Raleigh Social Security Lawyer

Injured Hot Air Balloon Pilot Denied Workers’ Comp

Posted on April 9th, 2010 No Comments

A pilot of a hot-air balloon that crashed into a Vancouver-area trailer park three years ago, killing two people, has been denied workers compensation.

Stephen Pennock as the pilot of a balloon, carrying 13 people, that caught fire just before liftoff, snapped its tether and smashed down onto a trailer park. According to documents from a recent Worksafe review decision, the pilot has faced numerous problems since the incident, including burns to his body, and injuries from heat in both lungs.

Court documents show that the pilot also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression problems. Doctors say these problems are unlikely to improve until his legal issues are resolved.

The pilot told a review board that he has been living off credit cars and the sale of personal property for two years while he waited for temporary benefits to be paid. The review board, however, upheld a previous finding that the pilot had recovered from his physical injuries by January 2009.

If you or someone you love has been injured at your job, you may be entitled to compensation from your employer to help cover the costs of your losses. To learn more, contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311.

$2M Companies Spend $1.58 on Workers’ Comp per $100 Payroll

Posted on April 2nd, 2010 No Comments

A study released by Marsh Inc., shows that workers’ compensation costs $1.58 per $100 of payroll at companies worth more than $200 million.

The latest edition of the Marsh report provides cost benchmarks for workers’ compensation. The benchmarks correspond to both payroll and cost of risk over two years. The cost of workers’ compensation coverage per $100 of payroll, by revenue in millions costs companies worth more than $200 million only $1.58. Companies worth more than $1 billion dollars spend only $0.84 on workers’ compensation coverage, according to the study.

In the most recent Marsh report, more than one-third of workers in the United States purchased guaranteed-cost programs. Guaranteed-cost programs are usually skewed toward small businesses, which may not have the resources to effectively manage loss-sensitive programs.

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Man Stages Robbery to Collect Workers’ Comp

Posted on February 5th, 2010 No Comments

A Philadelphia man has pleaded guilty in Maryland toconspiracy to commit insurance fraud after he staged a fake robbery and shothis own cousin as part of an elaborate conspiracy to help the cousin collectworkers’ compensation insurance.

46 year-old Joseph Francis Brooks, of Philadelphia, wasgiven a five-year suspended sentence and 18 months probation.

In August while working for UPS, Brooks’ cousin PierreLamont Taylor, was “robbed” by Brooks and shot in his right leg. Taylor soonfiled a workers’ compensation claim with Liberty Mutual Insurance.

Judge Michael J. Algeo said the incident “ranks as one ofthe dumbest things” he has seen anyone do.

If you have been injured in the workplace, please contactthe Raleigh workers’ compensation attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick by calling919-851-3311.

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OSHA Releases Information About Workplace Injuries and Illness

Posted on January 28th, 2010 No Comments

Each year, more than 80,000 employers submit information about illness and injuries in the workplace to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). While the administration has collected data every year since 1996, the information was not available online until now. OSHA has now revealed a new searchable online database that has information from 1996-2007 so the public can look at data for an establishment or specific industry.

Workplace injuries can have a serious effect on your life and ability to support yourself and your family. If you are injured in an accident at work, contact the Raleigh worker's compensation attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick at 919-851-3311 today.

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Injury, Illness, and Work-related Deaths Declined in 2009

Posted on January 20th, 2010 No Comments

The North Carolinia Department of Labor released preliminary figures that show that workplace deaths declined from 54 in 2008 to 35 workers in 2009. In addition, the rates of non-fatal injuries and illnesses dropped for the second-straight year to an all-time low of 3.4 per 100 full time employees. Sources say the decline in injuries and illness may result in a 9.6 % drop in worker's compensation rates in the new year.

If you have been injured in a workplace accident, contact the Raleigh worker's compensation attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick at 919-851-3311 today.

