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DID FAST FOOD WORKER SUFFER A SAUCEY PSYCHE INJURY? INJURED WORKERS IN THE NEWS #70

Posted on November 23, 2022 by Edward Singer

A Wendy’s Fast Food Worker reportedly had a bad drive thru incident. A customer pulled a gun. Apparently, there was a missing sauce packet! It was reported that the man “was driving around the parking lot brandishing a gun and refusing to leave.” foxnews.com

There is no report of any physical injury. Thus, we will discuss whether this fact pattern can give rise to a workers’ compensation claim.

Can This Fact Pattern Give Rise to A Work Injury?

In California, there is no need to have a physical altercation in order to have a work injury claim. In this instance, there was an actual incident. We have a customer acting in a hostile fashion. He was reportedly brandishing a weapon and acting in a menacing fashion. If the Worker experienced a physical reaction to this event, it would be considered as a work-related event. In this matter, if the Worker had accidently not provided the customer the sauce packet, it would not be relevant. Workers’ compensation is a “no fault” system. This event would not be considered as a “good faith personnel action.” It was merely an exchange between an employee and a customer.

What Type of injury Can Be Claimed?

In California, it is possible to have both physical and psychological injuries arise from such an incident. Injuries, however, must be documented by medical specialists. In this instance, there could be a physical injury, i.e. an aggravation of a blood pressure condition. Likewise, a psychiatric disorder could be found as well, i.e. a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. It should be emphasized that the incident alone does not make a claim. There must also be an injury.

What if I Need Advice?

If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for 27 years. Contact us today for more information.

A SHOCKING ELECTION RELATED WORK INJURY: INJURED WORKERS IN THE NEWS # 69

Posted on November 18, 2022 by Edward Singer

A sad story comes out of Houston, Texas. During election season, a Parks and Recreation Department Worker suffered a work-related injury- electrocution- and died. Foxnews.com

News reports offer sparse information. Thus, we will create a hypothetical and assume that the electronic voting system was the source of the electrocution. The death, in an of itself, would likely trigger an OSHA investigation to determine the cause of the death.

Assuming the hypothetical fact pattern that the Parks Worker was working on election issues and that the voting machine caused their death, we will discuss the issues that would arise.

What Type of Claims Can Be Brought in This Circumstance?

Under California Law, since the employee passed away, his or her dependents would be eligible to claim dependency death benefits. Likewise, they would be eligible to received up to $10,000.00 relating to burial expenses. The dependency analysis involves marital status, the age and health of children, and the amount of support that the deceased provided to any claimed dependent. Also, for spouses earning less than a certain amount and for minor children, there are presumptions that may be employed to claim dependency may be employed.

For the Purposes of Workers’ Compensation, Who Was The Deceased Worker’s Employer?

Elections can involve multiple government agencies. Employees from one government agency could be placed on loan to others. Thus, a question can be raised as to “who was this person’s employer at the time of death? ”

Why Is The Employer Determination Important?

In this matter, the determination of the employer is important. First, this knowledge will inform the dependents to place in a claim, Likewise, the determination may establish the possibility of a third party case. Hypothetically, if the electrocution occurred as a result of defective election equipment, it is possible that the owners of the equipment and the manufacturers of the equipment may have some liability. Also, if the employee was considered to work for the City of Houston, they could potentially sue the County which was responsible for the running the election and for the election machines.

What if I Need Advice?

A MTA WORKER IS BOTH A HERO….AND AN INJURED WORKER: INJURED WORKER IN THE NEWS, #55

Posted on August 18, 2022 by Edward Singer

Mr. Anthony Wilson, an MTA Worker, is both a hero and an Injured Worker. It was reported that “[l]ast week, Nelson was cleaning the Pelham Bay subway station in the Bronx when police allege 49-year-old Alexander Wright began to harass customers. Nelson stepped in to protect them, but the suspect quickly turned his rage toward Nelson, breaking his collarbone and nose.” KESQ.COM

This fact pattern may involve many unique issues. This article will discuss two important issues that come up with these type of events; the injury investigation and the Injured Worker’s high profile work injury celebrity status.

Why Would High Profile Claim Like This Be Investigated?

In California, any assault claim has the possibility of an insurance company defense of initial physical aggressor. The initial physical aggressor rule could bar an Injured Worker’s claim. Therefore, it is worthy of inquiry by the insurance company. In other words, there will be an investigation as to whether the Injured Worker made the first physical contact.

Labor Code Section 5402, allows insurance companies 90 days to investigate claims. “If liability is not rejected within 90 days after the date the claim form is filed under Section 5401, the injury shall be presumed compensable under this division.” Thus, the Insurance Company will got out and get witness statements and see if the incident was caught on tape before accepting the claim.

