Tag Archives: Indianapolis Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

What is Maximum Medical Improvement in a Workers’ Compensation Case?

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In a past blog, we discussed a legal principle under workers’ compensation law called Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). Continue below to learn what maximum medical improvement means in a workplace injury case, and what you need to know about recovering from a serious injury after being hurt in an accident while working for your employer.

Indianapolis Workers Compensation Attorneys
Indianapolis Workers Compensation Attorneys 317-881-2700

Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)

When a worker is injured in a workplace accident, they often end up involved in a workers’ compensation insurance claim. Whether the accident was their fault or not, in most cases, an injured worker will be entitled to compensation for their damages and losses. However, the legal procedures that are involved in personal injury compensation cases are quite specific, and one will only receive such benefits under certain circumstances, and to certain extents.

Injured workers, depending on the scope and seriousness of their injuries and losses, will be entitled to certain types of benefits, such as Temporary Total, Temporary Partial, Permanent Total Disability (PTD), and Permanent Partial Impairment (PPI). See our blog, “What Benefits Can I Get For My Workplace Injury Claim in Indiana?” for a brief explanation of each type of benefit. In Indiana, injured workers can receive benefits for hospital bills, medical expenses, lost wages, permanent disability, wrongful death, medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation, gas mileage for doctor appointments, and much more.

Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) comes into play when an injured employee is awarded such benefits. In many cases, an injured victim receiving temporary total or partial benefits will only receive their benefits until they are diagnosed as fully-healed or as fully-healed as they are going to get by a licensed physician. This is referred to as Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), which describes a patient that has reached their optimal recovery point, and no further improvement is possible. Keep in mind that MMI does not translate to healed. It simply means that no further treatment will improve their condition. Once a worker reaches full improvement, their doctor will assign a disability rating, which denotes their work limitations.

Talk to a Workplace Injury Lawyer for Help With Your Claim

For a better understanding of how workers’ compensation settlements work, consult with a trusted and seasoned Indiana workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible. Indiana does have a statute of limitations that restricts how long you can make a claim for compensation. Be sure to schedule a consultation with a licensed personal injury lawyer who specializes in workplace accident claims before this time limit runs out.

Indianapolis Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free consultation with a licensed Indianapolis workers’ compensation attorney who can determine the best strategies for your workplace injury case. Not only does our law firm offer free consultations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 to get started on your financial recovery, today.  We represent injured workers throughout Indiana and are located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700
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Winter Slip and Fall Prevention Tips for Employers

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This time of year, one of the most common injuries that take place at work are caused by slip and fall accidents. For this reason and more, it is necessary to prepare your premises for inclement winter weather by ensuring workplace safety all season long. Otherwise, you risk an assortment of financial and legal consequences, and worst of all, injured employees. The good news is, right now is the perfect time to start this initiative since the snow hasn’t arrived yet!

Continue reading to learn what you can do to winter-proof the workplace, including how to promote winter safety awareness among your employees.

Indianapolis Workplace Injury Lawyers

Indianapolis Workplace Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Employer Consequences for Winter Slip and Fall Accidents

As an employer, you have a grave responsibility to keep both employees and patrons safe from hazards. And in the winter time, this responsibility requires even more attention since accidents are more likely to occur. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2016 there were more than 20,500 workplace slip and fall injuries that resulted from conditions brought on by ice, sleet, and snow. Of these numbers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that 28% resulted in more than 30 days off work for victims.

These numbers should be a wake-up call to you as a business owner, and for many reasons. Workplace slip and fall accidents can result in very serious injuries, including broken bones, herniated discs, concussions, head injuries, brain injuries, and paralysis. Not only do these injuries severely impact an employee’s life, they can also have a significant negative impact on the company and business owner too. Possible employer consequences for winter workplace slip and fall accidents include:

⇢ Reduced Company Productivity
⇢ Higher Workers’ Compensation Costs
⇢ Replacement Employee Costs
⇢ Overtime Payments for Remaining Employees

Winter-Proofing Tips You Need to Know

In order to protect yourself, your staffs, and your company from the negative impact of slip and fall accidents, you must ensure that all hazards are eliminated and employees are well-aware of winter safety practices. Here are some things to look out for and manage before the winter precipitation is here:

⇒ Snow Removal Management:

Meet with your snow removal provider and maintenance staff, and make a concrete plan for snow and ice management. Be sure they understand the protocol you expect, including which entrances and areas to clear first. Also go over an accountability plan to avoid staffing problems and poor workmanship.

⇒ Outdoor Maintenance:

Handle all needed outdoor repairs that can turn into winter hazards before the winter precipitation begins. This includes parking lot surface damage (potholes, lamp posts, road marks, etc.), poor lighting, uneven walkways, curbs, ramps, handrails, staircases, plumbing pipes, water leaks, and more. By repairing these areas, you increase the safety of your exterior premises.

⇒ Indoor Maintenance:

Turn your attention to the interior and be sure to eliminate the possibility of slipping on wet floors. Implement warning signs and floor fans for entrances that collect melted snow and ice, ensure that all indoor lighting is sufficient, incorporate beveled floor mats to trap excess water, and keep some extra floor mats around to replace the saturated ones. This includes cleaning up all spills and puddles immediately. Also in the interior, eliminate any tripping hazards, such as electrical cords, torn carpeting, poor lighting, obstructed walkways, and anything else that can cause someone to trip and fall.

