Will You Still Get Workers’ Comp If You Fail a Drug Test in Missouri?

Understand how workers’ compensation works in the state of Missouri.

With some minor exceptions, Missouri workers’ compensation law provides coverage for all workers injured on the job while working within Missouri. The Workers’ Compensation Division of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations administers Missouri workers’ compensation law. The most important thing you can do is talk to a Workers’ Compensation attorney call Northland Injury Law at 816-400-4878.

Will You Still Get Workers’ Comp If You Fail a Drug Test?

If you test positive for drugs that does not necessarily mean that you will be denied workers’ compensation benefits. If your employer wants to deny you eligibility, they must prove that your intoxication was the sole reason that you were injured. Although it can be a common issue, there are times when an employee’s injury has nothing to do with being impaired or under the influence.

For instance, if you were taking opioid drugs due to a previous injury and your job was to lift heavy objects at work, and you hurt your back while moving something, then testing positive for drugs would not necessarily be a reason to deny you workers’ compensation benefits. If, however, your job was to operate a forklift and you got into an accident at work and tested positive for drugs or alcohol, it’s likely that your employer could prove that it was your impairment that led to your injuries.

If you suffer a work-related injury in Missouri, you need to know that it is one of the few states that have no laws related to who can and who cannot be tested while at work and injured. In Missouri, drug testing is neither legal nor illegal, which makes the results of testing an employee that much more controversial for both sides.

Talk to an Attorney

A Missouri attorney experienced in workers’ compensation can be an invaluable asset to your case, especially if you were seriously injured and cannot go back to work. You should strongly consider talking to a worker’s comp attorney if you need to appeal a denial of your claim and/or your injuries are severe or complex. For a more comprehensive list of all the questions you might have about workers’ compensation, and for a free consultation, please call (816)-400-4878. If you have further questions about your case, do not hesitate to reach out to us by the phone number, through the contact form, or even with the live chat option listed on our site!