May 30, 2017

Should I Settle My Workers’ Compensation Case?

Filing for Workers’ Compensation after an on-the-job injury or workplace-related illness can be complex and stressful. Not only must you adjust to the medical condition, but you may have to manage conflicting interests with your employer. Put simply, your employer and their insurance carrier may define a “satisfactory conclusion” differently from what you consider satisfactory. Therefore, any time you receive the suggestion to settle, you need to ask yourself the following question: Which is more beneficial for me: settling my Workers’ Compensation case or having the matter decided by the Workers’ Compensation Commission?
May 19, 2017

What is a VA Disability Compensation Notice of Disagreement?

In our initial series on VA Disability Claims, we touched on filing appeals in the case of a decision that you feel was incorrect. Today, we’d like to go a little more in-depth into what happens when you file a VA Notice of Disagreement.
May 11, 2017

Spot the Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

By the year 2050, it is estimated that 20 percent of all Americans will be at least 65 years of age, with the most growth occurring among Americans aged 85 and older. According to the 2010 census, about 5.8 million Americans were over the age of 85, and this number is expected to reach 19 million people by 2050. With the growing number of elderly patients and staff shortages in the medical field, there is an increasing cause of concern related to the quality of care for elderly patients and residents. Nursing home abuse is what can, unfortunately, happen to any residents under the care of a licensed care facility. There are different types of abuse. The most common types of abuse are physical, sexual, emotional, or financial. This abuse often happens in plain sight, and can often be overlooked. It can be caused by a staff member at the […]
May 3, 2017

Occupational Exposure to Harmful Chemicals: Are You at Risk?

The simple truth is that most of us spend half or even most of our waking hours in the workplace. No matter what your occupation, potential exposure to harmful chemicals could leave you sickened, unable to work, and fighting to gain access to the Workers’ Compensation you are due. Today, we’ll take a look through occupational exposure to harmful chemicals and what steps to take to protect yourself in the event of illness or injury.
April 28, 2017

Stationed at Camp Lejeune? You’ll Want to Read This.

We’ve written before about Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and the effects of the contaminated water on servicemen and their families. We have a quick update to share with you today regarding Camp Lejeune — the VA has officially established presumptions for the service connection of eight diseases associated with exposure to the contaminants in the water supply.
April 28, 2017

BNTD’s Nichols, Bluestein and Sullivan selected for 2017 Super Lawyers List

We have some news to share from the office here at BNTD Law — partners John Nichols, Marti Bluestein, and Allison Sullivan have all been recently recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine! More information continues below.
April 18, 2017

Workers Compensation and Medicare: What if You Settle Your Case?

Last week, we took a look at how Workers Compensation claims can affect other government benefits, such as Social Security Disability (or SSDI), Medicare, and more. One thing we just touched on in that post was how your access to and benefits from Medicare can be affected. Today, we’ll go a little more in-depth and answer the question, “What happens to my Medicare if I settle my Workers Compensation claim?”
April 6, 2017

Does Workers Compensation Affect Medicare or Other Benefits?

Workers Compensation can be granted for any number of workplace-related injuries or illnesses caused by the workplace environment, including slips and falls, mental injuries, and more. Previously, we’ve answered Workers Compensation question like: How Much is My Workers Compensation Case Worth? My Employer Denied My Workers Compensation Claim. Can I Take Them to Court? What is the Role of Supervisors in Workers Compensation? Many workers who receive Workers Compensation may do so while receiving other benefits like SSDI or Medicare, and this grows more common as the average age of the American employee rises. Does Workers Compensation affect Medicare or other government benefits? Let’s take a look.
March 30, 2017

Are There Driverless Car Laws in South Carolina?

Driverless cars have been making national headlines since the original autonomous Tesla was first introduced.  Unfortunately, not all of these headlines have been positive. While Pittsburgh and other Pennsylvania cities continue to grapple with the safety and regulations of driverless Uber cars, other areas of the country have seen these autonomous vehicles involved in fatal crashes when the computer failed to recognize the difference between a clear blue sky and the side of a tractor trailer on a busy highway. Surveys have consistently shown that high numbers of current drivers are nervous or concerned about the potential for serious car wrecks involving driverless cars, with one national survey showing 3 out of 4 survey respondents stating they would be afraid to ride in a driverless car. With autonomous vehicles like the Tesla S are on the rise, you may be looking at headlines like this (in which autonomous cars ‘self-crashed’ during tests) and wondering… […]