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Worker's Compensation

According to US Department of Labor report entitled Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in 2004, there are 4.3 million workplace injuries and illnesses reported in private industry which is approximately 4.8 cases per 100 full-time workers per year. In Indiana, if you sustain a work-related accident, your employer, through their worker's compensation insurance company, directs all of your medical care. Therefore, it is extremely important that you report any accident or injury in the workplace to your employer immediately. Failure to report an injury in a timely manner may result in your worker's compensation claim being denied. Once you have reported your injury, your employer should instruct you where to go for medical treatment. If your injury prevents you from returning to work and you are off of work for more then 7 days, you are entitled to receive disability benefits at the rate of 2/3 of your Average Weekly Wage (AWW). Your employer must provide medical treatment until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). At that time you will be released from doctor's care and your disability benefits will terminate. If your injury has any lasting effects, the treating physician may assign permanent work restrictions and a Permanent Partial Impairment (PPI) rating. This impairment rating directly affects the amount of money that you will receive for settlement of your worker's compensation claim. For more information including how to obtain more medical treatment or challenge the work comp doctor's impairment rating, call or email the attorneys at Wagner Reese & Crossen.

Workplace Deaths Increase in Indiana
Posted by: Steve Wagner
August 24, 2009

Why is it that, despite the labor department increasing its enforcement and consultation efforts within the past few years, workplace deaths in Indiana still increased in 2008? Their goal is obviously to lower the number of deaths, injuries, and occupational illnesses that occur on the job in Indiana. The good news is that IOSHA (Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration) conducted 70% more inspections in 2008 than it did in the previous year. The Indiana Department of Labor reported 132 fatalities as a result of work-related injuries in 2008. Agricultural accidents were the leading cause of Hoosier workplace fatalities, with construction and manufacturing accidents not far behind.

If you or a loved one needs help with a work related injury or death claim, call the workplace accident attorneys at Wagner Reese & Crossen for a free consult today.

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