5 Key Terms You Need to Know If You Are Filing for Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Mississippi
For most workers who have been injured on the job in Mississippi, navigating the complex and challenging workers’ compensation system can feel overwhelming—especially when legal jargon gets in the way of understanding important legal rights under Mississippi workers’ compensation laws. Indeed, when an injured Mississippi worker seeks Mississippi workers’ compensation benefits after a serious workplace injury occurs, they may be daunted by the paperwork before them, and the process that lies ahead, peppered with unfamiliar – but very important – legal terms. The truth of the matter is that understanding some of the common terms that are used in the Mississippi workers’ compensation cases may help injured Mississippi workers better understand the Mississippi workers’ compensation applications process. Here we discuss 5 commonly used key terms that every injured Mississippi worker who is seeking Mississippi workers’ compensation benefits should know.
#1. “Injury”
In Mississippi workers’ compensation cases, a compensable “injury” refers to an injury or illness that arises “out of and in the course of employment without regard to fault which results from an untoward event or events….” This means that in order for your workplace injury to be covered, it must be directly related to the injured worker’s work duties.
#2. “Temporary Total Disability”
When a workplace injury prevents a Mississippi worker from working at all for a temporary period, they may be entitled to Temporary Total Disability (TTD). This means that they are entitled to compensation for the wages that they lose during the time that they are completely unable to work due to their workplace injury.
#3. “Maximum Medical Improvement”
When an injured worker’s doctor determines that their condition has stabilized to the point that it is not expected to improve any further, they may have reached their “Maximum Medical Improvement” (MMI). When a worker reaches MMI, their benefits may cease, or their doctor may determine that they are permanently impaired, entitling them to further benefits.
#4. “Independent Medical Examination”
An Independent Medical Examination (IME) is an examination of an injured Mississippi worker by a doctor who is typically chosen by the worker’s employer’s insurance company. The IME doctor examines the injured worker to assess the injury and the injury’s relationship to the worker’s job.
#5. “Administrative Hearing”
When an injured Mississippi worker’s workers’ compensation claim is denied, they may appeal it to an administrative law judge. The administrative law judge conducts a formal proceeding – the administrative hearing—to determine the validity of the worker’s claim and whether benefits should be granted.
Getting Legal Help with Your Workers’ Compensation Case in Mississippi
There are a number of other legal terms that injured Mississippi workers will want to know and be familiar with in their workers’ compensation cases. However, rather than navigating the complex Mississippi workers’ compensation system alone, injured Mississippi workers can work with an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer on their case. An experienced Mississippi worker can help you through the workers’ compensation process for the best chance of getting important benefits due to you. The experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at the law firm Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC are here to help Mississippi workers with their workers’ compensation cases. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to a lawyer about your case now.
