Consider your Sources!!
Posted by Michele Lewane | Hiring A Lawyer, Workers' Compensation Benefits
People contact my office all the time and tell me that their sister/father/aunt/mailman told them ______________ (insert something outrageous here – my case is worth 10 million dollars, I get paid for pain and suffering, I ‘m going to sue my employer, my boss can’t fire me because I was injured at work) and then they …
Pros and Cons of Lump-Sum Settlements and Lifetime Medical Benefits
Posted by Michele Lewane | Settlement, Workers' Compensation Benefits
I get calls from people wondering about the benefits and downfalls of settling their workers’ compensation claim versus keeping their lifetime medical benefits. So, as an experienced Richmond workers’ compensation attorney I wanted to share this information and, hopefully, help some of you out there by making you aware of the differences between keeping your …
Continue reading "Pros and Cons of Lump-Sum Settlements and Lifetime Medical Benefits"
All About Virginia Workers Compensation Death Benefits
Posted by Michele Lewane | First Steps, Types Of Accidents, Workers' Compensation Benefits
According to Virginia.gov, death benefits can be awarded to : “A surviving spouse, children under 18, children under 23 enrolled full time in an accredited education institution, parents in destitute circumstances or other qualifying dependents may be entitled to wage loss benefits. Death benefits include funeral expenses not to exceed $10,000 and transportation cost of …
Continue reading "All About Virginia Workers Compensation Death Benefits"
Your Job as Our Client – Virginia Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Posted by Michele Lewane | First Steps, Workers' Compensation Benefits, Working With A Doctor
Here at Injured Workers’ Law Firm, you not only get an attorney fighting for your rights but you have a whole team to support you and manage your claim. That being said – you have a role to play as part of this team! I cannot tell you how frustrating it is when my office …
Continue reading "Your Job as Our Client – Virginia Workers’ Compensation Attorney"
Tips for your Virginia Workers’ Compensation Deposition
Posted by Michele Lewane | Workers' Compensation Benefits
I have several people call my office in a panic because they have received a notice of a Deposition in the mail and they are not sure what this means or what is happening. “In the law of the United States, a deposition is the out-of-court oral testimony of a witness that is reduced …
Continue reading "Tips for your Virginia Workers’ Compensation Deposition"
Lumbar Fusion Surgery
Posted by Michele Lewane | Workers' Compensation Benefits
I have so many clients who have suffered the misfortune of sustaining a serious back injury at work. Some injured workers can be treated with physical therapy or injections, while others require surgery or surgeries. The back and spine are areas that have so many nerves running through them; many people are fearful of …
Preparations before and after back surgery
Posted by Michele Lewane | Workers' Compensation Benefits
I wanted to share an article I found by John E. Sherman, M.D., giving information on how to prepare for back surgery both before and after. I sometimes think that when faced with the possibility of surgery, many of my clients are pre-occupied with all of the other worries they have (“Will this help my …
Continue reading "Preparations before and after back surgery"
AMA Guidelines and Workers’ Comp
Posted by Michele Lewane | Workers' Compensation Benefits
Often time’s victims of work place injuries are required to attend an FCE (Functional Capacity Evaluation – see previous blog post for more info on FCEs) to determine their permanent restrictions after they have recovered from an injury. The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission requires examiners to use the AMA Guidelines as a way to standardize …
Head Injury or Traumatic Brain Injury?
Posted by Michele Lewane | Workers' Compensation Benefits
Many people assume that if their workers’ comp claim recognizes their “head” to be their entire head including what is inside (the brain!). This seems correct, right? WRONG – the head is NOT the same as the brain for the purposes of workers’ compensation in Virginia. A head injury could be a minor scrape on …
Why Can’t I get Pain & Suffering Compensation for my injury?
Posted by Michele Lewane | Workers' Compensation Benefits
Workers’ compensation is a pain, no doubt about it. The overwhelming majority of people who contact my office do so because they are incredibly frustrated with the system and don’t know where else to turn and many of these folks are upset to find out that in Virginia, there is no compensation for all the …
Continue reading "Why Can’t I get Pain & Suffering Compensation for my injury?"