No-Fault in Worker’s Compensation Insurance

Workers’ Compensation Insurance is a state-mandated program designed to provide for employees who are injured or become ill on the job. Massachusetts’ workers’ compensation program is a no-fault system, which is usually beneficial to both the employer and the employee.

Understanding Your Long-Term Disability Insurance Plan

Long term disability (LTD) insurance is an insurance product that an individual can purchase to help cover certain medical expenses in the event they become disabled. LTD plans are often offered through an employer’s benefits package and can either be paid completely by the employer or employee, or shared by two parties. It’s not mandatory to purchase these plans.

Seeking Long-Term Disability in Massachusetts

Long-term disability insurance often kicks in for a disabled employee when short-term disability ends and they are still no longer able to work. You will have to meet the requirements set. The opinion of your treating physician is critical as well as your medical records. Those who are eligible must continue treatment or they may no longer be able to receive benefits from the insurance company. There may be preexisting conditions that are excluded from receiving coverage. You may also be required to apply for Social Security benefits as well. The insurance company would like to see you approved for benefits, as they can offset your claim once you are receiving Social Security. If your claim is denied, you may need to find an attorney in Massachusetts.

Assistance from a Disability Claims Lawyer

If you're currently disabled or seriously injured and in need of assistance with intricate long-term disability claims or anything else along those lines, you should make a point to find a lawyer who has extensive knowledge in that subject. Fortunately, there are lawyers who specialize in disability claims you can hire.

Get the Workers' Compensation Claim that You Deserve

Suffering an injury or work-related illness can set you back professionally and financially, and those who are looking to get a payout from their employer's workers' compensation fund should hire a lawyer to help them navigate all of the corporate bureaucracy. While it is never a bad idea to hire a lawyer to represent you, you should definitely hire a lawyer if your company initially denies your claim. You do not want to have to deal with all of the headaches of settling a claim when you are trying to recover. Leave these problems up to a qualified lawyer who can get you the settlement that you deserve.

Things to Know About Long-Term Disability in Massachusetts

You May Think You Don't Need Long-Term Disability Insurance

You may thing you don't need both short and long-term disability insurance. You might think a serious illness or injury that keeps your from working won't happen to you. There's no way to know that this is the case. You should be prepared.

Finding a Long Term Disability Lawyer in Massachusetts

Are you looking for a long term disability lawyer in Massachusetts? Not sure where to turn? Did your case get denied? If that is the situation you find yourself in, then hiring a lawyer is in your best interest.

Finding the Right Lawyer for Your Insurance Claim

If you have been in an accident and you are looking to get the settlement that you need to get your life back in order, then it is imperative that you find the right lawyer to handle your insurance claim and all of the procedures and processes that surround the claim process. No matter the reason for your claim, you want to ensure that your lawyer has successfully represented clients in the past on cases that are similar in nature to your case.

The Comparative Fault Rule, as Defined by a Personal Injury Attorney

Massachusetts is a comparative fault state when it comes to law suits to recover damages for a personal injury. Whether negotiating a claim with an insurance company or pursuing a lawsuit in court, your settlement award or damage award may be reduced if you were also partly at fault for the accident that caused your injury. The law of comparative negligence varies from state to state. The law has long recognized as a defense to a personal injury lawsuit the argument that the person who was injured was also negligent in a way that contributed to the resulting injury. The doctrine is generally called contributory negligence. Originally contributory negligence was a complete defense: a plaintiff who was found to be even 1% at fault was barred from recovering any damages from the defendant even if the defend was 99% at fault.
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Massachusetts Workers Compensation: Benefits Employees Can Expect

Employees in Massachusetts who suffer an illness or an injury arising out of and in course of employment are eligible for weekly compensation benefits during their period of incapacity from work. In addition to common workplace accidents, personal injuries include infectious or contagious diseases if the nature of the employment is such that the hazard of contracting such diseases by an employee is inherent in the employment. State law requires employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage, and the carriers must provide the benefits for which the employee qualifies based on the nature of the injury and the resulting incapacity from work. Temporary Disability Benefits Injured workers who are unable to work for six days or more are entitled to weekly compensation benefits. They are entitled to receive 60 percent of their average weekly wage and are eligible to receive these benefits for up to three years, or 156 weeks.
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Understanding Long Term Disability Insurance: Things You Need to Know

