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Installing Replacement Doors and windows For Homes

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Setting up Replacement Doors and windows For Houses

While 1 choice is to take the Do-it-yourself (DIY) strategy, a much better windows and doors set up choice is to have a educated professional get it done. Here are a few of the primary benefits of the second option:

1. Certified, bonded, as well as insured.

Mistakes as well as mishaps happen. This is exactly why you should definitely think about professional doors and windows installation, rather than a DIY strategy. Expert contractors which are fully licensed, bonded, and insured may have protection from possible errors as well as mishaps in the installation process. DIY is really a different tale. Like a non-professional, there's a significantly higher chance that you'd encounter mistakes and accidents whilst setting up replacement doors and windows. Which could result in major out-of-pocket costs. So think about the fact that professionals typically have safety.

2. Less anxiety

DIY small remodels could be demanding if you are not a educated expert. Which includes the strain of actually setting up the things, and the tension associated with dealing with errors and accidents. Sure, the overall monetary cost of installing windows and doors on your own is lower. But which cost isn't really worthwhile whether it causes you to turn and toss whilst attempting to sleep during the night.

Three. Warranties as well as Ensures.

Another benefit of having professionals install your own alternative windows and doors is you can enjoy ensures and warranties that are not available if you install the things your self. Why are they priceless? Whether or not the installation of home windows or doorways is actually perfect, you cannot be 100% sure that problems will not arise later on. The answer is professional installation.

Which helps to ensure that a business may restore or even replace the things whenever that is necessary-at little or no price for you. However, missing such ensures and guarantees implies that you may choose to spend thousands if you want to repair or substitute individuals exact same windows and doors. Because life is unpredictable, it is better to be secure than i'm sorry.

4. Expert encounter.

As you might go ahead and take DIY "trial as well as error" approach to windows and doors installation, it's a number of disadvantages. In fact, the time, effort, and cash that you simply spend could be (as well as likely is going to be) much higher than if the experienced professional had installed the actual home windows or even doors. Very first, there is the proven fact that professionals have most likely installed a number of alternative windows and doors throughout their professions. The simple repeating has provided the knowledge to do the job effectively. Another benefit is the fact that experts will also have the knowledge to deal with typical issues that arise whenever installing alternative windows and doors.

5. Reduce installation price.

Buying window as well as doorway installation resources can cost thousands. On the other hand, expert installers probably will not need to be lent any kind of resources of your stuff. They'll have a toolbox-full of all the equipment they'd have to install the doors and windows efficiently.

If you are planning to install replacement windows and admittance doors your self, then you definitely should think again. The above mentioned benefits of professional set up are definitely worth considering, before setting up.

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Be on the look out for tow truck scams

In the chaotic aftermath of a car accident, a tow truck driver rolls up. He offers to take your car to a repair shop, waves a clipboard at you and asks you to sign the attached form.

The next thing you know, you've been hit with thousands of dollars in inflated charges for towing, storage and repairs. Unfortunately, this isn't a theoretical scenario - there's been a recent boom in tow truck scams. From the first nine months of 2009 to the first nine months of 2010, the number of suspicious U.S. auto insurance claims involving inflated towing charges doubled, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Crime bureau spokesman Frank Scafidi says that $1,800 "is not an unusual bill to get for driving a car a few miles and parking it in a storage yard." A typical bill should be less than 10 percent of that overblown charge.
If a police officer orders your vehicle to be towed, do not sign any additional paperwork presented by a tow truck driver.

Many states and cities are cracking down on tow truck scams by passing new laws to better regulate the industry. Both the state of California and the city of Houston enacted new laws for 2011. In Houston, the National Insurance Crime Bureau kicked off a "Know Before You Tow" billboard campaign in December to help educate consumers about the problem.

While there are hot spots such as Houston, tow truck fraud is a national problem, Scafidi says. That's because in many places, towing is an unregulated industry. States and cities have the power to set rules on towing prices and procedures, but many have not. For instance, Texas prides itself on being a pro-business state with little regulatory red tape.

