Monthly Archives: April 2015

Facebook Postings Hurt Workers’ Compensation Claims

Today’s post comes from guest author Thomas Domer, from The Domer Law Firm.

While Facebook is extremely popular and used by over a billion people every day, no Facebook posting has ever helped an injured worker in a workers’ compensation claim. On the contrary, use of a Facebook page poses real dangers for injured workers pursuing workers’ compensation benefits.

Since Facebook is a public site, anything posted can be used by respondent insurance companies in claims denial. Even the most benign postings (birthday parties, family gatherings, etc.) can pose problems. For example, a grandparent lifting a 30 pound grandchild when doctors have imposed a 10 pound lifting limit could damage a claim. Additionally, nothing prevents an Administrative Law Judge from looking at a Facebook page.  Even innocent posts may be subject to misinterpretation. A picture of the worker riding a motorcycle or fishing taken prior to the injury but posted afterward could place the seed of doubt in an ALJ’s mind that the worker is not as limited as he claims. The best advice is to be extremely careful about what is posted because “friends” are not the only one who can access your Facebook page.

Prior results do not guarantee outcomes.
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Deadliest Jobs in the U.S.

Today’s post comes from guest author Leonard Jernigan, from The Jernigan Law Firm.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, lumberjacks, fishermen and pilots have the highest risk of death while working. Data collected in 2013 showed that for every 100,000 loggers over 80 were killed on the job; for every 100,000 fishermen over 60 were killed on the job; for every 100,000 pilots and flight engineers over 40 were killed on the job.

The rest of the top ten most dangers jobs (in order from greatest to least number of deaths on the job) are:

  1. extraction workers,
  2. roofers,
  3. refuse and recyclable material collectors,
  4. mining machine operators,
  5. driver/sales workers and truck drivers,
  6. farmers/ranchers, and
  7. electrical power-line installers and repairers.

Transportation accidents, falling, being struck by an object or equipment, and homicides are the most likely cause of fatalities. In the homicide category, cab drivers have the greatest risk, primarily because they are not properly trained to handle assaults.

Original post in the 1/28/215 Washington Post by Max Ehrenfreund

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