The Appeals Court of Massachusetts granted a police officer reimbursement for the dental bills he incurred to replace teeth knocked out while he was on duty 20 years before. The police officer was injured on the job in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1980. When he applied for reimbursement for the cost of treatment for his injuries, the city…
The Appeals Court of Massachusetts recently affirmed that the Department of Industrial Accidents has jurisdiction over a claim by a person injured at work, even if the employer had required the employee to sign a contract giving up all rights under the workers’ compensation laws. The defendant, Eastern Connection Operating, Inc., hires drivers…
Chronic pain is an invisible disability that continues to inflict victims of workplace injury long after the event. Not only does it cause physical suffering but it can lead to emotional conditions such as depression and frustration. Studies have shown that how a worker deals with pain following an accident…
Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee’s right to sue his or her employer for negligence. While plans differ among jurisdictions, provisions can be made for weekly payments…
Every day, millions of American workers are asked to put their health, safety and lives on the line for the profit of their employers. Give and Take Not that it’s all injustice and exploitation. It is an integral part of the unwritten, unspoken labor contract between a worker and his…
There are many reasons not to file your worker’s comp claim right away. Maybe you didn’t realize that you were injured at first; some repetitive stress injuries can continue for years before they start to really interfere with your daily activities. You may not have wanted to inconvenience your company…
Families of four of the six workers killed last year in a grain-dust explosion in Kansas have filed wrongful-death suits. The lawsuits come a month after Bartlett Grain Co. announced its intentions to create a memorial for the six men. This plan has drawn strong criticism from a victim’s family, who…
There exist several reasons why your employer’s insurer may deny your Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation claim. Knowing these reasons in advance may help you to avoid the pitfalls and delays that come with a denied claim. If your injury makes it impossible to return to work until you have recuperated, your…
You are highly skilled and respected in your chosen trade. You have also been a loyal employee for over 9 years. Despite being safety conscious, while working one day, you receive a devastating injury. The doctor says you could be sidelined for over a year before you might be able…
Potential worker safety hazards affect every American employee. Desk workers risk repetitive stress injuries, drivers risk motor vehicle accidents and individuals involved in the commercial fishing industry risk a host of injuries caused by a multitude of potential hazards. Each worker in every industry is vulnerable in his or her…