How the towing scam works

Tow truck scams begin with drivers who listen to police scanners for news of a crash, says Aaron Patterson, a special investigative analyst at Allstate. Then, they speed to the scene, hoping to beat police and any towing company a driver might call on his own. Their goal: To get the driver to sign a release form giving permission to tow away the vehicle.

The truck drivers know that if police order the tow, they'll be able to charge only a set, regulated price, usually about $130. This is known in the industry as a "no consent" tow. But if the driver signs a release, the towing company is free to charge whatever it pleases.

Unscrupulous tow truck operators use a number of tactics to get crash victims away from the police to sign a release. Patterson knows of one case where a tow truck operator followed an ambulance to a hospital emergency room to get a crash victim to sign a release.

A more common ruse, according to Patterson: "They'll say, 'Let's get out of the traffic - follow me to the next exit to sign some paperwork.'"

Self-dealing storage and repair yards

Once they've got your car hitched up, crooked tow truck drivers may convince consumers to use the company's own storage yard or repair shop. More overcharging can take place at this stage.

Houston Police Lt. Wendy Baimbridge says: "They'll charge you a $500 administration fee, a $1,500 teardown fee, a $500 environmental fee. And nothing's been done to the car yet. And it's legal."

Automotive consumer attorney Steven Simons in Sherman Oaks, Calif., says he recently represented one BMW driver who had her wrecked car towed to a repair shop owned by the towing firm.

The repair shop subcontracted out part of the work without the customer's permission. The repairs were botched, and Simons says his client ended up spending more than $11,000 for repairs that her insurer estimated at less than $6,000. The repair shop also is accused of forging the customer's signature on the auto insurance company's payment.
Once he's got your car hitched up, a crooked tow truck driver may convince you to use his company's own repair shop.

The final insult: Insurance companies end up paying the inflated towing, storage and repair bills. They have little choice - if they don't pay up, the towing company won't release the car to its owner.

Baimbridge says the high insurance payouts have hurt consumers in the Houston area, who are charged higher auto insurance rates than drivers in nearby areas. Patterson says Allstate is suing a ring of Houston-area towing companies for $60,000 in allegedly fraudulent towing charges that the insurer has paid in recent years.

How to prevent being taken for a ride

Here are 11 tips from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Allstate and the New York State Insurance Department for avoiding tow truck scams:

• If there's a crash, be sure the police are called to the scene. Let the police handle towing arrangements.

• If a police officer orders your vehicle to be towed, do not sign any additional paperwork presented by a tow truck driver.

• Don't use a tow truck operator unless a truck was called by your or the police.

• Don't give your insurance information to a tow truck operator.

• Ask upfront what your tow will cost, and get pricing information in writing.

• Insist your vehicle be taken to the repair shop of your choice.

• Be wary of any towing company that wants to drive your car to its own repair shop.

• Carefully read any paperwork you are asked to sign, and make sure you understand it. Sign directly below any dollar figures, not just at the bottom of the form.

• Get a copy of any paperwork the tow truck company presents to you.

• Make sure the tow truck operator completes a damage report before towing your car, so you have a record of the damage before moving the vehicle.

• If possible, use a towing operator affiliated with an established membership program such as AAA, or a program run by your insurer, car maker or credit card company.

The Author is a repossession insurance & insurance for tow trucks specialist for a leading towing insurance agency.

Is your insurance doing enough for you?

While eating lunch after church Sunday I was asked the following question by my luncheon companion;

"People at work have children but the group health insurance plan the company offers is a plan with a high deductible but no co-pay. It is fine for older employees but there are parents with children. Is there an option available for them?"

Fortunately, the answer is yes. There are a couple of different options available. Today, I want to discuss options for the individual employees. Tomorrow I will share some options for the employer to tweak the benefit plan.

