Are Teenage Workers Protected by Workers Compensation in Missouri?

Some of the main reasons that lead to a high number of work-related injuries among teenagers include their inexperience with the tools, improper safety training, and stressful working conditions.

As a parent, you may be proud that your teen is sacrificing his free time to earn some extra pocket money. They may be waking up early every morning and working long hours to save money for a new car. But, what happens if your teenage kid gets hurt or sick while performing his work duties. Will they be covered by workers’ compensation? 

Here’s what you need to know and why it would be a good idea to discuss your case with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.

Teen Workers Get Injured on the Job More Than Adults

Before you jump with excitement at the news that your son or daughter has found a summer job, you need to understand the risks they expose themselves to. Teen workers are two times more likely to get injured on the job than adult workers in some occupational sectors. 

Let’s take a closer look at the numbers and the reasons behind the high rate of injuries among teen workers (via EHS Today): 

• 230,000 teen workers are injured on the job every year;
• 70,000 teen workers go to the emergency room for work-related injuries;
• Unfortunately, around 70 teens die every year because of work injuries. 

Most of the injuries teens suffer at work include cuts, sprains, and burns, but they can also be subjected to more serious wounds such as broken bones, concussions, or amputations. 

Some of the main reasons that lead to a high number of work-related injuries among teenagers include their inexperience with the tools, improper safety training, and stressful working conditions.

Are Teen Workers Protected by Workers Compensation? 

Age and fault are irrelevant when it comes to workers’ compensation. Even if an employee is young and his lack of experience caused his injury, he can still apply for and receive workers’ compensation benefits. The only exception is generally injuries caused by alcohol or drug consumption. 

If a teen gets injured on the job, he should get medical aid as soon as possible. There may be instances when the injury doesn’t require immediate medical help, such as back pain that worsens over time. In that case, the teen worker should not ignore any pain and speak with his doctor right away. Failure to do so may prompt the insurance company to claim that the injury is not that severe or that it’s not a work injury at all. 

It’s also a good idea to speak with a Missouri compensation attorney to guide you through the legal process of filing a claim. Your lawyer can also handle negotiations with the insurance company and fight to get you fair compensation.

Missouri Work Accident Lawyers

When it comes to teen workers getting hurt, the law is strict, and the penalties can be hefty. Any violation of child labor law is seen as a serious offense by the state of Missouri, and employers can be held responsible if it’s found that they failed to protect minor workers. 

However, sometimes things aren’t as cut and clear as we would like them to be. A Missouri work injury lawyer can help you find an answer to all your questions and help your teenager through the process of getting workers’ compensation.