A lot of people think that they don’t need disability insurance. But studies now show that 3 out of 10 employees ages 25 to 65 will experience a disability or illness that will affect their ability to work for at least a three-month period. If you depend on income from your salary to live month to month, you cannot afford to lose your income for months on end, especially at a time when you will have increased medical bills, including costly copays. If your incapacity from work is arising out of and in the course of employment, you will likely be entitled to weekly workers’ compensation benefits. But if your injury is not work related, you’ll need to replace your lost income some other way. This is where long term disability insurance comes into play. You can often obtain both short term and a long term disability insurance from your employer.
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Long Term Disability Claims: How Lawyers in Northampton, MA Can Help

Lots of employers offer long-term disability coverage as part of their benefits package. The problem is that if they do suffer an accident that causes a disability, your coverage will not begin automatically. The fact is that you will still need to file a claim if you want to be compensated, and insurers routinely deny claims. Here are a few of the hurdles you must overcome in order to be approved for long-term disability insurance. Long-term Disability Requirements The first step to take when applying for long-term disability benefits is to review your company’s long-term disability policy. You will need to obtain this policy from your employer directly, even if there is an insurer administering your claim. The policy will contain a definition of disability that you will have to meet and what benefits you will receive if you meet that definition.
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Long-Term Disability Insurance: An Overview

Long-term disability insurance is a type of coverage that provides a financial safeguard for employees who suffer from long-term disabilities or illnesses. It does not cover injuries or illnesses that workers suffered while on the job and for which employees could file a worker's compensation claim.

What is Long-Term Disability?

If you have been injured at work, you may be eligible for long-term disability insurance. Unlike workers' compensation benefits, these benefits must be offered by your employer, and not all employers offer the same plan. For those who are self-employed, it may be a good idea to buy LTD coverage in case you are hurt during the course of a job.

Benefiting from Long-Term Disability Attorneys

Long-term disability insurance provides protection for employees who are hurt on the job and will not be able to work for an extended period of time. Hiring a long-term disability attorney who has experience early on improves the chances of a disability claim being accepted.

The Importance of Retaining an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have sustained an injury that was caused by another person’s wrongful behavior, you may be entitled to a financial settlement or compensation. A trustworthy personal injury lawyer can help determine if you can win damages in court, though there are certain facts you must prove to obtain a favorable result. Likewise, you need to keep the statute of limitations in mind. In Massachusetts, the statute of limitations for filing a civil action for a personal injury is three years from the date of the injury. But like all statutes, this one is full of nuances, and only an experienced attorney who speaks with you directly about the facts and circumstances of your case can tell you the specific date by which you must file any claim in court.
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Massachusetts Courts: Do You Have a Claim for Workers Compensation?

It is an unfortunate fact of life that people can get injured on the job, and workplace injuries might result in everything from lost wages and medical bills to long-term disability and even death. Many who are injured on the job can qualify for workers’ compensation claims, but there are requirements and qualifications that must be met in order for a filed claim to be approved. If you are wondering if you have a basis for a claim in Massachusetts, it would be wise to consider the following points.
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Trust Experienced Lawyers for Help with Long Term Disability Benefits

A common question that individuals who were injured on their job is whether they qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, or if they would even be eligible for any benefits at all. Workers who can show that they sustained a work-related injury that has incapacitated them from work should seek workers’ compensation benefits. Employees who have short and/or long term disability insurance policies may be eligible under the policy for monthly benefits regardless of whether the injury or illness is work related. Employees who become disabled from any gainful employment may be eligible to apply for and obtain social security disability benefits.
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Reasons to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

You may need a personal injury lawyer to help you deal with a complicated injury claim. In this circumstance, you should work with a lawyer who is experienced representing injured people.

