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Archive: June 2011

Travel Reimbursements

Did you know that if you’re injured on the job and have to travel across the metropolitan area of Phoenix (e.g., Mesa to Peoria), you may not be eligible for travel reimbursement per case law? Case law says that an injured worker is only eligible for travel reimbursements if they travel outside the area they…

Cash Is Not Always King!

Some employees are paid cash. This may sound great but it can and will create a lot of problems for employees. Aside from issues with the IRS, if you’re injured on the job and are paid cash, it may be extremely difficult to prove you were an employee. Plus even if your WC claim is…

Uninsured Employers

Just because your employer does not have worker’s compensation insurance, doesn’t mean you can’t file a claim. In Arizona, non insured claims are sent to the Special Fund of the Industrial Commission for processing and payment if accepted. Also, if your employer is negligent and doesn’t have WC insurance, you could sue them in tort….

20-Day Letters

Worker’s comp insurance carriers will send letters to injured workers requesting that they respond and note future medical appointments, and the fact the injured worker is still seeking treatment. These are very important because if the injured worker does not return it, or enters the wrong information, it can result in their benefits being terminated…

Concurrent Employment

Did you know that if you are working two jobs and are injured on one of them, the date of injury employer is responsible for lost wages on both jobs? Insurance carriers frequently leave out wages from other employers when employees are working two jobs when calculating an injured worker’s average monthly wage. This is…

What Are Independent Medical Exams

Independent medical examiners are typically doctors hired by insurance companies to render an opinion regarding an injured worker. In most cases, they are hardly “independent” as the carriers seem to use the same stable of doctors, and the physicians write reports that are more favorable to the carriers. Without naming names, please feel free to…

PRP Injections

Tennis elbow anyone? Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are a newer form of non surgical treatment for tennis elbow. Studies have shown good results, and I have had doctors tell me they like them better than cortisone shots because cortisone is short-lived relief and can weaken your tendons. Let me know if you have any more…

Importance Of Filing A WC Claim Yourself

Injured workers have the burden of filing a worker’s compensation claim when they are hurt on the job. Do not rely on your employer or your doctor filing for you. Make sure you file an injury report with your employer, your doctor, and most importantly, the Industrial Commission of Arizona (602-542-4661). If you have any…

Injured While Traveling Abroad

This is a legitimate concern due to the fact that we are shifting to a global economy. Let me know your thoughts on this. http://sandiegometro.com/2011/…