There are some plans, available to individuals, that can act as a supplement. They are similar to the plans that received so much bad press last year called, mini-meds.

Since most employers pay a portion of the employee's premium, which can add up to a significant expense, many small businesses have elected to switch to higher deductible plans and cut some of the more popular benefits in order to save money.

In many cases, rather than griping about what their new plan does not have employees should be thankful that their employer even offers health insurance at all. Group health insurance is very, very expensive and employers are not legally required to offer coverage to start with.

"Mini-med" plans are excellent options that you can get on an individual basis to supplement what your group plan does not pay. When used correctly, they are not near as bad as the ultra left paints them.

When used as a group plan, mini-meds tend to provide excellent insurance protection for relatively minor issues. Employees with influenza or hay fever can see a doctor, get a prescription and get back to work. They are also fine for minor lacerations and sprains that require an Emergency Room visit.

Because mini-meds often have a cap on the amount of insurance benefit they provide they tend to be very in-expensive, which is good for the employer but not necessarily good for the employee.

If the employee is seriously injured in an accident away from work or is diagnosed with a disease they will blow right through the insurance limit and be personally responsible.

Allegedly, the PPACA eliminated policy limits last year but the Secretary of Health and Human Services has granted enough waivers, especially to union members that the possibility of someone filing bankruptcy for medical bills, even though they had "insurance" still exists.

In fact I saw today that over 1,500,000 American employees, 1/3 of them members of unions, still have limited "mini-med" plans at work. In other words, if you have any doubt, read your group insurance policy to see if it is a Limited Benefit type of policy.

If you find that your health insurance is a "mini-med" plan and that is unacceptable to you, don't panic. There are things you can do to correct the short fall. In and of itself, a "mini-med" plan is not bad. The problem is in how it is used. Call me at (832) 767-8059 and we can talk about options for you.

"Mini-meds" work great as a supplement to plans like my lunch companion talked about. Often, if they are used correctly, they can provide co-pay benefits for minor medical care when a group plan does not have that benefit. Major things, like a surgery, will be taken care of by the group plan.

For example, an employee with a group plan with a $ 2000 deductible and no doctor office co-pay may wish to get an individual "mini-med" with doctor office co-pays and a limited benefit.

If the employee needs to see the doctor because of a routine ailment, they could use the "mini-meds" co-pay benefit but if they suffered a more costly injury or disease, they would have unlimited health insurance benefits under the terms of their group health insurance.

Also, keep in mind that the PPACA mandates that all group health insurance plans provide some preventive visits at no cost to the insured, regardless of if the plan offers co-pay benefits or not.

Because they tend to be so inexpensive, the temptation is present for people who do not have group health insurance benefits through work to rely on them for all their medical needs. That is fine if nothing major occurs but if it does, they are at best, disappointed.

The Author is a health insurance oregon & oregon medicare advantage specialist for a leading insurance agency.

Personal Injury attorney selection tips

Common Workers Compensation Insurance Questions For Small Business Owners

What is workers' compensation insurance?

Workers' compensation insurance covers your employees' medical and disability expenses related to work-related illness and on-the-job injuries. Employers' liability coverage, which is normally included on a workers' comp policy, protects your company by paying legal fees and any awarded settlements should an employee sue you, claiming that an illness or injury was caused by your company's negligence or failure to provide a safe workplace.

How do I know if I need workers' comp insurance?

Workers' compensation insurance is required by law in most states for companies that have W2 employees, and in some states for 1099 contractors. Regardless of state law, clients often also require in their contracts that their contractors carry workers' compensation insurance.

What are the workers' compensation laws for each state?

It's important to know your employer rights as well as the laws governing workers' comp in your state. Workman's comp is regulated by each state's department of industrial relations, department of labor, department of insurance, department of employment, bureau of workers' compensation, or a similar state agency. TechInsurance provides links to each state's insurance web site for quick access to detailed information about workman's compensation laws.

