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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
Oftentimes, employers want to get their injured employees back to work as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this is generally not in the best interests of the employee for numerous reasons. If you sustained an injury while performing your job duties, it is important to wait until you are fully healed and ready to take on the demands of your job without harming your physical wellbeing or creating ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
If your workers’ compensation claim is being disputed, you might require a formal hearing before a workers’ compensation judge to fight for the benefits you deserve. During your workers’ compensation hearing, a judge will review the evidence in your case and make a decision to award or deny you the benefits you are seeking. It is critical that you are properly prepared for this hearing and ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
For many of us, work is not only performed in an office or other worksite. Many occupations require employees to drive as part of their work duties. So what happens when a worker gets injured in an accident while on the road? If you were recently involved in a motor vehicle accident while performing your work duties, you might be wondering what to expect next and if workers’ compensation benefits ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
When an employee suffers an injury in the workplace, he or she will likely be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. However, there are several factors that can potentially impact how long you are able to receive these important benefits, such as the length of time it takes for you to recover from your injuries. Of course, the recovery process is not an exact science and no two situations are ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
After you file a workers’ compensation claim, you will likely be asked to attend an independent medical examination (IME) with a doctor who is not your treating physician. This exam can have a major impact on your ability to receive workers’ compensation benefits and, therefore, it is important to properly prepare for it. We have provided a list of tips below that should help you prepare for your ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
There are many steps involved in filing a workers’ compensation claim, including an independent medical examination (IME). This appointment can be stressful, especially since the doctor’s findings can make or break your workers’ compensation claim. Before you attend your IME, it is important to understand what you should avoid saying to the doctor conducting your examination to avoid derailing ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
When employees are injured on the job, workers’ compensation benefits help lessen the burden they experience as they take time away from work to recover from their injuries. As long as the injuries occurred within the scope of one’s employment and did not involve willful misconduct, an injured worker would likely be eligible for receiving these benefits. However, while this might sound simple and ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
Workers’ compensation benefits are crucial for helping injured workers get through their period of recovery while they are out of work, covering a portion of their lost wages and any medical costs related to their injuries. However, if your benefits recently came to an end and you are unsure why, or believe you should continue to receive them, you are likely in search of answers as to why this ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
When a worker sustains an injury on the job, he or she has the right to file a workers’ compensation claim to help pay for medical expenses and lost wages. Unfortunately, sometimes an employer might wrongfully retaliate against the employee for exercising this right. This is a violation of the law and, if this happens to you, you have the right to take action against your employer and must seek ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
Transportation-related accidents were the most common type of fatal work injury in 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, accounting for 40% of all work fatalities for the year. If you were on the job while you were involved in a motor vehicle accident, this can complicate matters since such accidents are only covered by workers’ compensation in limited ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
When we think of injuries sustained on the job, we tend not to think of psychiatric injuries, but rather physical ones, such as broken bones and head injuries. However, even psychiatric injuries can be covered by workers’ compensation under certain circumstances. California, unlike other states, covers psychiatric injuries within the workers’ compensation system. That said, employers and insurance ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
The respiratory system is critical for a person’s health and, unfortunately, many work environments put this delicate part of the body at risk for sustaining injuries. The consequences of these injuries can range anywhere from minor to serious or fatal. If you believe you suffered a lung disease as a result of your job duties or work environment, you need to obtain skilled legal representation as ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
Working with a workers’ compensation adjuster can be a little overwhelming and, generally, their goal is to ensure they minimize the number of benefits you receive. They might even try to delay or outright deny your claim to save money for the insurance company they work for. One way to navigate this situation is to know exactly what kind of tactics you can expect from an insurance adjuster, so ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
After suffering an injury at work, it is important to follow through the workers’ compensation process to ensure you obtain the benefits you are entitled to. Unfortunately, many employees make a number of mistakes and missteps along the way that prevent them from receiving their workers’ compensation benefits. What kind of mistakes should you avoid and what can you do to prevent your claim from ...
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Posted By
Smolich & Smolich
If you suffered a workplace injury and your claim was denied by your employer, you are likely stressed out and trying to decide how to cover the costs of your medical bills and missed time from work. However, you have the right to challenge a denial through the workers’ compensation appeals process. Make sure you understand the reasons why your employer denied your claim to begin with. Your ...
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