Workers' Comp underreporting in NC
I came across this interesting post about employers who underreport the number of employees or their classifications in order to reduce workers' compensation insurance costs. This type of workers' comp fraud is certainly prevalent in North Carolina but rarely gets noticed. The effect is to increase the cost of workers' comp to law abiding employers. The link is below. For information about your NC workers compensation claim contact us.http://topbusinessforums.com/how-do-so-many-business-owners-get-away-with-paying-workers-under-the-table-t30622.html
Wintertime increase in workers' comp and other disability claims?
According to an article over on Workerscompensation.com, a study by The Hartford insurance company determined that more people file disability claims after the winter holidays related to depression, respiratory illnesses and injuries. While summer is the biggest time for accident related injuries, winter gets more than its share, perhaps due to bad weather related claims. I imagine this is also true for North Carolina workers' compensation claims as I always get a few calls from injured workers after a big snow or ice storm, usually related to falls on the job, or auto accidents. Be safe people. Contact us for more information or for a free consultation with a NC workmans comp attorney serving Raleigh, Durham, Rocky Mount, Cary, Fayetteville and other points around North Carolina.The full article is here:http://www.workerscompensation.com/compnewsnetwork/news/wintertime_means_more_claims_depression.html
NC Workers' Comp Insurance Fraud
Terri Lynn Spence, 34, of 8514 Rosebud Lane, Emerald Isle, North Carolina was sentenced to 48 months of supervised probation for embezzling money from North Carolina workers' compensation policy holders and insurance companies. Ms. Spence was an insurance agent who accepted workers' comp premiums but never submitted the money to the workers' compensation insurance company. She was arrested by investigators with the NC Department of Insurance. Go to Kinston.com for the full story. http://www.kinston.com/news/insurance-61977-agent-grange.htmlAll too often people talk about workers' comp fraud in terms of invalid claims. A bigger issue however is fraud on the part of employers who underreport the number and classification of their employees, as well as insurance agents who embezzle workers' compensation premiums.For more information about workmans comp in NC, or to talk to a NC workers' compensation lawyer, please browse this website or contact us for a free consultation. Kevin Bunn, Attorney at LawRepresenting injured North Carolina workers in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Greenville, Kinston, Fayetteville and across North Carolina.
Robeson County NC Chicken Plant Fined for Ammonia Release
The North Carolina Division of Air Quality fined Mountaire Farms Inc. $27,410 for improper actions resulting in the fatal release of ammonia in June of 2009. According to wral.com the release of ammonia caused 40 North Carolina workers to evacuate. One employee died in the incident and four workers were injured. Mountaire lacked a complete risk management program for handling ammonia, though regulators had previously cited and fined the company for that just the previous year. The fine was the largest allowed for the violation. Last year the North Carolina Department of Labor fined Mountaire $73,325 for safety violations that contributed to the leak.The full wral report is here: http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6970729/Contact Kevin Bunn, NC workers' comp attorney, for more information about the rights of injured workers under the North Carolina workers' compensation system. Mr. Bunn handles workers' compensation cases before the NC Industrial Commission across North Carolina, including Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Rocky Mount, Greenville, Wilmington and Fayetteville.
US Chemical Safety Board to Consider Safety Recommendations After NC Plant Explosion
According to WRAL.com, the US Chemical Safety Board will vote today to increase standards for natural gas line purging after an explosion last year at the Slim Jim plant in Raleigh. This measure should increase safety for NC workers'. as well as workers nationally, reduce workplace injuries, and perhaps even lead to lower workers' compensaiton costs. The explosion killed four North Carolina workers and injured dozens of others, putting them on workers' comp. A link to the full article on wral.com is below. Please contact us with your NC workmans comp questions.http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/6959190/
Deaths Drop for North Carolina Workers
On the job deaths dropped to the lowest level in history according to a report by the NC Department of Labor. The rate of non-fatal on the job injuries and illnesses dropped to 3.4 per 100 full time workers. The numbers are below th national average according the the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. Lower injury rates mean lower NC workers' comp rates. For the release, go here: http://www.nclabor.com/news/2009/Injury_and_Illness_111209.pdfFor more information about workplace injuries or to consult a NC workmans comp lawyer please contact us.
ConAgra Safety Violations to Prompt New Rules
According to WRAL.com, next month the U.S. Chemical Safety Board will present findings of its investigation into the devastating ConAgra Foods explosion last in Raleigh last June. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Raleigh Sheraton Hotel, at 421 S. Salisbury St. in Raleigh. Recommendations are expected to follow.Three North Carolina workers died in the exploson and many others were seriously burned. Hundreds of workers lost their jobs when the plant shut down, then reopened with fewer employees. According to WRAL, investigators with the Chemical Safety Board and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said last summer that the explosion was caused by a improperly vented natural gas. For more information about this story go http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6811745/. For more information about NC workers' compensation or for a free consultation with a North Carolina workers' comp lawyer please browse our site or click the link above.
Fewer Workers Injured in North Carolina
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released data that says "fewer North Carolina workers reported being injured or ill on the job in 2008." The rate dropped from 3.7 cases per 100 full-employees in 2007 to 3.4 in 2008. This drop is the lowest ever and has saved North Carolina millions of dollars. With the decrease of the workers' compensation rate in April 2010, Labor Commissioner Cheri Berry says an estimate $120 million will be saved. For information about your North Carolina workers compensation injury please contact Kevin Bunn, at 919-319-6301 or click on the Free Consultation link on the left
Injured Workers and their Employers Underreport Workplace Injuries
According to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), workers and their employers frequently do not report on-the-job related injuries or illnesses, raising questions about the the accuracy of the data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This under reporting is said to be caused by the fear of increasing workers' compensation costs. Often, workers do not report on-the-job injuries or illnesses because of the "fear of being fired, disciplined, and worried that their co-workers might lose rewards." Injured North Carolina workers should promptly report their injuries to their employer and the NC Industrial Commission on a Form 18, which can be obtained from an attorney representing injured North Carolina workers or from the NC Industrial Commission's website. If you need more information about filing your workers' comp case in North Carolina contact Kevin Bunn, Attorney at Law, for your free consultation.
Waxhaw Community Helps Local Police Officer
Waxhaw Officer Richard Belk felt a sharp pain in is foot while SWAT training. This pain led to the diagnosis of compartment syndrome. After the diagnosis of this rare condition, Belk has had to have 10 surgeries and two more are planned. Belk's North Carolina workers' compensation was denied, and he says the bills keep adding up. He is now dependent on his family which is difficult. Belk's supporters are coming to his aid by holding a benefit BBQ cook-off in December. For more information about this NC workers' compensation, sometimes called workman's compensation, please view our website or contact us.