Do I have to carry workers' compensation insurance if I don't have employees?

If you have a one-person company, you may be operating in a state that does not require that you maintain workers' compensation coverage. However, your client may still require that you carry workers' compensation insurance. Why? In many states, unless a company can show that subcontractors carry their own workers' compensation insurance, subcontractors will be automatically covered under the hiring company's policy, at the hiring company's expense.

Do I still need workers' comp insurance if I use contractors instead of employees?

Contract employees, leased employees and some other work-for-hire situations may be exempt from workman's comp insurance requirements, but some state laws do require companies to cover 1099 contractors. When you hire independent contractors to do work for you, you should require that they carry their own workers' compensation, or assume that you will have to pay additional premium to cover the subcontractor on your own policy.

My state requires me to carry workers' compensation insurance, and so do my clients. But what's in it for me?

Workers' comp insurance medical benefits pay for doctor's visits, medication, diagnostic tests, therapy or hospital stays that are directly related to an accident or injury that occurred while the employee was on the job. Additionally, the policy will reimburse the employee for a portion of income lost due to work-related injury or illness. If the worst should happen and an employee is killed on the job, the insurance will pay death benefits to the survivors, as well as some funeral expenses. So, if your employee is hurt on the job and you have workers' comp coverage, you won't have to worry about paying those costs out of pocket.

There's another important benefit for you as an employer: The employment liability coverage included with your workers' comp policy protects you from paying high lawyer fees or big settlements if an employee claims that your negligence, carelessness or failure to provide a safe working environment caused an accident or injury.

Do I have to pay for workers' comp coverage for myself?

In some states, owners, officers, partners and other company principals can exclude themselves from their own companies' workers' compensation coverage. If you've got good health insurance and disability insurance policies, consider your risk low, and want to save on premiums, this may be a good choice for you.

What if I want to cancel my workers' comp policy?

In virtually every state, the insurance company can charge and retain a minimum premium when a workers' compensation policy is cancelled. So, if you buy a workers' compensation policy and cancel it two months later, you will still owe the minimum premium, which can be much more than the cost of two months of coverage. In some states, the minimum premium can run from several hundred dollars to more than $1,000. So, read the fine print before you decide to cancel your workers' compensation policy, and be sure it will actually save you money.

What's a premium audit?

Your workers' compensation premium depends on the number of people you employ and what risk classifications those employees fall into, based on each person's scope of employment. To determine these numbers, your carrier will conduct an annual premium audit and set your company's workers' compensation insurance premium for the policy period accordingly. It is important to note that during the audit period, the carrier may adjust the premiums and findings from current period and make that adjustment retroactive to cover the employees and risk classifications that were incurred during your previous policy period.

What can I do to minimize my premium?

Audit mistakes can cause you to lose coverage or can unnecessarily inflate your company's workers' compensation insurance premium, so it's important to prepare. Designate a knowledgeable contact person for the auditor who is familiar with your employees' work. Be sure to provide accurate and detailed information, because without it, the auditor may assume the worst-case scenario for risk exposure and increase your premium. Review your payroll documents to make sure that they will allow the auditor to readily break out overtime pay and discount it back to straight time, as is allowed in most (but not all) states' workers' compensation rules. Your payroll records should also reflect the actual hours spent by each employee in each of the different workplace exposure categories. Otherwise, all of the employee's payroll will go into the most expensive classification applicable. If your company uses 1099 subcontractors, show the certificates of insurance documenting that they have their own workers' compensation insurance.

What if I have employees in multiple states? (OK, make that Top 11 Questions.)

It is very important to break down your payroll by state. If you do not provide the insurance company with accurate information about payroll you have in each state where work is done, the insurance company will very likely not pay claims that occur in unreported states, even if the total payroll on your report is accurate. Be sure the person handling the audit in your office is aware of and has access to accurate information on out-of-state payroll, and that the audit is fully completed.

