Workers' Comp Questions? Get Answers Before Problems Start

Do you or someone you know have questions about a workplace injury?  Do you know someone unsure about how workers' comp works, or what their options might be through the process?  We can help.

Our office can give the information injured workers need to make an informed decisions for their health and future employment.

• What happens when the insurance company won't approve treatment? Pay bills?
• Can you choose your own doctor?
• Can you be fired for filing a Workers' Comp claim?
• When do I get mileage?
• How much should I be paid for my time off work?
• What happens when I'm not being paid?
• Will hiring an attorney hurt your claim?
• Will attorney fees make my settlement smaller than I'd see on my own?

Our toll free HOTLINE is available for free consultation without obligation to hire an attorney.
Ask your question online 24 hours a day.
Our clients never pay a dime out of pocket for our services.
We solve problems before they start and negotiate settlements for top dollar.

Call the HOTLINE - 888.931.COMP (2667)

Associates Rob Lunsford and Brad Baskin in the News

The Clarion Ledger recently highlighted two associates at Pollan Dobbs.  Rob Lunsford works at the downtown New Orleans office.  Rob handles both Louisiana and Mississippi claims for injured workers.  Brad Baskin works in the downtown Jackson, MS office.  Brad represents injured workers in Mississippi with a unique background:  He's been a workers' comp defense attorney and he now represents workers who've been hurt on the job.

When Employers Fail to Secure Workers' Comp Coverage

In Mississippi, most companies who employ five or more workers are required by law to purchase workers' compensation insurance.  While most businesses are compliant, a growing number of companies are failing to meet this basic and important requirement.  It should be noted that failure to maintain workers' compensation insurance when required is a criminal offense in Mississippi. When a worker is injured on the job and their employer has failed to secure comp insurance a complicated and often times disastrous set of events begins.  The negative effects to companies are only trumped by the serious harm suffered by the injured worker.  Resolution of this specific subset of workers' comp claims requires the assistance of an attorney skilled in handling workers' compensation matters as well as other related aspects of the law.  Many lawyers that regularly assist injured workers or handle personal injury matters shy away from these type of cases.  The lawyers at Pollan Dobbs have handled numerous cases of this sort and have found creative solutions that benefit the injured worker first and also serve the interest of the employer to a limited extent.  Cases where workers have been hurt on the job and no insurance is present are complicated and rife with potential pitfalls not normally present in a run of the mill workers' comp claim. From determining whether to pursue the claim inside or outside of the administrative process to negotiating with companies who threaten to file bankruptcy, it is essential that injured workers make the right choice when selecting their advocate.  Our firm has helped many injured workers as well as attorneys who have referred us these type of cases and each time we have worked to secure a favorable result for all involved.

--Carter Dobbs, III

Employers without Workers' Comp Coverage can Face Serious Penalties.

Employers can pay a high price for ignoring workers' compensation rules.

Workers' Compensation coverage, or some similar policy for injured workers, is required for nearly every job in the United States.  Some employers try to avoid their legal obligations by avoiding their Workers' Compensation coverage completely. Many employers don't realize this opens their business to large unnecessary liability, fines and even jail.

Chicago, IL (WorkersCompensation.com) - Another uninsured employer has pled guilty to a Class 4 felony for refusing to obtain workers' compensation insurance. John Linek, individually and as President of SMS Logistics of Chicago, has been ordered to pay a $10,000 penalty for refusing to obtain workers compensation insurance. The IWCC's Insurance Compliance Unit had been requesting compliance with the Act from this trucking firm since 2010.

Questions Answered Day or Night!

Pollan Dobbs, PLLC is one of the few places where Workers can get help on a toll-free hotline when they have questions about their workplace injury or Workers' Compensation claim.  Unfortunately, not everyone has time to make a call during normal business hours.  With our online system, this isn't a problem!

You can click here day or night and get professional help for your Workers' Comp questions.  Why face your claim alone when help is a click or call away? 

Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission E-filing?

