Workers’ Compensation
by admin@gotechark.com | January 3rd, 2017
New Years resolutions are a great way to prepare for the year to come. They provide goals to aim for as we strive to become the best versions of ourselves. No matter the specifics of each resolution, most these goals align perfectly with our desire to live a productive year.
If you’re like most folks in our community, a productive year starts with a full-time job that provides for your family. However, when an on-the-job injury robs you of your ability to work, it can thrust your family into a financial nightmare. You might assume that workers’ compensation will help you make ends meet while you’re recovering, but that’s not necessarily the case. The insurance company handling your workers’ comp claim has every motivation to pay you as little as possible for your injuries, not what your case is necessarily worth. Agreeing to take less could be the worst decision you ever make.
That’s why you should consult with an attorney before you sign anything with the insurance company. An experienced Norfolk workers’ compensation attorney knows what your case is worth and can fight to get you maximum compensation for your injuries. Don’t put you and your family at risk. Contact Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers today for your free, no obligation consultation. We’ll review your case for free and give you clear, decisive steps toward getting back on your feet.
by admin@gotechark.com | November 14th, 2016
Norfolk is an incredible place to live and work. That’s why Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers has called it home for so many years. We’re invested in our community, and that community has invested in us. That’s what it should be like at companies throughout our great state—employers invest in their employees and vice versa. Unfortunately for many Norfolk workers, that’s often a one-way arrangement.
Norfolk workers get their all to their companies until a workplace injury places them on the sidelines. They assume their employer will take care of them now that they’re injured, but that’s not always the case. Even if their employer puts in a workers’ comp claim on their behalf, the insurance company may try to minimize that claim, leaving the employee holding some of the medical bills. Your first priority after a workplace injury should be figuring out how you’re going to provide for your family while you can’t work. The workers’ compensation lawyers at Lowell Stanley know how to maximize your injury claim, and will fight to get you and your family every penny you deserve.
If you’ve been injured on the job, contact our experienced Norfolk workers’ compensation lawyers today for a free consultation. We’ll review your workers’ comp claim for free to determine if you deserve more money. Then we’ll fight to get it for you. Contact us today.
by admin@gotechark.com | July 11th, 2016
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we fight for the rights of the hardworking people of Norfolk, because without our help, they may never get what they’re entitled to. Take the folks in our communities who have been injured on the job. Best case scenario, their employer and the insurance company do the right thing, providing for medical expenses, lost wages, and more. That should be the standard response for every employer, but unfortunately, it’s not. And when injured workers are denied the benefits they deserve, they turn to us.
Our experienced Norfolk workers’ compensation attorneys want to help you secure the workers’ comp benefits you deserve. We’ll stand up to your employer and their insurance company to let them know your claim is one they won’t settle cheap. You give 40+ hours a week to your employer. The least they can do is take care of you and your family when that work leads to a serious and debilitating injury, and we’ll make sure they do.
If you’ve been injured in a workplace accident, contact a Norfolk workers’ compensation attorney at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. Your workers’ comp benefits are too important for you to go it alone, so call us today.
by admin@gotechark.com | May 23rd, 2016
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we take care of our own. Every member of our team is a member of our family, and we support each other. That’s how it should be in a small business. Hire the right people for the job, provide them with everything they need to succeed, and stick by them when the going gets tough, because that’s exactly what you hope they’ll do for you. Unfortunately, some Norfolk business owners don’t play by the same rules.
Getting injured on the job can put a family in a tough financial position, leaving the injured worker with a lot of questions. Who’s going to pay my medical bills? How long am I going to be out of work? Will workers’ compensation provide for my family until I can get back on my feet? Will my job be waiting for me once I do?
Businesses have workers’ compensation insurance for this very reason—to help injured workers and their families get by after an on-the-job injury. However, securing those benefits can be tough, especially without legal representation. That’s why it’s important to consult with an attorney before you go any further. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can evaluate your specific situation and tell you whether or not you need legal representation.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we provide this initial consultation free of charge with no obligation. So if you’ve been injured on-the-job, you don’t have to go it alone. Give us a call today and let us put our experience to work for you.
by | November 9th, 2015
Making ends meet after being injured on the job can be difficult due medical bills and lack of incom. Luckily, employees injured in the commonwealth are often entitled to Virginia workers’ compensation benefits. And now, at least one new study shows these payments are among the highest in the nation.
The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute examined payments, prices, and utilization of benefits in 17 states. Researchers were able to conclude that while Virginia had higher medical costs for non-hospital providers—roughly 13 percent more than average—the commonwealth also received above-average medical payments. According to the Insurance Journal, when a worker in Virginia was out of work for seven or more days, they receive one-third more in medical payments than the median payment in the other 16 states involved in the study.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we recognize the vital role Virginia workers’ compensation benefits can play in an injured workers’ recovery—both physically and financially. Our Norfolk personal injury lawyers are glad to see Virginia’s injured workers getting the help they need. We also encourage anyone hurt on the job to consider applying for the benefits that they need.
by | June 8th, 2015
The construction industry is a vital component to the economy of Virginia, bringing millions of dollars to the region annually; however, construction sites and zones are also where a large portion of Virginia’s on-the-job injuries and fatalities occur as well. Our Norfolk workers’ compensation attorneys at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers explain that unfortunately, some of these victims don’t receive the treatment and compensation they are legally entitled to.
