GULF COAST Law blog

Every job carries certain risks, but there are few professions as dangerous as working on the open seas. This is why the United States Congress passed the Jones Act in 1920 to provide legal rights and compensation for maritime workers who sustain injuries due to their job.

If an individual is injured on the job in Mississippi, they may be entitled to benefits through workers’ compensation. All employers with five or more employees are required to have workers’ compensation insurance to properly cover their employees, with some exceptions depending on the sector in which the company operates. 

Workers’ compensation guarantees payment of certain medical and wage loss benefits to individuals injured while on the job. Employers must pay into the workers’ compensation fund by state law. If covered, an employer must provide benefits to their employees by purchasing workers’ compensation insurance from an insurance company, or they may self-insure if approved by the Workers’ Compensation Commission.

The Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Act, administered by the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, allows workers injured in Mississippi to receive cash disability benefits and medical care. If you receive worker’s compensation benefits, you are not permitted to sue your employer for damages.

Being injured at work is always frightening. You’re probably worried about whether you’ll be able to keep your job, how you’ll pay for your injuries, and if you’ll be able to work again in the future. Fortunately, most employees in Mississippi are covered by workers’ compensation, as their employers are mandated to provide this type of insurance.