Many Mississippi attorneys and claimants have been asking when and if MWCC will look to fully implement an e-filing system.  While e-filling in federal courts has become common practice, other Mississippi state courts are still playing catch up as the move to e-filling catches fire.  E-filing is being phased into many Chancery Courts throughout the state.  As for MWCC, while a partial e-filling system has been in place for some documents in Mississippi comp cases, a full fledged e-filling system seems to still be in the future.  There has been tremendous interest by both practitioners as well as court personnel towards advancing the idea and implementation of a complete e-filling system for all comp cases.  As is often the case, the hard working officials at MWCC as well as attorneys who focus their practices on handling comp cases will continue to push towards an e-filling system in an effort to streamline comp cases in the magnolia state.

Major Changes in the Workers' Compensation Laws of Mississippi

The Chairman of the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission has released a video discussing the radical changes in the laws of the state.  These new rules will affect nearly every worker, particularly workers who might be wrongfully denied a workers' comp claim.

  

Pollan Dobbs, PLLC can walk your case through every aspect of the new rules and work to make sure you're not shut out of the system.  Give us a call on the hotline for the assistance you need.  888.931.COMP (2667)

Misti Bryant and The Sweet Swine O'Mine BBQ Team

Our associate attorney Misti Bryant is more than a legal shark, she's part of the Sweet Swine O'Mine BBQ Team!  Check out their Facebook Page and give them a "Like".  The all-female grilling team fights cancer by smoking and kicking butts at Hogs for the Cause!  Everyone should check out Hogs for the Cause and see a great organization.

Now, if only we could get some of the 'practice' BBQ up here for lunch...

New 2013 Weekly Maximum Disability Benefit, Lifetime Maximum Disability Benefit and Mileage Reimbursement Set for MS

The Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission has posted the 2013 Maximum Benefits and Mileage rates for 2013.  For all injuries that occur in 2013, the maximum weekly disability benefit will be $449.12.  The maximum lifetime disability benefit will be $202,104.00.  The new rates reflect a slight increase from 2012 in which the maximum benefits were $436.68 weekly/$196,506 lifetime.  These rates are maximums (not minimums) and depending on a worker's average weekly wage, the benefits could be different.  Calculation of an injured workers average weekly wage is important and many times added benefits such as travel reimbursements, meal plans and other perks are not included when the insurance company initially calculates the average weekly wage.  Other confusing factors such as length of employment can also come into play.  An incorrect calculation could result in a significant decrease in benefits paid.  We can make sure that you receive all the benefits that you are entitled to and that your wage is calculated correctly.

The mileage reimbursement for 2013 has also been set at 56.5 cents per mile.  This is a small increase above the 2012 rate.  The mileage rates apply to all travel to and from related medical appointments with some exceptions.  We work to make sure all injured workers receive the correct amount for mileage reimbursements and that the mileage is paid as quickly as possible.

Call us at 888.931.COMP (2667) and get a proper analysis of all your claim's lawful benefits.  

Pollan Dobbs, PLLC is Growing Again!

We're happy to announce that Britney Davis has joined the Pollan Dobbs legal team.  Britney was born in Jackson, MS and grew up in Clinton, MS where she enjoys the outdoors and college football. We are very fortunate to have her as a new addition to the team.  Ms. Davis brings fresh new talents to our clients and will be working with Jared Martin to serve our clients in both Mississippi and Tennessee.

If you or anyone you know has question about a workers compensation claim, one of our experts can help you.  Call our HOTLINE at  888.931.COMP (2667) or visit us online at pollandobbs.com 

DRASTIC NEW Change to MS Workers Comp Laws!

Starting July 1st, 2012 Mississippi workers face the brunt of harsh new Workers' Compensation laws.  The Mississippi Legislature has created a host of new laws that make many aspects of workers comp more difficult for workers.  More importantly, the legislature has simplified the process for employers and insurance companies to deny and even cheat workers out of their lawful benefits.

Now more than ever workers' need help from the very start of their workplace injury.  There are new rules for drug testing, new restrictions on your choice of doctor, new methods for denying benefits, and even new rules that can deny you access to plead your case in court if things go bad.  We may be facing the worst new set of Workers' Comp laws since the 1940s but you don't have to face them alone.  Pollan Dobbs, PLLC can help you navigate the new rules.  

