Workers Comp Lawyers

If you have ever run a business then you have dealtwith workers comp insurance companies. Having to deal with the non-stop threat of increased premiums will make any employer paranoid.

Chances are you already realize that there are many things that occur in your company that will cause the workers comp insurance companies to raise your premiums. Other reasons you may not realize are that there are also numerous mistakes made by the insurance carrier that have a adverse effect on your company. The following is a listing of common mistakes by businesses and workers comp insurance companies.

The following are some common mistakes made by business owners that cause workers compensation premiums to rise:

Lack of safety program for preventing injuries
Non-existent return to work procedure
Not reporting injuries to the insurance company when they occur
No direct contact with the injured worker’s doctor

The preceding are just a sampling of the common mistakes that business owners make when dealing with work comp. There are many options available that will help employers to reduce costs with minimal upfront costs. If not watched the reasons above can amount to thousands of dollars in increased premium rates.

The next list below are common mistakes made by workers comp insurance companies:

Workers given the wrong workers compensation classification code
Company’s experience mod was mis-calculated
Eligible exemptions and credits mis-applied or never applied
Mis-calculating payroll

It may be hard to believe but, these errors are just a small sample of the several mistakes that arise. A common problem is when the workers comp insurance company is calculating the overtime rate at the amount indicated on the payroll as opposed to a straight hourly rate.

Another problem is workers being put into the wrong job class category. This mistake can cost employers thousands of dollars. An example is a clerical employee being classified under the roofing class code because he is required to go to the work site on an infrequent basis.

If you have ever dealt with insurance carriers you probably know how difficult it can be to get your business’ premiums decreased. Even though you may be right, you may not have the tools you need to show them the problem so that it can be fixed. Then there’s the errors that you do not know about that are costing your company thousands of dollars. Mistakes that add up to tens of thousands of dollars over time.

Believe it or not, I have seen it first hand. I just recently saw a policy that had so many errors that the company was refunded $96,000. Essentially, the company received back $16,000 a year foreach of the six years past. I do not know about you but I could definitely use an extra $96,000.

You may think I am embellishing the story but that’s not the case. That is not even the largest refund that I’ve seen. Typically on average our company finds about $37K in refunds. Obviously it all depends on how much you’re paying in premiums but on average we usually recover about 10% of the annual premium.

Sound too good to be true? Try it and see for yourself.

Originally published here.

Workplace injuries can be a very sensitive subject, and they can often times be hard to prove to the extent of getting full benefits, full pay while away from work, and medical bills paid for that are related to the injury. It is important for the person who has been injured at work to report the injury to the employer as soon as it has happened; just to be sure it shows in court that everything was documented. Keeping a paper trail throughout the entire process will help your case and make sure you get full compensation for any medical related bill.

When it comes to a workplace injury, there are a few things to consider. When you get workers compensation, depending on what state you live in, this might not include pain and suffering. If it does not, a separate case would have to be filed for this. Workers compensation generally covers all medical bills related to the incident, and it offers pay for however long you are unable to work. Prolonged disability, such as losing a body part, might reward a payout of two-third of your wages paid out for the rest of your life. Either way, the main thing to consider is that for work-related injury claims, usually it is not discussed where the negligence lies, because more than likely it was an accident. What is discussed is if the injury happened at the work place or not.

If you are out of work for longer than seven days, you can start receiving long-term compensation benefits. If you are unable to work for the rest of your life, then a judgment will be made accordingly. The most important thing to do though in any case is report the injury as soon as possible, and if it is a bad injury, you should seek professional representation, especially if your job is refusing to pay out workers compensation. Any employer who has three or more full-time employees working for them is required to have workers compensation.

If you wait longer than two years to make your claim, your case might not have any merit, so do not find yourself out of work for that long because of an injury suffered while working. Lawyers for work related injuries are there to make sure the injured is properly compensated. This includes missed wages from not working, possible wages that could not be earned in the future, and this makes sure that every single medical bill you have will be paid for in full.

Injury Attorney Raleigh

NC Workers Comp

Originally published here.

If you have been injured on the job one of the first things you need to know is whether or not your medical bills will be covered by Workers’ Compensation. You need to know what type of treatment and supplies are covered and what you must do to make sure that the eligible treatment you seek and receive is paid for. All of your medical needs and expenses associated with your work-related injury should be covered by Workers’ Compensation benefits, but there are some rules and limitations. Unfortunately, many employers and their insurance companies work hard to exploit these rules, and some will even break the law, to minimize what they must pay.

Workers’ Compensation Medical Benefits

Understand that every case is unique and you may have a fight on your hands when it comes to coverage for your medical care. Generally, Workers’ Compensation medical benefits include treatments and expenses that:

• Cure or correct the injury
• Improve disability caused by the injury
• Relieve pain caused by the injury

Workers’ Compensation medical benefits should pay for your doctor visits, medical procedures such as surgery, and any medications you must take. It may also cover your health and disability-related needs including special equipment.

In some cases, travel expenses for medical care may be covered based on a per-mile rate. You may also be reimbursed for lodging and meals.

Control of Your Medical Treatment

Control defaults to your employer or its insurance company. They decide which doctors and other medical providers you must use. They may also assign a rehabilitation nurse to manage your case.

Typically, employers and their insurance companies will choose the providers that are most likely to work in their favor. You may wind up with a doctor who says you are ready to return to work before you are able, and that can mean having your benefits cut short.

You can see the doctor of your choice, but if you make the change on your own your bills may not be covered. In North Carolina, if you can show good grounds for changing doctors, the Industrial Commission may grant you permission to do so. You must have written approval from the Industrial Commission, your employer, or your employer’s insurer, to guarantee that your bills will be covered.

Time Limitations on Medical Benefits

There is no set time limit for how long you can receive medical treatment under Workers’ Compensation. This benefit lasts as long as medical treatment, for your work-related injury, is required.

However, if you go two years without a payment, your benefits will expire. If you think your condition is going to cause you to need medical treatment in the future, you must file a form with the Industrial Commission before the end of that two year period, and get their approval, to keep your benefits available for your future medical needs.

Originally published here.

If you live in North Carolina and have been injured in a work-related accident, please visit the website of White & Stradley, LLP to learn more about North Carolina Workers’ Compensation benefits

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