Tuesday, March 01, 2011 We Can Win this Fight
Here is a video of my firend and colleague Senator Doug Berger speaking in January at the Triangle Legislative Breakfast.
Please call or write to your State Representative and the Governor's Office. Let them know that you do not support any reform that will take away the rights of injured workers. Tuesday, March 01, 2011 West End Firefighter Paralyzed...How Workers' Comp "Reform" Could Have Devistating Results
Before beginning, let me say that my thoughts and prayers are with the firends and family members of Don Hughes and all of Ameirca's Finest and Bravest who put their lives on the line for our safety every day.
Last week, Mr. Hughes was working in his capacity as a Volunteer Firefighter for the town of West End, NC when the fire engine he was in overturned and left him paralyzed. It appears that there is a 5% chance he will ever walk again. Thankfully, Mr. Hughes will get workers' compensation benefits. He should receive a weekly check and his medical bills should be covered by the workers' comp insurance carrier holding the policy for West End.
What's troubling is that the current push for "reform" in NC would severely limit benefits for folks like Mr. Hughes and his family. A cap at 500 weeks for benefits with no provision to help those with a catastrophic injury has the potential for devestating losses. Don Hughes is 42 years old. A cap of 500 weeks of benefits would put an end to his getting any help from workers' comp when he is only 51 years old. With a 500 week cap, people with sever injuries like this would then have to look to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to get the medical treatment he needs and to get some money to support his family. At this point, the burden shifts from the insurance company that is truly responsible for taking care of the Hughes family to the taxpayers of NC.
Essentially, big business gets another bailout at the expense of the taxpayers, this is absolutely wrong. We need to stand up for our police officers and firefighters to make sure that they do not have their rights gouged so that big business can pocket a few extra bucks.
Please call or write to your State Representative and the Governor's Office. Let them know that you do not support any reform that will take away the rights of injured workers. Wednesday, February 09, 2011 NC Legislature to Intoduce Bill that Limits Rights of Injured Workers
It is now clear that the North Carolina Legislature will legislation to slash workers' compensation benefits. The future rights of injured workers all across this great state are now at risk.
Your state representatives are being pressured by big business, insurance company lobbyists, the NC Chamber of Commerce and the National Chamber of Commerce to significantly reduce workers' compensation benefits to injured workers.
One of the changes being pushed is an artificial cap on the number of weeks of weekly benefits an injured worker can receive. This law would stop benefits to an injured worker even if he or she is still disabled and unable to return to any type of work. Another change being considered will force injured workers to take any type of job they can find if they can not return to what is currently called “suitable employment”. Under this new legislation it appears that a person could be compelled into a job that pays less wages, provides less benefits and gives little room to advance. The loss of income resulting from the job change would be capped and benefits would stop even if the person was still physically unable to return to the type of work they were doing before they were injured.
We at the Advocates for Justice urge that you call and write your Representative and Senator and tell them to vote against any new laws that reduce workers' compensation benefits to injured workers. These new laws are likely to pass if legislators do not hear from the people they represent. Tell them not to give in to big business and the insurance company lobbyists who want them to put profit before the rights of injured workers. I would encourage you to ask your family members and friends to also call and write. If you are not able to speak with your representatives when you call, please leave a detailed message outlining your concerns. Click Here to Find Yor Senator and Representative
Through the power of our collective voices, we hope to fight this legislation and fight for the rights of all workers in North Carolina. Friday, September 19, 2008 REDA Claims in NCI came accross this article the other day and thought it useful and informative. For the most part, an injured employee cannot sue his/her employer in state court for injuries sustained in the course and scope of employment. Workers' comp. claims are heard before a duputy commissioner from the North Carolina Industrial Commission.
However, if an employee is fired from their job because they filed a workers' comp. claim, they may have a cause of action against the employer unter the Realiatory Employment Discrimination Act (REDA). Unfortunately, as you will see from the article in the link below, this act does not have many teeth and most claims do not yield positive results. I see this as an opportunity for people to contact their state senators and representatives and offer support for legislation that adds some real teeth to this act to protect workers who get fired because they were hurt on the job.
If you want to initiate a REDA claim, you must contact the NC Dept of Labor within 90 days of your termination to allow them to begin an investigation.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/573/story/191970.html Thursday, August 07, 2008 Arrest for Fraudulent Workers' Compensation PolicyThis story broke this week in Raleigh. If you work in construction, you should ask your employer about where their policy came from and have them make sure you are covered.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1164818.html |