Our firm can offer workers legal assistance and protection from the very start of your claim all the way through your final settlement.  Call now and get the scoop on how the new rules affect your claim or see how you can get full legal protection now without paying a cent in out of pocket legal fees.

Call the Workers Comp HOTLINE 888.931.COMP (2667)
We help injured workers in Mississippi, Tennessee, & Louisiana
www.PollanDobbs.com

Get Your Prescription Drugs Hand Delivered!

When you hire Pollan Dobbs, PLLC to handle your claim, you can choose to enjoy to-your-door delivery of all your pharmacy needs.  You don't have to use a pharmacy card, you don't have to call ahead to get approval, and you don't have to deal with one single bill.

Our offices can arrange for overnight delivery of any of your prescription.  You never have to worry about coverage being cut midway through treatment.   Call today to about enrollment.




For more information, Call the Workers' Comp HOTLINE:   888.931.COMP (2667)

New Worker's Comp Rates & Mileage Rates for 2012

Having trouble making ends meet after a workplace injury?

Louisiana and Mississippi have increased their Workers' Comp disability rates for the new year!

Will this affect you?  We can tell you which changes apply to you and which do not!

Call our WORKERS' COMP HOTLINE for a free evaluation of your situation and see if the new rates can help you.  Dial 888.931.COMP (2667).

Can't call?
After hours?
No problem!

Use our online help desk and one of our team members can give you a free consultation.

"Tightening Up a Few Loopholes"

Every year workers's comp laws change.  Many of the new rules are applied at the start of the year but some new laws take affect un July 1st.  Pollan Dobbs, PLLC is active in monitoring new laws and rules as they come through the Legislature and Courts.  We find the new problems and advantages that workers face each year so they don't have to.  Workers' Comp is designed to protect injured workers that ask for help.  Unfortunately, the system can be unforgiving to workers that rely on employers and insurance companies to help them through the process.  Everyday they count on this arrangement to limit the care they pay for when they can't limit what the law requires.  You can have a smoother experience if you get the facts--and professional help--right from the start.

Call the Workers' Comp HOTLINE: 888.931.COMP (2667)

Finding a Job After a Workers' Comp Injury

When you're hurt on the job, the most important thing is getting back on your feet.  Fighting through bills and trying to get well is only part of what a worker goes through.  Getting back to work can be just as hard.  Some people can't go back to their old line of work.  Others worry about if they will be fired when they come back to their old job. The Workers' Comp Group can help you get through this tough time.  Did you know:

• There is a right way & a wrong way to do job searches for people on Workers Comp?
• Doing right job searches can increase your settlement amount.
• Whether you quit your job or are fired can change how much your settlement is worth.
• Negotiations over work can be part of your final settlement. 

These things can make a big difference in how your case, your settlement, and your job situation ends up.  You owe it to yourself to get some free advice on how to handle your claim.  Don't let money go down the drain.  


Call the Workers' Comp HOTLINE: 888.931.COMP (2667) 


and see if we can help you.

My Employer Wants Me to Use My Health Insurance for a Workplace Injury. What do I do?

Filing a Workers' Comp Claim on your private insurance can keep you from getting proper healthcare and destroy your protection under the law.  You can undo the trouble, but you need the facts to know how.  Pollan Dobbs, PLLC can show you the way.

Everyday injured workers are told to use their health insurance to cover the care for their workplace injury.  Every time this happens, they're being exploited by their employer.  This problem has become a small epidemic in many states.  Workers' Comp and standard Health Insurance policies may seem the same, but they aren't.  Employers who urge workers to use their own personal health insurance are committing a form of insurance fraud.

This includes:

• Refusing to do an injury report.
• Refusal to submit a truthful report to the Workers' Comp insurance company.  
• Refusal to give the name or adjuster for the Workers' Comp insurance company.
• Forcing injured workers to use their own private health insurance.

The rules for starting a workers' comp claim are fairly simple, but the situation can get quite complicated when Employers act as if the rules don't apply to them.  This sort of behavior is an attempt to hide your injury so that they can avoid responsibility--pure and simple.  Any attempt to do the things listed above is an attempt to hide benefits from you and make whatever steps you take with your legitimate claim just a bit more difficult.

