The first half of 2021 marked the largest number of traffic fatalities in the nation since 2006. The U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recorded the largest six month increase ever recorded in the history of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System resulting in an estimated 20,160 deaths between January and June of… Read More »
Compensation for Injuries Sustained in a Hotel
Many people book a hotel room while traveling on business or vacation, but few expect to be injured during their stay. Common injures that occur in a hotel include slip and falls in rooms or common areas, falls down stairs, elevator or escalator accidents, and drowning accidents in hot tubs and pools. When a hotel’s… Read More »
PPD Benefits Based on Functional Impairment
When a work injury results in a permanent impairment, a permanent restriction, or an inability to earn wages similar to those earned before your injury, an injured employee may be entitled to Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits. If your injury is to a scheduled member – an arm, hand, finger, toe or other member –… Read More »
Workers’ Comp for Car Accidents During the Commute
In a January 4 Letter of Interpretation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) directed employers to record certain commuting injuries as “tasks that are conditions of employment”. Typically if a worker is injured in a motor vehicle accident during the normal commute to and from work, it is not considered a work related and… Read More »
Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment
Recently Congress passed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021, with the President expected to sign the Act into law. The law amends the Federal Arbitration Act making predispute arbitration agreements dealing with sexual harassment or assault between employers and employees invalid and unenforceable. While employers and employees can… Read More »
Workers’ Compensation for Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare workers routinely face hazards in the workplace such as exposure to blood borne pathogens, x-ray imaging, respiratory illnesses, and ergonomic injuries caused when assisting patients and performing repetitive tasks. According to OSHA, U.S. healthcare providers experienced over a million injuries and illnesses causing at least 1 day of missed work in 2020, a staggering… Read More »
U.S.Supreme Court Considers Vaccine Mandates
Friday, January 7, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding court ordered stays on two vaccine mandates. The court heard consolidated appeals on two sets of cases: the first set concerning the Medicare and Medicaid Services vaccine mandate covering healthcare workers at certain facilities, and the second regarding the Occupation Safety and Health… Read More »
Supreme Court to Weigh in on Vaccine Mandates
The U.S. Supreme Court has granted a review of legal challenges to OSHA’s vaccine and testing emergency testing standard (OSHA ETS) as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Omnibus Covid-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination rule (CMS Vaccine Mandate). Arguments are scheduled for January 7, 2022. In the meantime, OSHA has agreed that… Read More »
Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
When someone is injured in a car crash or a slip and fall accident, or even as a victim of assault, they may suffer a traumatic brain injury or TBI which can have a significant impact on their health and well-being. Traumatic brain symptoms are not always readily recognized immediately following an accident, but the… Read More »
FMCSA Trucking Violations Can Result in Car Accidents
Large trucks can cause catastrophic damage in an accident and are therefore subject to stringent Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules and regulations. Trucking companies and their drivers must abide by hours of service regulations, undergo regular inspections of vehicles, and ensure that drivers carry a commercial driver’s license when operating to avoid violations.… Read More »