What a Workers Comp Legal Team Can Do for You

Massachusetts is one state that has recovered well in the employment sector since the crash of 2008. It has experienced growth in the labor force as well as an improvement in the state minimum wage. With these developments came a corresponding increase in the number of workers compensation claims. More people in New England states like Massachusetts are entering the labor force at entry and trainee levels, so claims have, naturally, grown in number. This is where the unique skills of a legal team come in.

Tips to Think About When Filing a Disability Claim

When you are suffering from a chronic illness, the decision to file a long-term disability claim can be a daunting one. Not only is the process long and riddled with red tape, but the appeal process can make it even longer. In order to help speed things along, take these few simple tips to mind.

Personal Injury Lawyer: Proving Negligence in a Motor Vehicle Accident

After a car accident, you may be dealing with serious neck, back or spinal cord injuries. While most injuries will heal, it may take months or years for you to fully return to normal. Hiring a personal injury attorney will help you get the compensation that you need to provide for yourself and your family while you heal. How can an attorney help prove that another party's negligence led to the crash? Physical evidence may establish what happened. It is important to gather as much physical evidence of the accident as possible while it is still fresh. Although you will likely be focused on your well being at the scene of the accident, you or someone else likely will take pictures of the scene, including pictures of the autos involved.
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Work with an Attorney When Filing for Workers Compensation Benefits

If you hurt your back, break a bone, or develop an illness while you are at work, you may be entitled to workers compensation benefits. Federal employees are generally covered under Federal Employees Compensation Act, State employees and workers in the private sector are generally covered under state workers’ compensation laws. Let's take a look at the minimum requirements for eligiblility for workers compensation benefits. You Must Take Time Off Because of Your Injury Workers’ compensation benefits are designed to replace lost earnings resulting from missed work after a work-related injury. Employees must therefore typically miss a certain number of days of work before becoming eligible for benefits.
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How Long-Term Disability Attorneys May Help You To Get Your Benefits

If you have suffered an injury or experienced an illness that will keep you out of work for an extended period of time, you may be entitled to benefits that cover long term disability in Massachusetts. However, the rules for applying for group coverage benefits are complex and you cannot afford to make a mistake trying to get the benefits you need. This is where an attorney can assist you and make it easier to get approved for benefits under your long term disability policy. Your Attorney Knows That Different Conditions Mean Different Rules Chronic pain and mental health disorders are among the most common ailments keeping people from going to work. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to establish the existence or the severity of such problems. Insurance companies routinely deny valid claims or limit benefits by concluding that a claim is not debilitating or cannot be objectively verified.
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How a Lawyer Helps in a Long-Term Disability Case

Dealing with a long-term disability brings unique challenges. First, there is the challenge that comes from the physical, mental, and emotional effects of the disability itself; then, there are the financial ramifications that come from being unable to work. It is imperative that individuals who have workers compensation or long-term disability cases find an attorney who can help them. Fighting for long-term disability from an employer or an insurance company is not easy without legal help.

Trust Lawyers to Help You Obtain Compensation for Long-Term Disability

Whether you got hurt in a car accident, suffered a slip-and-fall accident, or were injured at work, you could suffer from chronic pain for the rest of your life. You may also have thousands of dollars in medical bills to worry about in addition to other expenses that you may not be able to pay while you are out of work. Fortunately, personal injury lawyers may help you get all of the compensation that you are entitled to receive. Compensation for Medical Bills and Other Costs After a car accident or any other accident involving a serious injury, you may need to go to the hospital. In addition, you may need to pay for long-term physical therapy, long-term home care, a wheelchair or other device to help you function in daily life.
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Tips on Choosing the Right Lawyer for the Job

Needless to say, choosing the wrong lawyer can spell disaster for a case. Picking the right one isn't overly difficult but does require some leg work. Here are some tips:

Don't Miss Getting Compensation for Work Injuries

If you have suffered an injury or contracted an illness while at work, workers compensation benefits will help you financially while you recover. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to receive benefits if you are injured while working at home or in another remote location. Regardless of where you got hurt or sick, there are guidelines that you must follow to have your case fully processed.