You should have dignity and respect from your workplace and when you're workers' comp claim is legitimate, we make sure you get it.

If anyone has tried to use any of these insurance tricks with you, call us.  We have the tools to get your claim handled properly with no red tape for you.  We work to protect you and your job as our highest priority.


Call us on the Workers' Comp Hotline at 888.931.COMP (2667)

Are There Penalties for Denying Legitimate Workers’ Comp Claims?

• What happens when your employer denies your workers' comp claim?  
• What happens when workers' comp insurance refuses pay on a claim?
• What happens when my employer refuses to file my workers' comp claim?

Each state has a different set of rules for protecting workers from just these situations.  Some rules pay the worker extra money as a penalty for this illegal behavior.  In some instances, workers' can be allowed to sue their insurance company directly when they willfully deny a legitimate claim.

If you've been hurt on the job but you're not being paid for your time off work, your mileage, or you medical bills, you may be entitled to extra benefits.  You do not have to suffer with insurance companies that refuse to do their job when you try to heal and get back to yours.  Call our office.  We can discuss your claim and work to get you back  on track.

Call The Workers' Comp HOTLINE: 888.931.COMP (2667)

What Does My Impairment Rating Mean?

When you get an impairment rating, things can start moving fast with your claim--even when you don't realize it!  Most injured workers will be given an Impairment Rating over the course of their treatment.  This can be the most important event in a Workers’ Comp claim.  Depending on the facts of your case, an impairment rating can:

• Stop payment of your workers’s comp checks.
• End medical treatment permanently.
• Start a process that can end your ability to get a settlement.
• Give you an opportunity for a lifetime of free medical care related to your injury.

When you are given an impairment rating, you have a lot of options available to you.  However, these options aren’t available forever and many will not be given to you if you don’t know what to ask for.  Don’t let your options slip away permanently.


 At Pollan Dobbs, PLLC we can help walk you through the process.  


Call the Workers’ Comp HOTLINE at: 888.931.COMP (2667)

What Should I do When I'm Hurt on the Job?

So you've been hurt on the job.  What do you do?  Here are some easy steps to follow:

1. Tell your employer immediately.  
2. Ask your supervisor to complete an accident report.
3. Seek medical care.  Going sooner rather than later can keep small problems from getting bigger!
4. Avoid "the company doctor".  SPECIAL NOTE:  Some employers are known to have a 'company doctor'.  These doctors get their nickname because they tend to work for the company's benefit--not yours.  Avoid these doctors.  Your employer cannot lawfully force you to attend their choice of doctor.  If they try, call us immediately.
5. Use your normal Family Doctor unless you need emergency room care.
6. Always inform your doctor that you have a workplace injury.
7. Never leave the doctor without your work-status in writing.  This is a doctor's note taking you off work and/or a list of your restrictions.  
8. Contact your employer as soon as possible with your work status report.  SPECIAL NOTE:  This is YOUR responsibility under the law! You must inform your employer if the doctor has taken you off work duty or allow them to accommodate your light duty requirements.
9. Avoid working beyond your doctor's restrictions at home or on the job.
10. Watch for your first "comp check" or "temporary total disability" (TTD).  It should arrive after your first 14 days off work.  If it hasn't, something is going wrong.

LAST:  Call Us! 

These are just the basics and each case is different.  Whether you feel you're being treated well or you're concerned about your claim, we can offer you some reassurance that your claim will be handled properly.  Consultations are free and there are never any out-of-pocket fees when you need representation.

Call today at 888.931.COMP (2667) ! 

Is Your Workers' Comp Check LATE? Not Getting it at All?

You've always been asked to play by the rules and you're due the same respect.

The law requires injured workers to be paid when they can't work because of an on-the-job injury.  This isn't sick leave, it's not personal time, and this isn't vacation pay--it's comp pay.  Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

If you've been taken off work due to your injury but haven't received a "comp check", then contact us immediately.  Your insurance company may be in violation of state law and subject to serious penalties.

You don't have to be bullied and you don't have to wait for other people to finally follow the rules.  Pollan Dobbs, PLLC can help get your benefits to you on time.  Give us a call today and get peace of mind:

888.931.COMP (2667)