HVAC Maintenance Tips

You’ve either moved into a new home or installed a new heating and cooling system. What’s next for you and your HVAC system? If you’re like many homeowners, not much… until there’s a problem. According to Aris Parviz of Virginia’s Able Air-1, Inc., regular maintenance of home HVAC systems is much more important than most people realize. Here Parviz talks about the importance of HVAC system maintenance and explains what must be done to keep your HVAC system in tip-top shape.

Today’s residential HVAC systems are about more than just heating and cooling. Today’s homeowners demand total comfort, and the HVAC industry has responded with more complex, more integrated systems designed to provide optimal indoor air quality, optimal heating and cooling, and improved energy efficiency. As one might expect, these more sophisticated all-inclusive systems are also more expensive than traditional HVAC systems. For this reason, properly maintaining your HVAC system is more important than ever before, both to protect your investment and to ensure that you’re getting what you paid for.

Professional Maintenance

 

Many people balk at the idea of hiring a contractor to maintain an HVAC system that seems to be performing fine. Why fix what isn’t broken? While it’s easy to detect an HVAC system failure, when will the average homeowner discover that his system is not operating as efficiently as it should? When the sky-high utility bills arrive?

When you’ve invested in a high-efficiency HVAC system, you deserve for your system to be delivering maximum efficiency. Likewise, when you’ve invested in an air filtration system, home humidifier or other add-on, you want to know without a doubt that it’s performing properly.

Most manufacturers recommend professional maintenance of any HVAC system at least once per year. Although specific maintenance requirements vary from system to system, yearly maintenance will always involve two very important components — inspection and cleaning.

Regular inspection of your HVAC system serves two functions. First, a thorough inspection will enable the technician to identify and diagnose any problems with efficiency or performance. Second, an inspection will ensure that the system is not posing a health or safety risk to you and your family. This is particularly important for gas-fueled heating systems, as carbon monoxide buildup can create a dangerous, possibly deadly, situation inside the home.

Cleaning certain components of your HVAC system yearly is also an essential part of ensuring its ongoing reliability and efficiency. The cleaner your HVAC system, the better it will perform. And the better your HVAC system performs today, the longer it likely will last.

Ongoing Maintenance

 

While yearly professional maintenance is important, your HVAC system needs a little attention from you every now and then as well. You should check and change your system’s air filter frequently. A dirty filter can lead to a myriad of problems, including a total system failure. Avoid costly repairs and disruptions by taking a few minutes each month to perform this simple task.

You can also do your part to improve your system’s efficiency by keeping the area around outdoor air conditioners or heat pumps free from plants and debris. Be sure that air is able to circulate freely in these areas.

Another important part of your role as a homeowner is understanding that your HVAC system does have a shelf life. If your system is over 15 years old, it is likely costing you more in energy inefficiency and repairs than it would cost to replace it. In addition to improved heating and cooling performance, a newer system would offer substantial cost savings over time, improved air quality, and a wide range of options to help make your home safer and more comfortable for you and your family.

 

How Can A Geriatric Care Manager Help Your Aging Loved One?

Home Care allows your aging parent or elderly relative to remain safely in their home. As Dorothy said; “there’s no place like home”.  A geriatric care manager will help with personal care such as bathing, dressing and getting around their home without falling.

 

The aide will also do the laundry, shopping, cooking and provide transportation to doctor appointments and other outings. This caregiver will also provide companionship to your mother or father.

  

Aging parents or their adult children may decide that staying at home is not the best decision. Although home care agencies and services can provide live in round the clock care, the stimulation of daily entertainment, communal meals and no longer managing the household can point caregivers and older adults to Assisted Living Facilities. There, they will have greater socialization, help with medications and be free of caring for a home.

 

Seniors tend to go to ALFs (assisted living facilities) when they either can no longer manage at home or no longer want to live independently on their own.

They may seek the security of having a staff available as well all of the social aspects of group living. It is a big move and often family caregivers will have the home care aide continue with their parents for a couple of weeks to ease their elderly parent’s transition into facility life.

