeting with a client, perhaps, then you might not get a lot of push back. However, if you got injured while sightseeing on your own time, then that injury is typically not eligible for workers comp.
How Do You Know If You Have a Case?
If you got injured during a business trip overseas and aren’t sure if you have an eligible case for compensation, it’s best to discuss your case with an experienced workers compensation attorney. They can tell you if you are eligible, and if you are, they can also help you file a claim and make sure you receive the full amount of compensation you are legally entitled to.