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At NST Law, we are dedicated to helping injured individuals and their families get the justice and compensation they deserve.
Expertise
Mr. Trotz has handled injury cases involving auto accidents, slip and fall, premises liability, and negligent security. Every day, Mr. Trotz represents those who have been injured and many of his clients have sustained traumatic and life-altering injuries.
Every year in the United States, approximately 2.8 million workers are injured. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance policy paid for by employers to protect employees who are injured on the job.
As champions for the injured, the experienced Columbus personal injury attorneys at NST law represent hurt workers to ensure they receive the full level of compensation they are due.
Workers’ compensation covers employees whose employers have purchased workers’ compensation. Employers with five or more employees are required to carry workers’ compensation. Coverage is also available to employers who are not required to carry it.
Independent contractors are not employees and are thus not covered by workers’ compensation. Contractors are liable for their own employees.
Injuries caused by illicit drug use or intoxication or by the improper use of prescription medication by the employee are not covered.
If a preexisting condition contributes to an injury, or if the injury aggravates a preexisting condition, you may still be entitled to compensation, but the amount will be adjusted according to the degree to which the preexisting condition contributed to the injury, even if the condition did not previously cause an occupational disability.
Under the no-fault system, compensation is paid to all eligible employees without regard to fault. Employees cannot be denied because they knowingly assumed the risk upon employment or because of contributory negligence.
According to 2020 statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most dangerous occupations in Mississippi that resulted in the highest number of fatal injuries included:
Nationwide, the following occupations had the highest fatal work injury rates:
The occupations with the highest rates of nonfatal illnesses and injuries serious enough to warrant days away from work included the following:
The largest employers in the city of Columbus include some of these dangerous occupations:
The most common causes of workplace injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work in 2020 were as follows:
When you are injured at work, notify your supervisor or other designated person about the injury. It is then your employer’s responsibility to prepare a report of injury and file a claim.
You should notify your supervisor within 30 days of the incident. If your claim is not accepted, you have up to two years to file a lawsuit.
Workers’ compensation provides free medical treatment and partial wage replacement in the amount of 66 and two-thirds percent of the average wages over the previous 52-week period, up to the statutory maximum, which is adjusted annually. Benefits are payable for up to 450 months after the injury.
As of January 2022, the weekly maximum is $551.02. The lifetime disability maximum is $247,959. Disability benefits are available for temporary and permanent disability, but the lifetime maximum is 450 months in both cases.
Family members of workers who suffer fatalities are entitled to the following death benefits:
Compensation is paid by your employer or the insurance company. State law requires compensation to begin by the 14th day after your employer has received notice of your injury, and in most cases, you will be paid every 14 days thereafter.
If compensation is not paid on time, your employer or the insurance company must pay you a penalty of 10 percent. This penalty is increased to 20 percent if you are awarded compensation in a lawsuit.
Employers who purchase workers’ compensation are protected from additional liability. However, you can sue an employer that has not purchased workers’ compensation coverage.
In some cases, a party other than your employer may have contributed to or caused your injury. State law does allow employees to sue liable third parties. However, you are required to notify your employer of the lawsuit. If the third party is found to be liable, you may be required to repay any workers’ compensation benefits you received from the proceeds of such a lawsuit.
Our personal injury lawyers can help you identify third parties who may be liable. The identification of additional liable parties may provide the opportunity to claim the following additional compensation:
Third parties may be liable in the following scenarios:
If your workers’ compensation claim is denied, you have the right to file a dispute by contacting the claims representative. You may undergo a series of formal and informal hearings, after which the representative will file an award. This can be appealed by filing a formal petition for review by the full workers’ compensation commission.
If you do not achieve satisfactory results through the appeal process, you can take your case to court. Our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers can represent you at any stage during this process, beginning with the initial report of injury, to help ensure you are treated fairly.
We recommend that you contact NST Law as early as possible. Employers do not always cooperate, and they have a vested interest in minimizing or denying you compensation. The earlier you involve an attorney, the better.
Employers and their insurance companies have an advantage over employees due to their knowledge of the workers’ compensation system and their access to legal representation. When you retain a workers’ compensation lawyer at NST Law, you will have access to our resources and expertise, which gives you the advantage.
NST Law has been championing the cause of the injured since 1990. Since that time, we have stayed true to our desire to make a difference in the lives of our clients during their time of greatest need. Our dedication to our clients is exemplified in our six pillars:
Our dedication has paid off for our clients, for whom we have been able to achieve results that helped them restore their lives to the fullest extent possible:
We are Columbus, Mississippi’s champions for the injured because we never give up until our clients receive the maximum amount of compensation available. If you or your loved one has been injured on the job, don’t let the statute of limitations run out.
Contact us for a free consultation now so that we can review your case and decide how we can best help you.
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