Workers’ Compensation | Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC.

Wisconsin police officer wins workers’ comp claim for off-duty injury

Posted on November 8th, 2012 No Comments

After a four year legal battle, an injured Wisconsin police officer has won a $12,500 workers’ compensation settlement in a case that could set a legal precedent for the state.

Officer Mike Nofzinger was doing pushups at home while preparing for a work-related physical fitness exam when one of his shoulders gave out. The exam is part of a program that rewards officers for staying in good shape with cash improved retirement benefits. Part of the test is how many pushups officers can complete.

While the injury occurred outside of the line of duty, the appeals court ruled that because the fitness program is a major part of Nofzinger’s job and therefore the exercise was not involuntary. Officers and city officials hope that the liability created by this ruling does not put an end to these valuable fitness programs.

If you have been hurt while performing essential functions of your job, you may be able to seek workers’ compensation benefits to help you cover your medical expenses and lost wages. The workers’ compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, P.L.L.C., can help you navigate this difficult and often confusing process.

Study: Doctors may fail to treat drug abuse that worker injury

Posted on October 4th, 2012 No Comments

A new study was recently released by the Workers Compensation Research Institute that shows that 1 in every 12 injured workers are still on prescribed narcotics three to six months after their injury occurs.

Research shows that doctors may not be following up on recommended treatment plans that will prevent drug abuse in these cases.

The study collected data from 21 states in order to look into how long-term narcotic use was monitored by physicians. Some of these monitoring services include physical evaluations and follow-up drug testing.

The study found that the long-term use of narcotics kept occurred in 1 in every 12 injured workers and this caused them to miss more work and increase their disability. Officials in the study are hoping that this information will shed light on the issue workers are not exposed to “unnecessary risks.”

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Slip and fall accident injures NY construction worker

Posted on September 10th, 2012 No Comments

A New York construction worker was injured at one of the World Trade Center construction sites after he fell from the side of the building.

The 36-year-old steel employee was installing a beam on the side of the building when he slipped and fell 15 feet to the ground. The impact of the accident caused him to suffer injuries to his arms, and to his head. Emergency responders transported him to Bellevue Hospital to be treated.

A spokesperson for the steel company mentioned that the worker was following the proper safety regulations as outlined by OSHA when the accident took place. The workplace injury is being investigated by authorities.

Please contact the workplace injury lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC by calling 919-851-3311 if you or someone you know has sustained an injury while on the job.

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Employers who disobeyed workers’ compensation laws pay price

Posted on May 15th, 2012 No Comments

Several North Carolina employers who failed to comply with laws that make workers’ compensation compulsory are now being held accountable for their omission of the law by the N.C. Industrial Commission.

The commission’s previous lax approach allowed many of the state’s employers to get away with not providing the mandatory injury insurance for its workers. After a recent investigation showed that thousands of small businesses were not providing workers’ compensation, the governor placed pressure on the commission to reexamine its process to ensure that employers obey workers’ comp laws in North Carolina.

Now, the commission has a three-month backlog of cases to appraise. Frustratingly, many employees have already gone bankrupt from injuries they suffered at work that went uncompensated.

If you have been injured on the job and your employer refuses to provide workers’ compensation, you will need an attorney to help you get the benefits you are owed. Contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC, at 919-851-3311.

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