 

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Does my Aging Parent need Long Term Care Insurance?

With private homecare costs increasing, (the national average is over $20.00 an hour) seniors, elderly caregivers, and adult children caring for aging parents want to know how to cover these costs. Long Term Care Insurance is an excellent way to shield oneself when they need private home care help.

Like any insurance, there a many types of policies and conditions. Use a trusted agent and ask many questions like:

• How long is the policy for?
• Is there an elimination period?
• What is the daily benefit?
• How do I meet the criteria to trigger the policy?
• Is there an inflation rider?
• Will it cover me in Assisted Living or Nursing Home?

If your mother or father is already too old or sickly to pay affordable premiums, if they even qualify then LTC insurance is not the answer. There are companies which offer a bank of hours for a fee which do not require all the criteria of LTC insurance. They are not insurance and have pros and cons too.

So, does your parent need Long Term Care Insurance?  It sure helps. It may be too late for them to purchase it but it isn’t too late for you! Make it part of your long term plan.

Feel free to contact one of our nursing specialists if you need more specific questions answered. We are here to help.

Tips to protect yourself or an aging loved one in the Hospital or Rehab facility

A stay in a hospital is almost by definition a stressful and anxiety provoking experience. You are there because you are ill or incapacitated in some way. There are countless staff people coming in and out of your room, 24 hours a day. Some introduce themselves, many do not. The amount of information being continuously gathered, updated and disseminated is immense. Much of it is now done on computer but many notes and scripts are handwritten and difficult to decipher. Any mistake can be painful, dangerous and costly to the patient, family and facility.

For an elderly patient who may have vision, hearing, or memory deficits, being in the hospital can increase their confusion and possibly orientation as well.

Oh, did I mention the germs found in hospitals?

Overall though, if your aging parent or loved one must be hospitalized for surgery or treatment there are some guidelines to help get through the experience and home safely.

1.    Have a family member or trusted person be your  advocate. This person should visit daily, making themselves known to the nurses and other staff at the nurse’s station. This person will be your eyes, ears and voice to your family and to the hospital personnel. They should have a working knowledge of your condition, treatment and discharge plan. Hopefully they can visit when the doctor is making rounds.

2.    Have a notebook and pen at your bedside. Record the names of your nurses each day – especially a.m. and p.m. shifts. List your medications and doses, and what each is for. Record any tests or procedures/treatments you have. Make sure to write down what your doctor says each day so you can track your progress. Otherwise have your advocate record the notes.

3.    Medication errors are common in hospitals. This is a fact today. When you record your medications, note the shape and color of each pill, what it is for, the dosage and when you are supposed to take it. This can include liquid medications and IV bags hanging by your bed. If you have any doubt or a question, ask the nurse before taking the medicine. Be clear on any allergies you have and make sure it is recorded in your nurse’s log and even written on your wall board.

4.    Know who your primary nurse is. Establish a warm relationship with him or her. Kindergarten rules apply, smile, be polite, gracious and respectful and you will likely be responded to in kind. This can result in more attention, and fewer mistakes.

5.    Doctor’s rounds — your chance to speak with your doctor, ask questions about your condition, treatment, expected prognosis and expected discharge date and plan.  This is your face-to-face time with your doctor, surgeon or specialist. Maximize this time by having your advocate there. Have your questions ready beforehand so you won’t forget them. Write them in your notebook and record the answers there too.

6.    Make yourself memorable in a positive way. Doctors and nurses are people too. They have individual interests, children, pets or favorite vacation spots. Tell them something about yourself and ask something about them to help foster more of a personal connection so you aren’t just the broken hip in room 318. Be the nice patient who is appreciative and has been to Italy 15 times.

