Author Archives: Jay Butchko
What to Expect in a Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Claim
In the early 1900s, many factories were extremely dangerous places. The court system was unable to effectively process all injury claims. So, injured workers surrendered their right to sue for damages in court in exchange for a management-provided insurance system that paid compensation for lost wages and medical bills. Incidentally, to deflect blame for… Read More »
Common Repetitive Stress Injuries in Workers’ Compensation Claims
In the 1990s and early 2000s, laser video and audio disks were all the rage. Such disks were a significant improvement over older delivery systems. Yet laser disks could not withstand very much abnormal wear and tear. More than a tiny scratch or two significantly affected performance. The human body is much the same…. Read More »
Louisiana Workers’ Compensation and Non-Hospital Medical Bills
On average, serious injury-related medical bills often exceed $100,000. Hospitalization accounts for only part of this cost. Traditionally, insurance companies hesitate to pay ancillary medical expenses, like physical therapy costs. At best, they usually agree to pay for the closest provider or the one that happens to be in a preferred network. Workers’ compensation… Read More »
The Most Common Toxic Exposure Occupational Diseases in Mississippi
An occupational disease is a work-related illness or injury that occurs over the course of more than one work shift. Common examples include hearing loss, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and joint pain. Frequently, these illnesses, while serious, have high recovery rates. Toxic exposure illnesses are different. Overall, survival rates for cancer and other chronic illness… Read More »
What You Should Know About Occupational Neck Injuries
Chronic neck pain affects about a fifth of the workers in Louisiana. Frequently, because of a trauma injury or occupational disease, the source of this neck pain is work-related. In many cases, neck pain is almost completely disabling. Severe loss of mobility has emotional effects as well. Many of these victims no longer attend… Read More »
Breaking Down the Lost Wages Benefit in Mississippi
In today’s economy, every dime counts. That’s especially true when families must make do with less money because of a workplace injury. Without precise calculation, these reduced wages could be as much as 15 percent lower than they should be. More on this below. Wage replacement is not the only available benefit. No-fault workers’… Read More »
Top Ten OSHA Violations in Mississippi
The number of fatal job injuries has increased significantly since 2017. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration is tasked with reducing the number of workplace injuries and fatalities. Unfortunately, this tiny federal agency can only do so much. Frequently, it only issues a citation in response to a serious injury or fatal accident. Nevertheless,… Read More »
Workplace Head Injuries in Louisiana: A Closer Look
Since 2006, the number of head injury victims in Louisiana has increased 53 percent. Other workplace injuries, such as broken bones, usually heal, given sufficient time and proper treatment. But head injuries are always permanent. Once brain cells die, they never regenerate. The good news is that brain injuries are usually treatable. A combination… Read More »
Does Workers’ Compensation Pay Lost Wages in Louisiana?
Payment for lost wages was one of the Grand Bargain’s cornerstones. In this early 1900s agreement, injured workers agreed to give up their right to sue in court if management provided a no-fault insurance system. But this financial pie is shrinking. In fact, management’s contributions to the lost wages repayment fund recently hit a… Read More »
What Medical Bills Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?
Doctor bills and other medical expenses stabilized during the Great Recession, but they are on the rise again. Most experts predict that medical inflation will be twice the overall inflation rate for the foreseeable future. Further complicating matters, many health insurance companies do not pay work injury-related medical bills. In Mississippi, workers’ compensation takes… Read More »