Monthly Archives

April 2019

Injury Rates Still Dropping Even as Older Workers Take Larger Share of Workforce

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

The number of workplace injury claims continues to decline year after year despite significant changes in workforce demographics that one might think should increase claims frequency, according to a report released Monday by the National Council of Compensation Insurance. The number of workers aged 55 and over has nearly doubled since 2006, At the same time, that age group began…

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Third-party ex-employer not exempt from negligence suit, COA says

By Personal Injury No Comments

The Indiana Court of Appeals has reinstated a woman’s negligence claim against her former employer, concluding he was considered a third party in the suit and could therefore not be shielded. Following her firing from All Steel Carports, Inc. in July 2016, Lora Brenner and her spouse sued All Steel, its former president, Ignacio Chavez, and the property’s owner, Chavez…

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Seriously injured truck driver’s suit against Celadon reinstated

By Personal Injury No Comments

A semi-truck driver who was seriously injured after the contents of his trailer fell on him upon opening the door after transport won partial judgment against the trucking company responsible for loading the trailer when an appellate panel found the company owed him a duty of care. Paul Wilkes, an over-the-road truck driver for Knight Transport, was dispatched in January…

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Workers comp prescription drug spending down in 2018

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

Workers compensation payers disbursed 3.8% less for prescriptions in 2018, including a 15% drop in opioids, due to a decline in utilization and overall cost per prescription, according to a drug trends report released Thursday by MyMatrixx, a subsidiary of Express Scripts Holding Co. Overall, 65.9% of comp payers spent less on opioids in 2018, with 17.7% of injured workers…

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Motorists File Suits over Damage from Potholes on I-69 in Indiana

By Personal Injury No Comments

Dozens of drivers have filed tort claims seeking money from the state of Indiana after their cars were damaged while driving on a 15-mile (24 kilometers), pothole-afflicted section of Interstate 69. The problematic stretch of highway extends between mile markers 219 in Pendleton and 234 in Daleville, The Star Press reported. Forty claimants are pursuing damages for repairs to brake…

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Workers’ comp bill on Pritzker’s desk will expose more companies to asbestos lawsuits, attorney says

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

Some companies may be exposed to more asbestos lawsuits under proposed legislation now on Illinois Gov. J.B Pritzker’s desk. The legislation, Senate Bill 1596, which has passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly, attempts to overturn a 2015 Illinois Supreme Court ruling in Folta v. Ferro Engineering, which essentially barred the plaintiff from suing in civil court and upheld…

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Indiana House approves amended worksite safety bill

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

The Indiana House on Wednesday unanimously approved amendments to a bill that would fine Indiana employers up to $132,598 for a worksite fatality stemming from workplace safety standard violations, according to the state’s legislative website. The Senate unanimously passed H.B. 1341 on April 2. The bill amends Indiana code on workplace safety, which stipulates fines of $7,000 to $70,000 for…

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ASSP proposes ways to bring more women into safety roles

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

Increasing the availability of personal protective equipment for women are among keys to bringing and advancing more women in safety roles in organizations, according to a report released Thursday by the American Society of Safety Professionals. Other areas to focus include offering more advancement opportunities to women and reducing violence against women at work, according to the report, which the…

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Reversal: No valid settlement in Crown Point bicycle crash

By Personal Injury No Comments

Years after three Crown Point bicyclists sued each other for negligence after a crash, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed an order and implementation of a settlement agreement when it found the parties had never come to a valid agreement. While cycling on a paved Crown Point bike path in August 2012, Ana Martins collided with tandem riders Richard and…

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