Posted on April 30th, 2010
The Connecticut State Senate Wednesday approved a bill to allow police officers to receive worker’s compensation for stress following the use of deadly force on a mammal.
The bill comes after the 2009 killing of a 200-pound pet chimpanzee in Stamford last year, wherein a police officer was forced to shoot the animal after it attacked a number of people.
The officer testified to lawmakers that he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after the experience but that he was denied worker’s compensation coverage for the incident.
Current law allows an officer to receive worker’s compensation following the shooting of a human, but not an animal. The bill must now pass the House after receiving Senate approval.
The ins and outs of worker’s compensation can be complicated. If you believe you have been injured or suffered from a work related incident and been unjustly excluded from worker’s compensation benefits, contact the New Jersey worker’s compensation attorneys of Levinson Axelrod, P.A., at 800-346-5529.
Posted on April 30th, 2010
Workers’ compensation fraud includes many different types of frauds including billing frauds and false report frauds. Basically, it involves any act where an employer or employee misrepresents facts in order to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
For instance, an employer may need to cover medical expenses for an injury not related to workplace activities. That employer may write up a false claim and get approval from a doctor to receive these benefits.
If you have questions about a workers’ compensation case, contact the New Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys of Levinson Axelrod, P.A., at 800-346-5529.
Posted on April 23rd, 2010
When individuals are injured on the job, they are typically entitled to receive Temporary Total Disability Benefits. This means that they will receive about 70% of their weekly earnings, which will help them cover their personal expenses.
According to the New Jersey Workers Compensation Act, they can receive these benefits if they are treated by an Authorized Doctor. However, once the doctor determines that the injured worker can return to work, the injured worker typically does not receive these benefits.
If you have questions about your workers’ compensation benefits, contact the New Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys of Levinson Axelrod at 800-346-5529.
Posted on April 21st, 2010
Ken Luttrell, an Oklahoma State Rep., has filed an amendment to Senate Bill 1973 that would result in all worker’s compensation claims in the state being sent to district civil courts.
The amendment is expected to be considered in the House sometime this week and amounts to a complete overhaul of the entire state’s current worker’s compensation system.
“These are local claims involving local employers and local workers – so why should all those individuals have to travel to Oklahoma City or Tulsa to have a case heard?” said Luttrell. “I have faith in our local courts to handle these issues fairly.”
If the state legislature chooses to enact this amendment it will give Oklahoma its own unique worker’s compensation system.
Each state has its own complex and individual worker’s compensation laws. If you are looking for legal counsel in the area of area of worker’s compensation, contact the the New Jersey workers compensation attorneys of Levinson Axelrod by calling 800-346-5529
Posted on April 15th, 2010
Governor Dave Heineman of Nebraska signed bill LB780 on Wednesday, April 13, which allows Nebraska’s police officers, firefighters, and other first responders to qualify for workers compensation should they experience severe psychological trauma on the job.
Heineman signed the bill despite his concerns that the bill was not specific enough regarding the cost of this new workers compensation.
Estimates suggest that the bill will result in a statewide average of 2 claims per year, at a cost of $4,000 per case. Opponents of the bill argue that this is inaccurate.
Supporters of the bill cite the intense psychological and mental trauma that workers involved in grisly encounters can experience, claiming it can be much worse than physical injury.
Contact the New Jersey workers compensation attorneys of Levinson Axelrod by calling 800-346-5529 if you have questions about what qualifies you for workers compensation or if you feel you been unjustly denied workers compensation coverage.
Posted on April 13th, 2010
Fraud and noncompliance referrals to the state attorney general for workers’ compensations violations from the Missouri Labor Department’s Division of Worker’s Compensation (DWC) have increased sharply, more than doubling in the first quarter of 2010 from their numbers in 2009.
This increase is likely a consequence of two factors. First, the DWC has increased efforts to analyze and correctly prosecute cases of worker’s compensation noncompliance, and secondly, employers are more likely to cut worker’s compensation coverage during a difficult economy.
An employer with five or more employees – or one or more if that employer is involved in construction – must possess worker’s compensation coverage in Missouri. Failure to do so is a class A misdemeanor and can result in a fine of up to $50,000. Failing to report injury or misrepresenting injuries is a class D misdemeanor.
When a company fails to adequately insure its employers or provide them with worker’s compensation coverage, they should be punished for it. Contact the New Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys of Levinson Axelrod by calling 800-346-5529 if you have questions about this or find yourself in this kind of position.
Posted on April 8th, 2010
After witnessing the electrocution of one of his coworkers, NJ Transit employee Tony Araujo was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and advised to take time off. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Whistleblower Office, when informed of the diagnosis, Araujo’s boss suspended him without pay and accused him of being responsible for his coworker’s death.
Araujo, under a 3-year-old federal law designed to prevent company retaliation against workers who report safety violations or injuries, was awarded nearly $600,000 in damages today.The investigation found that NJ Transit exhibited complete disregard for the Federal Rail Safety Act and had negligently and indifferently ignored Araujo’s rights.
According to NJ transit spokeswoman Penny Bassett Hackett, the organization is reviewing the findings and considering all of its appeal options.
Organizations should be held responsible for the safety of their workers, especially in environments where injury is possible. When they do not meet safety standards, they should be held to account by legal action. If you or a loved one has been injured or wronged in the workplace, contact the New Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys of Levinson Axelrod by calling 800-346-5529
Posted on April 6th, 2010
An explosion in a mine owned by Massey Energy Co. in West Virginia on Monday has killed 25 people.
Four miners are still missing after the blast, which occurred about 30 miles south of Charleston. Safety officials report that the mine had a history of violations for failure to properly ventilate methane, the highly-combustible gas that likely played a role in the explosion. Fourteen of the victims have still not yet been identified. The explosion has become the deadliest mining disaster in the United States since 1984.
A company is responsible for the safety of its workers, even those who work in traditionally dangerous professions. Unfortunately, many large companies and corporations sacrifice worker safety for added profits. If you or a loved one has been injured in a preventable workplace accident and need assistance gaining access to the benefits for which you are entitled, contact the New Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys of Levinson Axelrod by calling 800-346-5529.
Posted on April 2nd, 2010
A 26-year old truck driver from New Jersey was killed when his Freight Liner tractor trailer rolled over on Route 4 on Tuesday morning. The accident occurred around 7:40 a.m. on Route 4 in Washington County. Authorities believe the truck skidded on the highway and jackknifed, causing the vehicle to roll-over several times.
Due to their large size and weight, trucks can cause serious injuries and even death if they are involved in an accident. If someone you love has been hurt or killed while operating a vehicle for work, you may be able to pursue workers’ compensation benefits. For more information about workers compensation claims, contact the New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyers of Levinson Axelrod at 800-346-5529 today.
