Category Archives: Your Legal Rights

Requirements and Guidelines for HealthCare Workers Filing for Worker’s Compensation

health care workerA worker’s compensation is an insurance provided by the company for their employees. The worker’s compensation can pay for the hospital bills and medicines, rehabilitation fees, lost wages and other benefits whenever an employee gets sick because of his job or if he sustains an injury that is work-related or while working on duty.  

Workers compensation for health care workers is pretty straight forward. For healthcare workers to be qualified for a worker’s compensation you must have these requirements:

  1. The employer must be required by the law to give worker’s compensation to its employees. Unfortunately, different jurisdictions have different state laws that have unique set of rules that guides which companies or employers are required to provide worker’s compensation. Some states allow employers with less than 3 employees to not give workers compensation coverage to the employees. So, check with your state laws and make sure that your employer has coverage for you.
  2. You must be a health care worker employee. This requirement seems simple enough but unfortunately going to and working inside the company building does not necessarily mean you are an employee of that company. Some workers are what is called an independent contractor and unfortunately, they are not covered with workers compensation. So you must check your status with the company you are working for and make sure that you are an employee and not an independent contractor.
  3. Injuries and/or illnesses must be work-related. Injuries and or illnesses that were sustained while doing your job for the company is considered work-related injury therefore should be covered by worker’s compensation.

If you are sure that you satisfy the above requirements, then filing for a worker’s compensation would be easy.

  1. The first step in filing for worker’s compensation is by immediately informing your employer, based on company guidelines, whenever you have been injured in the workplace. If your illness was sustained through a period of time, it is important that you inform your employer by reporting any illness or injuries you have experienced.
  2. Visit a doctor immediately. Some companies have doctors employed by the company onsite or sometimes, companies have specific hospitals that they are affiliated with. If that is the case, then having the medical check-ups or tests performed by these company affiliated doctors or hospitals would be more convenient for you. During the check up or tests, you must specify to the doctor that the injury or illness is work-related and therefore covered by the workers compensation. Any doctor’s fees, medicine, treatment and rehabilitation costs as well as hospitalization costs will be paid for by the company.
  3. Within the limited time set by your company, you must file a formal report to your company regarding the incident that led to the injury and/or illness. The doctor or hospital will coordinate to make certain any further compensation available to the injured worker can be given.
  4. Visit the doctor for follow-ups. For injuries that prevent you from working full-time or from working at all, you must follow up with the doctor to see when you are fully recovered and when you can return to working full-time. This way, compensation can be continued or severed accordingly.

Workers Compensation – What are your Benefits?

work compWorkplaces have to be kept safe by the employers for their employees as mandated by federal and state laws. However, accidents may still happen despite safety precautions and relatively safe environment in the workplace. Accidents are often unpredictable and it can strike anyone, anytime. Thus, workers compensation is put in place to make sure that if accidents do occur in the workplace or if employees get sick due to the nature of their job, they won’t have to worry for the expenses and lost wages. Workers compensation works as a form of insurance for employees provided fully by their employer. Benefits of worker’s compensation includes: medical care, rehabilitation cost, disability payments and in case of death, death insurance is paid out to the closest relative.

  1. Medical Care benefits – Upon getting injured or getting sick, hospitalization is the immediate need. So workers compensation must really include this benefit. Under medical care, the hospital payment for treatment and tests are included in the compensation. If surgeries are needed then that is included too. Therapy and other after care therapy are usually paid for as long as they considered by medical practitioners as established medical practices that are proven to be effective. Experimental medical therapies and treatment are usually not included in the medical care benefits. However, what is included and not included may vary from state to state as to what are mandatory. Some employers also offer more than what is mandatory by the state. In some cases, employers also put a cap or limit to how much they can spend for your medical care. It is better to inquire with your company’s policies.
  2. Rehabilitation Care Benefit – So some injuries require a person to take rehabilitation in order to regain the skills or cope with the result of the injury. Rehabilitation can be in a form of physical therapy and/or retraining programs. The cost of rehabilitation care should be covered under the workers compensation benefits.
  3. Disability Benefits – Some injuries can be severe and result to disability. Disability is categorized into four types – temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, permanent total disability and permanent partial disability. If your injury resulted to a disability in any form, you are bound to get a form of payment. For temporary disabilities, the pay will stop once the doctors’ evaluation say that you have fully recovered and is able to return to normal activities.
  4. Death Benefits – Some accidents that happen in the workplace can be very severe that it can result to death. When that happens, death benefits are in order for the dependents of the worker. Usually it is the spouse and kids that receive the payment, but parents who are dependent can also be given benefits. Some companies require the employees write their beneficiaries on their form for this purpose – to know who the beneficiaries will be in case of death. Apart from payment, which can be given in lump sum or other form, the benefits will also cover the cost for the funeral and burial expenses.