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Federal Assistance May Help Curb Injuries in the Workplace

Posted on December 29th, 2009 No Comments

New federal regulations may require employers to keep more extensive records on ergonomic-related injuries may help the government re-institute workplace-safety protections that were repealed under the Bush administration. The efforts are intended to push employers to minimize the risk of repetitive-motion injuries for employees.

Sources say that the new rules may force U.S. employers to invest nearly $4 billion dollarrs in workplace improvements to minimize repetitive motion injuries. According to those familiar with the regulations, corporations may be initially resistant to any rules that are imposed regarding ergonomic-related improvements, but the government's goal is to provide a safer work environment for U.S. employees.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a workplace accident, contact the Raleigh worker's compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311.

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Con Agra Fined in Fatal Slim Jim Plant Blast

Posted on December 23rd, 2009 No Comments

The North Carolina Labor Department recently fined Omaha-based Con-Agra foods $135,000 for a blast in the company's Garner, N.C. location that killed four workers. Investigators for the labor department discovered 26 serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina, including failure to follow safety procedures, faulty alarm systems, and failure to keep the workplace free from serious safety hazards.

An explosion in the packaging area caused a partial roof collapse while nearly 200 workers were inside. The four individuals who were killed were struck by debris or crushed in the building's collapse.

If you have suffered serious injury in a workplace accident, you may be eligible for worker's compensation benefits from your employer. If you have been wrongly denied benefits or if you need legal assistance with your claim, contact the Raleigh worker's compensation attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick at 919-851-3311.

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Man with Permanent Disability Awarded $6K

Posted on November 3rd, 2009 No Comments

A man in Malta was held responsible for an incident that occurredsix years ago which left a man with a permanent disability.

Victor Portelli was ordered to pay more than $6,000 toGodfrey Schembri. He was found accountable for voluntarily running overShcembri one evening back in 2003. Schembri was working along the Sengleapromenade with Alfred Fiteni, a coworker. Portelli and Fiteni had previouslyhad an argument over a pet dog.

The court found that Portelli drove his Range Rover onto thepavement where the men were working fracturing the leg of Schembri, which wascrushed underneath one of the wheels of the SUV. Portelli exited his vehicleand began striking Fiteni with an iron rod.

If you or someone you know has been injured in theworkplace, please contact the Raleigh Workers Compensation Attorneys of Scudder& Hedrick, PLLC by calling 919-851-3311.

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Pharmacy Malpractice is a Serious Issue

Posted on October 23rd, 2009 1 Comment

Prescription drug use in America has doubled since 1989, butthe number of pharmacists has remained relatively the same. This allows eachpharmacist twice as many opportunities to make a mistake.

Only two states require pharmacies to report dispensingerrors. Georgia requires reporting dispensing errors that cause “significant”harm to a patient. North Carolina requires reporting only errors that result indeath.

While doctors may be responsible for diagnosing a diseaseand prescribing treatment, it is the role of a pharmacist to ensure that thepatient receives the correct type and dosage of medication.

If you or someone you know has suffered due topharmaceutical error, please contact the Raleigh Workers' Comp Lawyers by calling 919-851-3311.

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Wal-Mart to Pay $11M in Class-Action Employee Lawsuit

Posted on October 14th, 2009 No Comments

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will pay $11 million to settle aclass-action lawsuit brought on behalf of 97,000 current and former workers inIowa over allegations that they were forced to skip breaks or work off theclock.

Judge David Sivright of the Clinton County District courtgave the final approval for the deal on Tuesday.

The settlement has been reached more than eight years aftertwo employees filed a lawsuit claiming that the company engaged in uniform andsystematic wage abuse.

Wal-Mart announced last December that it would pay as muchas $640 million to settle 63 different lawsuits across the country over wageand hour violations. The average plaintiff will receive around $113.

If you are looking for any form of compensation from anemployer, please contact the Raleigh Employment Lawyers of Scudder &Hedrick, PLLC, by calling 919-851-3311.

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