Blog Topic
Recent Updates
August 11, 2010
New Twist in Fatal Motorcycle Accident
June 21, 2010
Death Resulting from Work Injury
June 14, 2010
Tippecanoe County Jail Inmate Receives Incorrect Medical Treatment
June 11, 2010
Bus Accident Leaves One Dead and Several Injured
May 18, 2010
Indiana Medical Malpractice & Wrongful Death ? Rights to My Loved One?s Patient Medical Records
May 07, 2010
Hamilton County Indiana Jail Death
May 03, 2010
One Worker Dead Following Indiana Construction Accident
April 27, 2010
Car Accident Indianapolis Results in Serious Injuries
April 19, 2010
Trucking Accident Northern Indiana
March 29, 2010
Press Release from NTSA
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.
One Worker Dead Following Indiana Construction Accident
Posted by: Steve Wagner
May 03, 2010
A construction worker was killed on Interstate 94 near Burns Harbor, Indiana, two days after he was hit. The accident happened on Friday, April 30, 2010 and is being blamed on a drunk driver who made an illegal u-turn. The worker, 49 year old Roger Sadler, was dragged almost 35 feet after Ricardo Bustos made the turn and hit Sadler. Although Bustos fled from the scene, he was later found and arrested.
In such cases, the family of the victim not only has to deal with their grief in losing a loved one, but they also have to deal with the legal issues that follow a fatal work accident. Dealing with the employer's work comp insurance carrier, and the insurance company for the at fault driver, are the last things on their mind. The law requires the work comp carrier to pay for all medical treatment, funeral and burial costs, and up to 500 weeks of death benefits. Because Indiana work comp law does not provide any recovery for loss of love and affection or other non-economic damages, a wrongful death lawsuit against the wrongdoer is often the only way to ease the long term impact of a work death on the surviving family members. Wrongful death lawsuits require an immediate and thorough investigation, however.
For assistance with your work comp and wrongful death claims, call the one law firm who can help with both. The injury attorneys at Wagner Reese & Crossen will help get work comp benefits started immediately and will investigate your wrongful death claim right away. No retainer fee up front and no fee at all unless we win your case. Call today for a free consultation. Toll Free (800) 792-0332.