Indianapolis Workplace Injury Lawyers

Craven Hoover Blazek Personal Injury Law

Craven Hoover Blazek Personal Injury Law 317-881-2700

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to make a workers’ compensation claim in Indiana. Our seasoned Indianapolis workplace injury lawyers are ready and able to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after suffering serious injuries at work. Not only does our law firm offer free consultations, we never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 to get started, today!

A Brief Explanation of Temporary Total, Temporary Partial, and Permanent Total Disability Benefits

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If you are injured at work, you may be entitled to disability payments if your injuries are considered an accident under the Worker’s Compensation Act. There are numerous types of disability benefits available for those who are unable to return to work as a result of a workplace injury. Three common disability payments injured workers may qualify for in Indiana include Temporary Total Disability (TTD), Temporary Partial Disability (TPD), and Permanent Total Disability (PTD).

Continue reading to learn more about these benefits, and how to get started on your workers’ compensation claim.

Workers' Compensation Lawyers 317-881-2700

Workers’ Compensation Lawyers 317-881-2700

Temporary Total Disability (TTD)

Temporary Total Disability benefits are payments made available to those who have injured themselves at work, and cannot return to work for a period of time because their injuries has rendered them totally disabled. This can be a result of broken bones, surgery, therapy, or some other form of injury that leaves the worker unable to perform their work-related duties. An injured worker may not be able to perform their duties as a result of the seriousness of the injury, or because their doctor has not yet cleared them for work. In some cases, the treating doctor may release a worker for light-duty work, but there is not light duty work available in their field. This is an example of when Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) may come into play.

Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)

Temporary Partial Disability refers to benefits available for injured workers who are still undergoing a healing process but have reached a point to where they can perform some degree of light-duty or reduced-activity work, whether full or part time. If this amount of work or pay is less than what the worker was receiving before the injury, the employer or workers compensation insurance company may be responsible to pay two-thirds of the difference in pay, in adherence to individual state regulations. For those who can never return to their full load of work or pay, they may be entitled to Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) payments; however, this varies greatly from case to case.

Permanent Total Disability (PTD)

Permanent Total Disability payments are for the most seriously injured workers. These would be employees who are rendered unable to work for an indefinite period of time. Eligibility for these benefits may vary from case to case and may be subject to limitations, so it is important to discuss details with a licensed personal injury lawyer who is well-versed in serious workers’ compensation cases.

Get Help With Your Workers’ Compensation Claim

If you are a victim of a workplace accident, it is important to discuss your case with a seasoned Indianapolis workers’ compensation lawyer who can help you understand the terms surrounding your case and obtain the maximum compensation for your damages and losses. They have the knowledge and resources to carefully evaluate the unique circumstances of your case and recommend viable options for recompense.

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for help with workers’ compensation claims in Indianapolis, Indiana. Here at our personal injury law firm, we are eager to help injured victims recover the full and fair compensation they deserve. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. Contact us to get started in your financial recovery, today.

Can an Employee Receive Workers’ Compensation for Emotional Distress?

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Workers' Compensation Lawyers 317-881-2700

Workers’ Compensation Lawyers 317-881-2700

Sometimes work can get a little overwhelming, and other times, it can be down-right stressful. Work-related stress can come from deadline pressures, pressure to perform, too much workload, too many working hours, co-worker confrontations, and much more. But can an employee receive workers’ compensation benefits for anxiety and stress if their emotional and mental issues are rooted from their job? The answer could be yes, but not only is it a very challenging case to pursue, it depends on several factors; including where the person lives, where they work, their job description and duties, how the harm came to be, and much more.

Continue reading to learn more about workers’ compensation, and how a person can be eligible for such benefits under various circumstances.

Workers’ Compensation for Stress

There are several steps in determining if an employee is eligible for compensation as a result of work-related anxiety and stress. You see, some states recognize stress and anxiety as a basis for workers’ compensation, and many others do not. In the situation that an employee lives in a state where this type of injury is recognized, and they wish to pursue workers’ compensation, they will have the burden of proving that their injuries were a direct result of their work. But this isn’t the first step. In fact, this step comes much later in the legal process.

First, an employee must hire an experience work place injury lawyer that specializes in workers’ compensation law. They can provide legal guidance and navigate a lawsuit in a client’s best interest. Next, the employee must consider whether or not a workers’ comp lawsuit is worth it. If the amount of compensation they are eligible to receive is underwhelming, it may not be worth the time, energy, and stigma that goes along with filing a claim against the company they work for.

The Challenge

The common problem that arises with these kinds of lawsuits is that emotional and mental distress is harder to document and prove in contrast to physical injuries. However, as emotional distress and anxiety grows, it is wise for the employee to seek therapeutic treatment as a means of recovery and documentation of their injuries. Therapeutic treatment can include psychiatric counseling, medication, physical therapy, and more.

If these treatments do not work, then perhaps additional compensation is required for the employee to treat their injuries appropriately. Also, it is common for employees that have suffered a serious physical injury or trauma to experience subsequent stress and anxiety, in which case, additional compensation and rest would be honored by the company.

Indianapolis Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 if you need an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our seasoned personal injury lawyers are eager to recover the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve after being seriously injured at work. Recover for damages and losses, including medical expenses, hospital bills, pain, suffering, lost wages, and more.