Better Handle Your Experience With Lawyer By Using These Tips

These days, people need the assistance of lawyers for countless different reasons. When it comes to finding the right lawyer for your cause, things can get a bit tricky. Not many people understand what qualities to look for when hiring a lawyer, particularly if they have never done it before. Read the following article and learn some key tips that will help you choose your next lawyer.

City Attorney Samuel H. Piles, circa 191 by Seattle Municipal Archives, on FlickrFind out all that you can about lawyers that you are interested in. What sorts of legal organizations do they belong to, for example? Bar organizations often help to keep their members informed of the very lastest in legal news. You want a lawyer who stays abreast of current legal trends!

If you come across a lawyer who is actively looking for you, avoid hiring them. This sort of situation is generally a scam. This is especially true if the situation in which you are embroiled will tend to cost a great deal of money. Spend some time researching lawyers and get the very best one you can.

If you need a good lawyer, ask your friends, relatives and colleagues if they know anyone. It is best to get a recommendation from someone you trust rather than hiring a lawyer who spends a lot on promotional campaigns. If you cannot get a recommendation, do some background research on different lawyers.

You don’t just want to choose the first lawyer you find. It’s critical that you research all the choices to find the best. Take any recommendations with a grain of salt; is the person offering the advice truly qualified to make a good recommendation? Be careful.

Finding a good lawyer is a lot of work. You should put some time aside to do some research and give yourself a few weeks to compare different options. Meet different lawyers to get quotes and ask for advice. You should not expect to find a quality lawyer right away.

Do not feel obligated to hire a lawyer because you met a few times and got some useful advice. You should sign a contract only after you agree on fees and feel comfortable with your lawyer. If you are hesitating because you have heard bad things about this lawyer or think the fees are too high, keep looking.

Do not pick a lawyer because you saw their ad on television or on a billboard. Many big firms that can afford this type of advertising use lawyers that are fresh out of school for most of their cases, but charge you for the experience held by its highest lawyers.

Find out whether or not a lawyer has experience with your particular problem. Some lawyers advertise a specialization and specific qualifications but this does not mean they have any experience. You might be able to find the information you need online, or you can get it directly from the lawyer.

As mentioned earlier, people need lawyers for all sorts of different reasons. You may find it a bit overwhelming trying to decide which lawyer to hire. However, if you implement the tips mentioned in the article above, you are sure to find a good lawyer that you can count on.

The Benefits Of An Amicus Attorney In A Custody Case

Picking a reliable lawyer is important for obvious reasons. Someone that knows the law backwards and forwards will be able to help you when you need it the most. Read this article for tips on how to choose the right lawyer for you, despite the reason you may need one.

First Lady Katie O’Malley Host Ukrainian by MDGovpics, on FlickrAsk your friends and family for referrals if you are looking for a great lawyer. Others that have had legal issues know how critical a good lawyer can be and will be best able to lead you in the right direction. Get a few recommendations and then do your own research from there.

Look for reviews on local lawyers online. Finding a lawyer that you can trust and respect can be very difficult, so any advice that you can get can be very helpful. Make sure the reviews you consider are on an independent site and take all comments with a grain of salt. The goal is to find the general consensus.

It is important to think about the specialty of a lawyer your are hiring. You want to make sure you hire the lawyer you need. You do not want to hire a lawyer that specializes in criminal law to do your estate planning. Choosing a lawyer that specializes in whatever area of law you need, will guarantee you get someone who has a lot of experience in that area and can do a good job.

A good tip to keep in mind when hiring a lawyer is to be very wary of any lawyer who seems more interested in getting paid than winning your case. There are many unscrupulous lawyers out there who will try to get you to pay a contingency fee, or even get you to mortgage your house.

Most attorneys charge for their services by the hour, but hiring one with a lower hourly rates does not mean your total cost will be less. If your lawyer needs two hours to complete a job that some other lawyer can complete in an hour, you will pay more in the long run.

Most lawyers will agree to meet with you for free so you can explain your problem and get some useful advice. You should plan on meeting with different lawyers to get several professional opinions and compare fees. Spend a few weeks meeting with different lawyers before you decide to hire one.

On the first meeting that you have with your lawyer, tell him that you want to have constant communication through phone calls, emails and face to face contact. This will show that you not only mean business but want to be informed constantly on what is going on with your case.