One of the reasons injured workers aren’t getting the care they deserve is because some employers choose to misclassify their workers in order to lower costs. By claiming an employee is an independent subcontractor, an employer can reduce the number of workers they must claim. This not only reduces insurance payments and rates, but also prevents a misclassified worker from filing a claim if they’re injured.
That’s why, according to Safety +Health magazine, the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health program is working to reduce incidents of worker misclassification.
The agency has adopted new policies that will allow officials to request contractors and subcontractors provide proof of licensing from the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation if inspectors suspect a worker has been misclassified. The new rules will go into effect beginning July 1.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we recognize the struggles that can accompany an on-the-job accident and our Norfolk personal injury lawyers are here to help. If you’ve been hurt while working, give us a call at (757) 459-CASH and let us assist you along the road to recovery.
by | March 30th, 2015
Employers have a legal responsibility to provide workers with a safe and healthy environment in which to do their jobs; however, the Norfolk workers’ compensation attorneys with Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers say many companies fail to meet this requirement, which often leads to serious accidents and legal action being taken against the responsible parties.
An accident that occurred earlier today at Colonna’s Shipyard in Norfolk underscores just how easily an on-the-job accident can occur if safety isn’t on the mind of every worker all the time. According to a story from WAVY 10 News, the incident occurred at around 1:25 p.m. near the facility’s South Main Street entrance.
This wasn’t the shipyard’s first safety incident though. Just last year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined the shipyard more than $100,000 after inspections uncovered as many as one dozen health and safety code violations at the facility. Some of the violations included uncovered manholes, which presented a fall risk, as well as using damaged tools and equipment or utilizing unguarded machinery.
If you or a loved one have been injured or killed as the result of workplace negligence, it’s vital to know that help is available. At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, our Norfolk personal injury lawyers can not only answer your questions regarding workplace safety, but we can also help to assist you in filing the necessary paperwork to get back on your feet financially. Call us at (757) 459-CASH anytime to discuss your case.
by | January 12th, 2015
Most companies in Virginia strive to protect the health and safety of workers, but sometimes accidents happen. Luckily, most businesses and companies in the commonwealth are required by law to carry an insurance policy that offers Virginia workers’ compensation benefits to an injured employee in the event of an accident; however, many businesses will see a change in pricing for these policies in the new year.
According to an article from the Augusta Free Press, the State Corporation Commission has approved changes to the law proposed by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. The reforms will result in a majority of employers seeing an increase in costs for Virginia workers’ compensation benefits insurance.
Coal mining operations are expected to see the greatest increases in cost, with coverage for underground operations spiking by more than 10 percent while surface operations could see costs swell by as much as 15 percent.
So what do these increases in costs mean for workers? Some experts believe it could result in more employers failing to procure coverage or report accidents. The rise in costs could also lead to more conservative decisions being issued on new Virginia workers’ compensation benefits claims.
The Norfolk personal injury attorneys with Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers say these are just a few reasons why its so important to have legal representation by your side if you’ve been injured on the job. Our team of lawyers is here to help. Call us today at (757) 459-CASH for a free consultation of your case if you’ve been seriously injured while working.
by | December 22nd, 2014
When workers in the Commonwealth of Virginia are injured on the job, they may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits, but it’s important to remember that claimants bear the burden of proving their condition is the result of an injury they sustained while working.
Take the case of a woman who was seeking Virginia workers’ compensation benefits after suffering a slip and fall accident while employed by a national retailer. She suffered broken bones as a result of the fall, which required her to undergo corrective surgery.
The costs associated with her treatment and lost wages added up, so she applied for Virginia workers’ compensation benefits; however, the claim was denied on the grounds the woman “failed to meet her burden of establishing that her injury arose out of her employment”.
According to reports from Business Insurance, the decision was later overturned in an appeal claiming the burden of proof was never met. That ruling was later overturned after a panel of judges found “workplace hazards” were to blame for the accident.
This particular case highlights the complexities of the Virginia workers’ compensation benefits system as well as the need to have qualified legal representation by your side when filing for such benefits.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we have a team of Norfolk personal injury attorneys that will not only help you understand the legalities of your case, but will also advocate on your behalf in court. To learn more about how we can help if you’ve been injured on the job, call us at (757) 459-CASH.
by | November 22nd, 2014
All jobs come with certain inherent risks, but jobs in shipyards are some of the most dangerous jobs a person can hold. Those who work in shipyards face an on-the-job injury rate twice that of the construction industry. Although many shipyard and dock workers follow safety procedures and do their best to avoid workplace accidents, the Norfolk personal injury attorneys with Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers say fall hazards are one of the most regularly reported risks at this particular type of job site.
In fact, a Norfolk shipyard is facing tens of thousands of dollars in fines for exposing workers to such risks. An article from WAVY 10 News explains that during an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection conducted in May 2014, investigators found dozens of safety violations. Those infractions included exposing workers to fall risks of greater than 30 feet and failing to have fall prevention equipment in place. Reports show electrical risks were found as well.
The violations have resulted in fines of more than $100,000.
So what should you do if you work in a shipyard and are injured on the job? Filing a Virginia workers’ compensation claim should be your first step, but the steps to complete the process of receiving compensation can be complex. That’s why the team of lawyers with Lowell Stanley are available to help you with your claim. We will not only answer any questions you have regarding your legal situation, but we’ll also advocate on your behalf in court. We’re available to speak with you anytime about your Virginia workers’ compensation claim by calling (757) 549-CASH.