7.    Preventing hospital-acquired infections -the most common is MRSA. Ask anyone coming into your room to wash their hands with soap and put on a new pair of gloves. Watch them do it. This includes the nurses and doctors. Have an anti-bacterial dispenser by your bed and ask everyone visiting your bedside to use it. If possible, arrange for a private room.

8.    Mark your body part to be operated on. As silly as this may sound, it has become acceptable practice. It is your body and you will suffer the repercussions of a mistake. Meet with the surgeon before surgery. Have your advocate or a family member or friend there. Review your name, birth date and what body part is being operated on. “Better safe than sorry” is a primary concern. If you can’t speak to the surgeon, review this information with the anesthesiologist or nurse involved in your surgery.

9.    Beware of weekends, holidays and the nighttime shift. Staff is decreased at this time. The regular staffs, who know you best, may not be there. These are the most common times for medical mistakes to occur.  Have family visit at these times and stay longer. If possible, hire a companion or private duty aide to stay with you. Boca Home Care Services routinely helps families so their loved ones are not alone during these vulnerable shifts.

10.    Ask questions until you are satisfied with the answer. The person you may help save is yourself! If something seems wrong, like a medication or an x-ray order, ask the nurse to “please” double check it. Hospital personnel are aware of the thousand of hospital errors which occur in the U.S. so you are being reasonable to make sure. How you ask makes the difference. Condescension and rudeness will not help your cause. Asking in a polite and friendly way should be met with acceptance. If not, ask to speak to someone else. This is your body, health and well being…. it is your right to ask and be responded to. If your requests are being unfulfilled, ask to speak to the hospital advocate, quality assurance person or the social worker.

These suggestions are being made with a reasonable assumption that the patient can self advocate. If they can, a friend or family member is still needed to assist with helping the patient and getting information streamlined. If the patient is unable to self advocate, then the need for someone to do so, on their behalf is critical.

When family is far away, either a friend can act as an advocate or you may need to hire one in the form of a Geriatric care manager or home health company.

How does workers compensation work?

Often the worker's compensation does not seem quite fair to the worker. There are injuries that happen through no fault of the employee and the company for which they company will try to keep from paying workers comp disability to the disabled worker. If an injured worker finds him/herself in a situation like this, it is important to hire a work injury lawyer. But, there are some important factors to consider before hiring a lawyer and the most important factor is cost.

What is Workers Compensation?

Workers compensation was essentially developed to provide a level of protection for workers who have been injured or hurt on the job. After filing the initial claim, the process to cover injury related expenses begins. Some of the expenses an injured worker may accrue are:

* Medical bills or the costs of needed medicines.
* A percentage of wages the person earned before becoming injured.
In some cases the cost of pain and suffering is factored into compensation



The workers compensation system helps both employers and injured workers. Thanks to this system, the worker can't sue the company for the injuries he/she has suffered. And once the injured employee reports the accident (in a timely manner) he/she can't be denied compensation.

As working members of society, we know that the bills won't stop once we are injured at work, so this system helps us in that manner.

Depending on the state, the employer may have to assign the injured employee a "light duty job" if there is a doctors recommendation that he/she return to work. If the compensation for the new position is not the same, the workers compensation may have to continue to supplement the loss in wages.

In most cases, the employer may not have a suitable light duty job that will give the injured worker the ability to come back to work and draw partial pay. So, in these cases the employee will remain at home until the recovery process is complete.

When Should You File for Worker's Compensation?

If you have visited a doctor for your work related injury and are told that you can't return to work, you need to file your workers comp claim. Any delays can affect the validity. This is why it is important to do it immediately.

If there were witnesses around during the accident, this may help make the claim more legitimate. Don't hesitate to make a note of this in your claim.

To speed up the process of worker's compensation, make sure you abide by all the rules and deadlines and you will be able to collect the benefits that you deserve.


The attorneys at Franks and Koenig have over 30 years of combined experience in the Work Injury & Workers' Compensation field. Our firm works strictly on a contingency basis, which means we don't get paid unless we obtain a recovery for you.