How is Important Compensation in Your Business

An employee is injured at their workplace every seven seconds. This is the sobering statistic from the National Safety Council (NSC). Many of these are in the form of slips, trips, and falls that were preventable if the proper safety precautions were taken by the business. Unfortunately, these are not addressed in some organizations.

Workers’ Compensation

If you are harmed due to a workplace injury or, unfortunately, a family member is killed, you are entitled to workers’ compensation insurance. Companies across the United States, including Oregon, are mandated to own a policy by law. What that coverage is and its payouts depends on the number of employees the business has. Medical expenses in the form of doctor and hospital bills are covered under these policies. In addition, your company’s may also handle disability payments while you recover as well as rehabilitation and, in the worst case, death benefits.

Assistance to get the required compensation

Unfortunately, there are some situations where the company is reluctant to pay out worker’s compensation. They can claim the injury is self-inflicted or it took place in a location that was not a remote worksite. In another situation, they may pay only a small percentage of your bills and disability. When these problems occur, you need to reach out to a worker’s compensation lawyer for assistance. Firms across the state, like the law offices of Peter O. Hansen, offer services to assist you in these claims. Their goal is to provide you with 100% of the compensation you are entitled to from your injury.

How they work for you

These firms gather all of your information, including medical bills, x-rays, and reports to state and local authorities like the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). This is presented to your management and their lawyers for an out of court solution. Should your employee be unwilling to pay any more, then the workers’ compensation lawyer will ensure you receive the best possible outcome during a trial. In the end, they want businesses to uphold the state laws and keep their integrity by supporting an injured employee. workers compensation attorney salem oregon

A Few Reasons to Have a Trust Fund Set Up for Your Loved Ones

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No one lives forever, but at the same time, no one wants to think about their death. However, it is the right thing to do. In fact, it is the responsible thing to do. Estate planning is something everyone should engage in, and perhaps the most important part of estate planning is to create a living trust. The following are a few reasons to consider a living trust rather than a will.

It avoids the expense of probate

When you die, even with a detailed will, your estate will need to go through probate court. It is here that a judge will look at your finances at the time of your death to determine what liabilities you still had and make sure creditors and others who have a claim on your assets get their money. After this, the assets will be dispersed to the beneficiaries in your will. The problem with this is that it costs money to go through this process. At the very least, the executor of your will needs to hire an attorney, at least for the purpose of consultation, but the process of probate can hit snags with people making claims on your assets. This means even more legal expenses.

It means your heirs get your assets faster

Probate court is not only expensive, but it takes time. Often your assets are needed by your loved ones today. They cannot wait. By having a living trust, they will have their inheritance quickly. A revocable trust is a living trust that allows a trustee to pay any claims against your estate. This is done in a short time frame, and your heirs won’t have to wait until everything is paid off. The trustee knows which liabilities need to be paid and takes care of it. This bypasses the need for a judge.

If you’re interested in creating a living trust for your loved ones, you need to consult with an estate planning attorney. An attorney at law beaverton or can give you information that applies to your specific finances.

5 Things You Need to Consider Before Filing for Divorce

Filing for divorce is a major decision, not one that you should enter into lightly. The better prepared you are beforehand, the smoother the entire process will be. Those who have the most difficult divorces are those who are least prepared for them. Entering into things having done your due diligence, and knowing what to expect, will make things much easier.

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Make Sure It’s the Right Decision

It might seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many people enter into divorce proceedings without giving the matter proper thought. This isn’t something you should do in a fit of anger, no matter how severe. This should be a well-reasoned decision that you reach after much careful consideration.

Once divorce papers have been served, even if you can legally halt the process, it will have a lasting impact on your relationship going forward. If you have any hopes for reconciliation, you should exhaust this possibility before filing.

Interview Potential Attorneys

In order to make sure that you come out of divorce proceedings as well as possible, and in order to ensure that things progress as smoothly as possible, you should hire an attorney who specializes in divorce litigation. You can find numerous individual attorneys and law firms such as Cordell Cordell, by searching online.

Once you have identified a potential law firm to hire, you should conduct an interview. This is your opportunity to vet the attorneys before you commit any money to retaining their services. Ask them about their specialist areas of knowledge, their prior experience, and of course what their fee structure is.

Gather Financial Documents

Even if your divorce proceeds amicably, you will need to disclose a lot of financial information. Your attorney, and your spouses, will want to have an accurate picture of your current financial status. This, among a number of other factors, will determine how your assets are divided between you and your spouse.

The sooner you can gather together all the relevant documentation, the sooner the necessary accounting will be done. As things progress, you may need to dig out even more information and documentation. The more of it you can find early on in the process, the less you will have to run around later.