The state of Massachusetts gives you one year from the date of your injury or illness to file a claim if the injury occurred before January 1986. For injuries that occurred after 1986, you have four years to file a claim from the time you believe a workplace accident happened, which led to an injury. If an injury leads to death, family members have four years to file a claim.

The first date of disability is the day you got hurt, if you were not paid for the full day of work. Otherwise, the next day is the first day of your disability. To qualify for benefits, you must be out of work for five days, and your employer has seven days to report the injury.

The insurance company providing coverage for your employer then has 14 days to start paying on the claim or send a denial notice. In some cases, you may be asked to see a doctor representing that company even if you have already seen a doctor, which you must do to preserve your benefits.

Guide to Massachusetts’ Laws and Statutory Rules from an Injury Lawyer

When it comes to matters concerning vehicle accidents and auto insurance, Massachusetts is a no-fault state. Basically, this means that those injured in car crashes are expected to seek compensation under their own insurance coverage. There are certain exceptions to this rule, though, like when your reasonable medical expenses exceed $2,000 or when you suffered serious and permanent disfigurement leading to the loss of your vital functions, such as sight or hearing. As it stands, this threshold is a bit vague because there is no science that exactly determines the level of injury that can classify it as a “serious disfigurement”. Your personal injury lawyer may then have the flexibility to seek further negotiations on whether or not your claim can be limited by the no-fault rule.
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Massachusetts Businesses Get Break In Workers Compensations Costs

The Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) lowered the assessment rate that private employers are expected to pay to the state on workers’ compensation policies. For the new fiscal year, the policy premium is now 5.75 percent down from 5.8 percent during the last fiscal year. This new premium rate is effective for the 2016 fiscal year beginning on July 1, according to a letter circulated on July 2 by the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau (WCRIBMA). According to the Insurance Journal News report, Massachusetts governor, Charlie Baker, announced that his administration was focused on this rebate so that companies can enjoy a bit of tax relief.
http://lowandcanata.com/massachusetts-businesses-get-break-in-workers-compensations-costs/

Hire an LTD Attorney Before Filing a Claim

If you’re thinking of filing a claim for long-term disability (LTD) benefits, it may be worthwhile to hire an attorney before doing so. As your employer's insurance company has no incentive to approve your claim, it will look for any excuse to deny you the benefits that you deserve. Therefore, something as simple as a missing document or missing a deadline to file a document could hurt your case before it begins.

An attorney will make sure that your case is as strong as possible before you start the process of filing paperwork. He or she will ensure that the evidence is stacked in your favor if your case ever goes to trial, as it may not be possible to present new evidence during the hearing process.

Likewise, your attorney will make sure that you have received regular care from a physician and that you have refrained from doing anything that could make you seem healthier than you really are. For instance, if you claim to have a back injury, your attorney will make sure that you aren't lifting heavy objects. Even if the lifting causes you pain, your employer’s insurance company is sure to look for evidence that you are faking your injury so it can deny your claim.

Finally, your attorney will make sure that you don't quit your job or take another position, as doing so could reduce the benefit that you are entitled to or eliminate it altogether.

How is LTD Different from SSI Disability?

If you have been injured on the job, you may be entitled to long-term disability (LTD) benefits. However, it is important to note where these benefits come from. Aside from social security disability, LTD compensation can also come from your employer's insurance company. As such, the criteria to receive such benefits may be different than what you expect them to be.

You may be entitled to SSI disability benefits based on your previous work history and how much you’ve paid into the system through FICA taxes. With LTD benefits, the amount that you may receive depends on how much you currently make. Furthermore, you may not be entitled to benefits if you quit your job, as they may be dependent on a current employer-employee relationship.

In some cases, you may be able to combine your social security and long-term disability benefits. However, it’s possible that your long-term benefits terminate when you start to receive disability benefits from the government. Conversely, you may not be eligible for social security benefits if you already have long-term disability insurance coverage.

That said, you are not guaranteed to receive long-term disability insurance. If neither the worker nor the employer carries coverage, the worker may have to rely on other benefits if he or she is out of work due to a serious injury. As each situation is different, it may be worthwhile to consult with an attorney prior to making a claim for either social security or long-term disability benefits.