Case Study: Private investigator sustains 2 separate injuries while on the job
"Mr. L," a private investigator, received significant injuries when he was working a case in bad weather. He was involved in a serious automobile accident when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a large pine tree. His airbags deployed and his vehicle was damaged on both sides. As a result, he incurred injuries to his cervical spine, chest, left arm, right elbow, and right shoulder.
Filed under Arms & Hands, Back & neck injuries, Case studies, Georgia Workers' Compensation, Winning Strategies by 
One of the lesser known players used by Georgia workers' comp insurers is the nurse case manager. In the past, insurers could assign nurse case managers to every claim. Now, claimants and their lawyers can terminate the involvement of nurse case managers, except in the instance of catastrophic injury cases. Who is the nurse case manager and what does she do? In this short audio report, I explain how insurance companies sometimes use nurse case managers to try and influence treating doctors and I discuss a recent case in which I pulled the plug on a nurse case manager's involvement.
More on The Nurse Case Manager – Who is She and Does She Belong on Your Case
Filed under Georgia Workers' Compensation, Medical Care by
Welcome to the 3rd installment of my summer long series on Georgia Workers' comp case studies. In the following case study, I discuss workers' compensation and repetitive motion injuries.
An overview of DeQuervain’s Syndrome and Lateral CTS
DeQuervain Syndrome is also nicknamed Mother’s Wrist or Washerwoman’s Sprain. In more medical, technical terms it is known as de Quervain's tenosynovitis, de Quervain's stenosing tenosynovitis, or Radial styloid tenosynovitis. DeQuervain’s syndrome is an inflammation (or tendinosis) that occurs in the sheath or the tunnel which surround the two tendons which are responsible for the thumb’s movement.
More on Case Study: Workers Compensation and Repetitive Motion Injuries
Filed under Carpel Tunnel, Case studies, Georgia Workers' Compensation by
I often explain to my clients that a major struggle in any workers' compensation case relates to medical care. Georgia law gives employers the first opportunity to decide where an injured worker must go for treatment but this control is not complete:
More on What is a "Claimant's IME" and How Can I Take Advantage of this Powerful Benefit?
What is Worker’s Compensation?
Worker’s compensation, or more colloquially worker’s comp, refers to a type of insurance which provides certain benefits to employees that are injured on the job such as income due to lost wages and medical treatment. Additionally, the employee relinquishes their right to sue the employer for negligence once they file a worker’s compensation claim. Oftentimes, the trade-off between the assured, limited coverage versus the relinquishing of legal recourse is referred to as “the compensation bargain.”
More on Are medical and vocational rehabilitation costs covered under worker’s comp?
Filed under Georgia Workers' Compensation by
What is an independent contractor?
Any business, corporation, or individual that provides products or services to a business entity and is specified contractually or by verbal agreement is referred to as an “independent contractor.” According to the IRS tax codes, they are not defined or recognized as an employee of that business or corporation. They typically work as they are required to and are usually subject to what is called the Law of Agency.
Filed under Employee vs. independent contractor, Georgia Workers' Compensation by
Last July, I wrote a post on this blog about how your Facebook profile could be used against you in your case. The Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation will allow defense counsel to introduce status updates and pictures to challenge your assertions that you are injured and cannot work. This is in addition to the surveillance and other investigation that defense counsel use to impugn your credibility.
More on Judge Orders Injured Worker to Allow Insurance Company to Examine His Computer