If you do not pick a lawyer that gives you the best advice, you might not end up with the best outcome after a court date. Whether you need a divorce lawyer or a strong defense, this is important. The tips in this article should make it clear how to choose the right lawyer for you.

Suggestions For Getting Referrals For An Attorney

Lawyers play an important role in society, despite their bad reputations. In fact, you may have to hire one to help you one of these days. You need a lawyer who will give you your best chance to win, so you need to make good decisions. Continue reading to learn how to choose the right lawyer for your needs.

french-28838_640Ask for a free consultation. Many lawyers will offer a free consultation, so you can have your questions answered. During the consultation, you can also see if you are comfortable with that lawyer. Always go to more than one free consultation so you have a good mix of lawyers to choose from.

Your lawyer should be easy to get in touch with. Many people feel that it is difficult to stay in touch with lawyers. While lawyers typically need to handle more than one case at a time, you should not have to to wait days, while being left in the dark due to your lawyer spending too much time golfing.

Check for your lawyer’s record to see the accomplishments that they have in their field and whether or not there are any issues in the past. The object is to get the best lawyer available in your budget, so do your research to find one that fits the bill. This choice can make a large difference in your life if you are facing a serious issue.

When meeting with your attorney, always ask questions. The right lawyer will be happy to answer any questions you have. If your lawyer fails to explain things thoroughly and clearly, then you probably need to hire another one.

Go with a specialist when you really need one. If you are in a jam, and it’s regarding something very specific a general practitioner may not have the know how to help you in the way that you deserve! Yes, a specialist may be more money, but your chances will be much better with the expertise that’s brought to the table.

If you need a lawyer, you need to make sure you find one that is in the proper jurisdiction. Most of the time you will be able to find a lawyer that is licensed to practice in the state you live in. Make sure they are qualified to practice law within your state.

Try out an attorney referral service. They help you find the best lawyers. They carefully screen according to qualifications and credentials. Some others tend to include any lawyer with the requisite level of liability insurance. Look at their qualifications to pick the referral service that works best for you.

Try not to make money an issue when you are trying to find the best lawyer for your case. The object is for you to get out of the pickle that you are in, and sometimes this means to shell out a couple of extra dollars to get the desired result.

Lawyers have been here for years because they are necessary in society. If you are in need of the service lawyers provide, you should feel confident to hire one. If you want to achieve the desired outcome of your case, only the best will do.

Looking For Good Representation? Give These Tips A Try!

Lawyer is a popular career choice because these professionals are always needed. Dealing with a lawyer can be difficult, especially for the first time. There are quite a few items to keep in mind, including payment structures, communication, and more. Use the advice here to help you gain an understanding of how to deal with lawyers.

hammer-719061_640A good tip if you’re looking to bring on a lawyer is to make sure you thoroughly investigate whether or not a certain lawyer will be a good fit. It’s generally a good idea to go over a few different lawyers at a time and compare them to each other.

Finding a good lawyer is a lot of work. You should put some time aside to do some research and give yourself a few weeks to compare different options. Meet different lawyers to get quotes and ask for advice. You should not expect to find a quality lawyer right away.

Do your research prior to hiring any lawyer. You may get the itch to get it over with and just choose someone from the Yellow Pages. Don’t do it! You won’t be happy with the outcome. Instead, research lawyers who could perform best for you. Track down some referrals (they may be online) and get an idea about his or her personality and track record. It’ll make your situation much better.

Keep a paper trail. Document all conversations and meetings with your lawyer. Take note of all questions asked, as well as their answers and record all arrangements and discussions of fees and charges. Lawyers are only human and make mistakes. Give yourself a layer of protection with excessive record keeping.

Make sure you understand the process involved with firing your lawyer. There are many lawyers that still require you to pay a portion of your fees even if you fire them. Read over all contracts carefully, so there are no surprises later in the event that you need to seek out a new lawyer.

Look for a lawyer that is an expert in your type of case. Many lawyers can handle a wide range of cases, but if you want the best outcome possible, you want a lawyer that deals solely with cases of the same nature as yours. The best lawyer for you will have many cases like yours and knows the law the best.

While a high profile lawyer might be the promise of success you dream of, they might also be way too busy to deal with your case. This can either leave you in the hands of a less experienced lawyer at the firm, or alone at times when you need your lawyer. Look for someone with a balance of time and experience.

Even if you need a lawyer for a simple matter, it is important to choose a lawyer carefully so everything has the best chance of going smoothly. As long as you keep the tips that you just read in mind, you should do well navigating through each stage of the process. You have been given great advice which will help create a smooth decision-making process.