Workplace safety violations increase your risk for on-the-job accidents and injuries. Work-related accidents and injuries can happen in any career field and on any type of job site. There are some occupations that are inherently more dangerous than others, however. In these situations, safety rules and regulations are put in place to protect employees. The …
Can Federal Employees Seek Workers’ Compensation if They Contract COVID-19 at Work?
Federal employees are seeking workers’ compensation benefits for contracting COVID-19 at work. In July 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General Audit issued a report saying that about 4,000 federal employees sought workers’ comp benefits on the grounds that they contracted COVID-19 in the workplace. The report mentioned that the total number …
What is a Lien and How Does it Affect My Workers’ Comp?
If you present a workers’ compensation claim involving liability of a third-party, your employer may have the right to assert a lien for recovery of the benefits paid out to you. If your Oklahoma employer is bound to provide workers’ compensation coverage, then you are entitled to those benefits if you are injured in the …
Should I Go See an I.M.E After I am Injured at Work?
In the aftermath of a job-related injury, you may be required to see an independent medical examiner (IME) in order to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits in Oklahoma. When on-the-job injuries happen, the impact on every area of your life can be severe. Even relatively minor injuries can prevent you from working while leaving you …
Could Medical Marijuana Impact Workers’ Comp?
Medical marijuana is legal in Oklahoma, but individuals applying for workers’ compensation should understand how it could affect their claim. In 2018, Oklahoma’s legislature legalized medical marijuana. Unlike other states, anyone who has a prescription from a physician can purchase and consume medical marijuana in any form. The law does not limit the use of …
Amazon Workers Fear Workers’ Comp
Unreasonable demands and workloads put Amazon fulfillment center workers at risk every day. It may take the involvement of an Oklahoma workers’ compensation attorney to get the benefits these injured workers deserve. Amazon has been in the news a lot lately, especially with concerns about warehouse accidents and workers’ compensation claims. Amazon prides itself on …
Workers’ Compensation and Employment Stance in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Find out how COVID-19 and issues concerning your employment stance could impact your rights to workers’ compensation benefits. Numerous businesses throughout Oklahoma City and Tulsa were forced to close due to stay-home orders issued at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Even at companies that remained open, many workers faced lay-offs and dramatic reductions of …
Who is Liable if an Employee Gets Sick by a Coworker? Company or Employee?
While individual employees are responsible for taking actions to protect themselves against COVID-19, companies can be held liable for failing to take the proper precautions to prevent transmission in the workplace. Businesses in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and throughout the state have begun reopening in the aftermath of widespread closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. While …
First COVID-19 Workers Comp Case Taking Place in OK
Workers’ compensation claims based on exposure to COVID-19 on the job are likely to become more common over the coming months. In the midst of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, essential workers are required to remain on the job. Many positions require contact with the general public, putting workers at a higher risk of contracting the …
Lawmakers File New Workers’ Comp Bills
Oklahoma lawmakers have filed a batch of new bills that could bring about changes for those seeking workers’ compensation or currently receiving benefits. Earlier in 2020, lawmakers in Oklahoma introduced 17 pieces of legislation aimed at reforming the state’s workers’ compensation laws. In the months since, several of the bills have passed while others remain …