Consider Your Custody Goals

You should be aware that, barring exceptional circumstances, you will have to share custody of your children with your spouse. It is therefore better for everyone if you are able to work out custody arrangements between yourselves. Talk to your spouse about what each of you wants in this regard as there might be a way to accommodate both of your wishes if you are willing to look for it.

Tie Up Any Purchases or Sales

Once you begin divorce proceedings, the judge will usually forbid you or your spouse from acquiring or offloading any significant assets. This is to prevent either party from attempting to conceal or deny assets from the other. If you have any legitimate transactions which have not yet concluded, it would be a good idea to wrap them up before filing for divorce.

Filing for divorce can be a very stressful time, but if you prepare adequately beforehand, things stand a much better chance of progressing smoothly.

Why Maritime Workers Should Get Familiar with Jones Act Lawsuit Process

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The maritime industry is the industry with high injury rates that features a highly dangerous work environment. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that maritime workers often get injured in their workplace.

Obtaining an appropriate compensation is very important for injured maritime workers. It helps them reimburse for their pain and injuries, which usually implies costly rehabilitation and a number of medical bills. This is why they should understand Jones Act claim process.

What is the Jones Act?

The Jones Act is meant to protect maritime workers who are injured in the workplace, allowing them to sue their employers for injury damages. This law was originally created by the United States Congress in 1917. It was known as the Jones–Shafroth Act or Jones Act of Puerto Rico.

In fact, this act has largely been shaped based on the FELA statute with a goal to entitle crew members and seamen to bring claims against unseaworthiness of their bosses. This way it lets people working aboard a ship or boat seek the fair compensation for any work-related injury caused by their employers’ negligence.

What is the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act?

The Longshore Act (also referred to as the “LHWCA”) is a federal act that determines compensation for injured maritime workers. In many circumstances, this federal law extends to job-related damages suffered ashore. It also covers other employees who are not seamen but work near or on the water, such as harbor workers, longshoremen, and the majority of employees working in shipyards, shipping terminals, or on docks.

Who is Not Covered by the Jones Act and the Longshore Act?

Those working in shipping, offshore drilling, or longshore related occupations make a minority of people using the water. Other water users are covered neither by the Jones Act nor the Longshore Act. These people include:

  • Fishers

  • Recreational sailors

  • River workers

  • Members of a scientific expedition

  • Crew members and passengers on cruise ships

  • First responders

Why are the Maritime Workers Different from Other Workers?

When an injury occurs, ship workers have the legal right to bring a personal injury claim against the employer and seek a compensation. Note that this is not the same type of recompense that applies to other land-based workers when getting injured on the job. Other workers (except railroad workers who are protected under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act) can only get compensation from their employer.

By contrast, the injured seamen are entitled to different types of damages and/or compensation under federal law. They can sue their employer under one of the following three laws:

  1. Jones Act – in case of employer’s negligence

  2. Federal maritime doctrine – for employer’s unseaworthiness

  3. Maintenance and cure – no matter who was at fault for the injury

If you’re injured as a harbor worker, sailor, offshore worker, or longshoreman, keep in mind that you have a legal right to seek a full compensation. That reimbursement should at least cover expenses for your medical care and treatment, as well as two-thirds of your wage on a weekly basis while you’re unable to work.

As you already know, bringing a lawsuit against the employer takes a lot of time and money. This where Jones Act lawsuit loans come in. An easy and fast Jones Act lawsuit loan can help plaintiffs, actually injured maritime workers, pursue their case until they obtain a compensation they deserve.

 

How To Trick Yourself Into Staying Fit

When you’re busy and working all the time, taking time to work out and eat right may seem nearly impossible. But, there are a few ways in which you can make sure that you’ll want to work out. Sometimes the normal motivational speeches don’t work on everyone, especially if you’re a lawyer and have heard it all before. So trick yourself into staying fit with these tricks so that you’ll never have to be disappointed in yourself again.

Working all day usually means eating bad food and never getting enough exercise, especially if you have a desk job with long hours. Though there are a couple tricks a lot of people know about, like sitting on an exercise ball at work, this article will give you some real tips that will help you look your best that actually work.

Laying off your car when it comes to work is one of the best ways to get fit without spending any money and actually saving money as well as just by adding it in your everyday routine. By adding walking or biking into your everyday routine not only will you save on gas money but you’ll feel great and start to look great. You don’t have to bike or walk everyday but doing so on the brightest days is really a wonderful way to get your exercise in.

Another way to look great and save big while you’re busy is to buy exercise clothes. This may sound strange but if you have specific clothing to wear that you like the look of when you work out, you’re more likely to get the exercise you need and go to the gym so you can show off your outfit that you spent money on and get fit! If you’re looking for great workout clothes, try shopping at Athleta.