Workers’ Compensation Blog
Posted on Dec 14, 2012
With both the Holiday season in full effect and the end of the year approaching, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of our clients as well as anyone else who has given us the opportunity ...
Continue reading "Holiday Musings" »
Posted on Oct 31, 2012
An injured worker was recently referred to us by another attorney. He had suffered multiple tears to his shoulder due to a heavy and strenuous job. Fortunately, he was able to receive his surgery and ...
Continue reading "Would You See a Foot Doctor for a Heart Problem?" »
Posted on Oct 23, 2012
Recently, I was asked to be part of a panel presenting to one of the largest workers' compensation insurance carriers in the Kansas City area. The room was full of claims representatives and ...
Continue reading "Into the Lion's Den" »
Posted on Oct 16, 2012
Have you ever heard this one? The Boss: "Okay. You're hired. But I'm only hiring you as an independent contractor. I'll pay your gross wages and your are responsible for paying the ...
Continue reading "Declaration of Independent(ce)? Are your really an Employee?" »
Posted on Jul 16, 2012
On our website, www.kcworkcomp.com, we have tried to present enough information about workers' compensation to let visitors know what can and should be happening following a work-related injury. ...
Continue reading "Yes...You Should Make the Call" »
Posted on Jun 11, 2012
Common sense says that you tell somebody about something after it happens. You can't tell you friend the score of the ballgame until it's been played, right? You can't give notice of a ...
Continue reading "NOTICE OF REPETITIVE INJURIES: HOW TO KILL YOUR CLAIM IN KANSAS" »
Posted on May 2, 2012
I was recently asked to speak at a continuing legal education seminar for the Missouri Bar Association. The topic: How to deal with difficult clients from a legal ethics perspective. While the typical ...
Continue reading "There Are No Problem Clients...There Is Only Failure to Communicate" »
Posted on Apr 10, 2012
A worker gets injured on the job, is receiving medical treatment and is placed on temporary work restrictions. If the employer is unable to return her to work under those restrictions, she would then ...
Continue reading "An Injured Worker Who Gets Fired Gets No Pay? Not So Fast!" »
Posted on Apr 6, 2012
Have you ever heard this scenario? You work hard all week at your job. Now, it's finally Friday and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Three more hours and you will have some ...
Continue reading "There Are No Tough Guys in Work Comp" »
Posted on Mar 26, 2012
On May 15,2011, the Kansas Legislature did away with one really insidious part of the Kansas Workers Compensation Act. Prior to that date, not only did you have to give notice to your employer after ...
Continue reading "The Written Claim Game" »
Posted on Mar 13, 2012
Ok. So, you have an injury and you are left with permanent restrictions. What now? Well, it depends on where you are and what parts you injured. Let me explain. In Kansas, there is a benefit called ...
Continue reading "Functional v. Work Disability (Part 2)" »
Posted on Mar 7, 2012
After you have received all of your treatment and the insurance company has (hopefully) paid all of your temporary benefits, what remaining benefit does an injured worker have? The answer: Permanent ...
Continue reading "Functional Disability vs. Work Disability: Who gets what ?" »
Posted on Mar 2, 2012
Lt. Daniel Kaffee, as portrayed by Tom Cruise in "A Few Good Men", once said, "It's not what I know, its what I can prove." Nowhere is that statement more applicable than in ...
Continue reading "Tom Cruise Was Right!" »
Posted on Feb 22, 2012
Almost without exception, one of the first things a prospective client says to me in the initial telephone consultation is, "I don't even know if I need a lawyer. Do you think I need a ...
Continue reading "Do I Even Need a Lawyer?" »
Posted on Feb 15, 2012
Short answer: Sometimes. If you are on restrictions from the authorized treating physician, your employer has two options. It can put you to work in an accommodated, light duty position or it can send ...
Continue reading "Light Duty Pay Sucks! Can They Do That?" »
Posted on Jan 24, 2012
We've all heard the age-old riddle of, "If a tree falls in the forest, but no one's around to hear it, does it really make a sound?" This same riddle can be used in workers' ...
Continue reading "A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST . . ." »
Posted on Jan 4, 2012
A NEW BREED OF LAWYERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Welcome to the first blog entry for the law firm of Haight Stang, LLC! Our goal will be to inform, enlighten and (if it's even possible) ...
Continue reading "A NEW BREED OF LAWYERS . ." »