Why Is The Injured Worker’s Celebrity Status A Problem?

An Injured Worker who becomes a celebrity as a result of their injury creates a problem.

When an Injured Worker is in a high profile worker’ compensation case, they may be on television or interviewed for news articles. These television reports or interviews may reveal information concerning the Injured Worker’s injuries and their physical activity level. Additionally, in interviews, Injured Workers may try to make a positive and uplifting impression rather than be accurate concerning their complaints. This information can be used to impeach the Injured Worker. Also, it could be sent to examining or evaluating physicians.

What if I Need Advice?

WAS A MCDONALD’S WORKER BEING SHOT IN THE FACE A WORK INJURY? INJURED WORKERS IN THE NEWS, #50

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Edward Singer

In Brooklyn, a McDonald’s Worker was shot in the face. After the incident, the worker was reportedly in critical care as a result of the incident.

The facts of the case are that there was this Worker was in a dispute with a customer inside the restaurant. After the incident, the Worker, for reasons not clear, went outside of the store. There, the dispute continued. It is reported that the customer’s son shot the McDonald’s Worker in the face. Nypost.com

UPDATE: Since this post, there is additional information from a Nypost.com article. It appears that there was an initial dispute concerning cold fries. The customer’s son and the McDonald’s Worker exchanged words in the store and there was a conversation apparently about taking the matter outside. It is reported that the Worker may have gone outside to search for the customer’s son and an incident occurred.

This case will be discussed along the lines of California Law with respect to the issues.

Was This an Industrial Injury for the Purposes of Workers’ Compensation?

While a case may look like it is work-related, in order to get workers’ compensation benefits, an injury must arise out of and be in the course and scope of employment. This requires some analysis.

In this particular case, there are questions that need to be answered. Two matters of important is whether the Worker was the Initial physical aggressor and whether the Applicant deviated from employment.

Given this fact pattern, the reason why the McDonald’s Worker left the store is important. Did the Worker want to get in a fight with the customer? Did the worker initiate physical contact?

The other aspect to consider is whether there was a deviation. Did the employee’s actions remove him from being considered to be in the workplace? With this analysis, the location of the outside incident is of importance. Was it on the McDonald’s premises or off? Was it a mile away from the store? Further, was he on a break, or was he working on the clock when he went outside?

Can A Claim Like This Be Delayed?

Yes. Labor Code Section 5402(b) affords an insurance company 90 days to investigate. In this matter, given the analysis provided above, an insurance company should send an investigator out to obtain witness statements, obtain the video from the store if any, and obtain a copy of the police report. My personal impression is that the additional facts would likely support a finding of industrial injury. Without knowing more, I would think that the incident happened while on premises. The fact that the incident was on the premises would play a large factor in the analysis. [update: If the worker left the work site to have a confrontation, more facts are needed concerning what happened. The location of the confrontation and its nature are important. Further, the reason for the confrontation is important as well.

What if I Need Advice?

A BUSLOAD OF BUS DRIVERS INJURED WHEN THE WHEELS ON THE BUS DIDN’T GO ROUND N’ ROUND: INJURED WORKERS IN THE NEWS #49

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Edward Singer

A bus load of Bus Drivers were injured when a bus driven by a Bus Driver flipped and crashed. Dailymail.com

It is reported that “the bus had been carrying 37 adults – 36 passengers and the driver – police said. Police had said those on board were employees of the same company, but did not specify the origination. All 36 passengers were treated for injuries at the scene, police said Thursday, with three needing to be hospitalized.” Dailymail.com

This article will address of an issue that results from an industrial accident involving multiple workers.

Is There A Personal Injury Claim that Can Be Filed Against the Bus Driver?

No. It is reported that all of the passengers worked for the same company. Thus, workers’ compensation is the appropriate venue.

Since Everyone Was in the Same Accident, Will They All Receive the Same Recovery?

No. The fact that two individuals are in the same accident does not mean that they will receive the same recovery.

There are many factors that will create different results for disability awards.

Impairments: The body parts injured and the nature and extent of the injuries will determine the disability percentage.

Apportionment: Applicants with pre-existing disabilities or prior work injury awards may have their injuries reduced based upon these factors.

Age: Ratings are determined based upon age. Younger Employers get less value that older workers. This is based upon a table in the SCHEDULE FOR RATING PERMANENT DISABILITIES

Occupation: Ratings are determined by Occupational Group. In this instance, since all of the workers are bus drivers, they will all be assigned a bus driver group number. Had there been other types of workers in the bus, different group numbers would be assigned. Those group number could impact a rating percentage to go up, down or remain the same.

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