Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Top Five Office Worker Injuries
In 2021, private employers throughout the country reported over 2.6 million non-fatal workplace injuries among office workers. A significant number of these injuries require intense medical treatment. That means high medical bills which, in most cases, victims cannot pay. Such injuries also mean several weeks or months off work which, in most cases, victims… Read More »
What You Should Know About Nursing Home Falls
Slip-and-fall injuries often send people to nursing homes and keep them there longer. 40 percent of older adult fall victims go to nursing homes, and 60 percent of these residents fall at nursing homes. Usually, the physical and emotional injuries are so bad that these victims cannot ever live independently again. In other words,… Read More »
State Lawmakers Expand PTSD Workers’ Comp Coverage
Under a new law, emergency responders who develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder have more time to file workers’ compensation claims. Currently, the 90-day filing clock begins ticking down when “manifest” symptoms appear. The new law changes the kickoff to a PTSD diagnosis. “The reality is just because a symptom may be manifesting, you don’t… Read More »
Basic And Advanced Evidence In Car Crash Cases
Victim/plaintiffs must prove car crash and other personal injury claims by a preponderance of the evidence, or more likely than not. That’s one of the lowest burdens of proof in Florida law. However, as most of us know, minimum effort typically yields minimum results. In most cases, minimum compensation isn’t enough, Car crash victims… Read More »
Workers’ Compensation Medical Payments Drop In Florida
After several consecutive years of increases, medical benefits payments in the Sunshine State dropped 5 percent in 2021. Officials blamed coronavirus for the decline. “The recent decreases in medical payments per claim in Florida and many other states reflect some impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as postponed or avoided medical care due to… Read More »
Top Five Occupational Diseases In Florida
Workers’ compensation insurance covers sudden trauma injuries, like falls, and occupational diseases. These conditions occur slowly over time. The same benefits are available in both situations. However, occupational disease claims are more complex. First, these claims often involve pre-existing, or co-existing, conditions. Legally, victims must prove that the work-related hazard exacerbated the pre-existing condition,… Read More »
What To Expect In A Workers’ Compensation Claim
A hundred years ago, due to the Grand Bargain between workers and management, job injury victims quickly got the benefits they needed to return to work as soon as possible. Furthermore, back then, Claims Examiners had a holistic, victim-friendly view of things like lost wage replacement and medical bill payment. Today, a Claims Examiner’s… Read More »
Politicians Approve Last-Minute Rate Reduction
State lawmakers recently approved an 8.4 percent workers’ compensation rate decrease, which is exactly the same amount an insurance company commission suggested in the summer of 2022. “For the sixth consecutive year, Florida businesses will see a reduction in workers’ compensation rates, which also means lower insurance costs for employers,” State Insurance Commissioner David… Read More »
Fatal Left-Turn Motorcycle Wreck In Tampa
Investigators believe that a rider’s excessive speed contributed to a deadly crash at the intersection of East Hillsborough Avenue and North 15th Street. According to the Tampa Police Department, the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado was waiting in the turn lane on East Hillsborough Avenue to turn south onto North 15th Street. Police say… Read More »
Common Insurance Company Defenses In Personal Injury Claims
Every year, insurance companies collect over $1 trillion in premiums alone. So, they have almost unlimited resources with which to fight car crash, dog bite, fall, and other injury claims. Typically, insurance company lawyers use one or more of the defenses discussed below to fight injury claims. Therefore, an attorney must be prepared to… Read More »
