Crane collapse a grim reminder of the dangers of construction work

Feb 12 2016

Although safety standards have improved significantly over the past half-century, construction and demolition continue to be among the most dangerous jobs in the United States. Those who spend their careers on construction sites go to work each day knowing that one wrong move could result in serious injury or even death. Construction workers here in Colorado and across the country were given a grim reminder of that danger last week. News outlets reported that a construction crane collapsed in New York City, killing one person and injuring at least three others. According to news sources, the collapse occurred near the…

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The benefits of hiring an attorney for your workers’ comp claim

Feb 10 2016

In an ideal world, the workers’ compensation system would be efficient and hassle-free. Indeed, workers’ compensation was created with the goal of reducing legal work and costs on both sides. Employees would have their claims processed and approved quickly, and employers would avoid costly lawsuits. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world – especially when it comes to workers’ compensation. The system is often bureaucratic and slow, and when claims are disputed, the process tends to favor employers and insurance companies. As the injured worker, you are the underdog in the struggle over workers’ compensation. For this and other…

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Workers’ Compensation Benefits & Rights

Feb 01 2016

At Alverson + O’Brien, we will meet with you to learn about your injury, what steps you may have already taken and how the injury has impacted your ability to work. Our job is to make sure that your rights are protected and that you receive the benefits you are entitled to under the law. Benefits Available Under the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act Medical treatment: If you were injured on the job, you are eligible to receive all reasonable, necessary and related medical care needed to cure the injury. Temporary disability benefits: If a work injury causes you to miss…

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Construction continues to be one of the most dangerous professions

Jan 30 2016

Construction is a dangerous industry to work in. Workers may face serious injuries from falls, electrocution and other accidents. Construction is always going on in Denver around the year. With so much work, it is no surprise that accidents happen. The construction industry has long been known as one of America’s most dangerous jobs, and it appears that safety regulations are not always effective. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, fatal construction-related injuries rose by 6 percent in 2014. The construction industry held one of the top spots for fatal accidents that year. What are the fatal…

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The uphill battle for disease-related workers’ comp: Part II

Jan 29 2016

We are continuing a conversation in today’s post about occupational illness and the struggle for workers’ compensation benefits. By some estimates, the rate of deaths from occupational diseases is nine times higher than the rate of fatal workplace injuries. Yet injuries are far more likely to be compensated than occupational diseases are. Workers’ compensation was designed to be a “grand bargain” that allowed workers to be quickly compensated for workplace injuries or illnesses while shielding employers from potentially costly lawsuits. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation programs in most states have been weakened over time, making it more difficult for injured and ill…

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The uphill battle for disease-related workers’ comp: Part I

Jan 28 2016

In our last post, we wrote that occupational diseases are far more common – and far more deadly – than most people realize. Medical bills and other costs related to these diseases should be covered by workers’ compensation, but that often proves to be a steep, uphill battle for injured workers and their families. According to an analysis conducted in 2011, for every American who dies from a fatal workplace injury, nine workers die from an occupational disease. Yet injury claims are far more likely to be approved and paid than disease claims are. A 2004 study estimated that “more…

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Occupational diseases kill more Americans than gun violence does

Jan 25 2016

Workplace accidents and injuries are often the focus of conversations about workers’ compensation. This is probably due to the fact that these incidents are observable and have immediate consequences. What often gets lost in the conversation is discussion about work-related diseases and illnesses. Occupational diseases kill an estimated 50,000 Americans each year. By way of comparison, gun violence is responsible for about 30,000 deaths annually. But unlike gun deaths, occupational diseases often kill the victim slowly and out of public view. Family and friends may know that a loved one’s disease was work-related, but these deaths rarely make headlines or…

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Many benefits & protections lost in new, joint-employer economy

Jan 22 2016

Since the Great Recession (and before it, to some extent), American companies have been moving away from hiring and retaining full-time employees. Instead, American workers are increasingly being treated as temporary, part-time and expendable. Companies hire workers through temp agencies, with the understanding that the work could end at anytime and that the temp agencies would ultimately be responsible for most problems that arose. This is often a good way for companies to do business (from a financial standpoint), because they can scale up and down easily and don’t need to invest as much money in their workers. But more…

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Labor Dept. and DOJ team up to fight workplace safety violators

Jan 16 2016

Government regulations are necessary across many aspects of life. But regulations are only effective if they can be enforced. Lack of enforcement capability is a common complaint about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Although OSHA is certainly well-intentioned, its resources, manpower and authority are often limited. The agency often gets involved after a serious workplace accident or fatality, but by then the damage has already been done. Underfunding and understaffing make it a practical impossibility for OSHA inspectors to conduct preventive safety inspections for all (or even most) workplaces. Sadly, some employers boldly violate safety regulations because they know…

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Common reasons for denied workers’ compensation claims: Part II

Jan 12 2016

Last week, we began a discussion about denied workers’ compensation claims. There are many reasons why valid claims may be denied, including the worker’s failure to properly submit paperwork and handle other bureaucratic requirements. In today’s post, we’ll discuss other reasons why seemingly valid claims are sometimes denied. In many cases, these are challenges to either the severity of the reported injury or challenges to how it occurred. Workers’ compensation insurers sometimes deny claims after determining that the employee’s injuries may have been overstated. Concerns over fraud and abuse sometimes prompt insurers to deny claims that should be compensable, so…

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