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Snow and Ice Injuries Can Cause WC Claim Headaches

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WC Claim Headaches From Snow and Ice Injuries

Snow and Ice injuries can cause  a large amount of WC claim headaches.

Picture Of Snow and Ice Injuries
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Last night, the temperature in many parts of the southeast US approached zero degrees with a blanket of ice and snow to make things even colder.  Many news reports from Atlanta showed what can happen with just two inches of snow that melted and refroze to greet drivers on their way home.

Black ice can be daunting as the road, parking lot or sidewalk can seem to be melted or clear of any ice.  Drivers in the southeast can easily speak to these conditions over the last few days.   Colder climes are usually prepared for such ice and snow storms.

Some of the worst injuries that start as innocuous slip and falls can turn out to be very expensive WC claims. One of the most trying injuries for WC claim staffs are the slip and falls in the parking lots.   The ingress-and-egress rules are very dissimilar for each state.

Woman Using Laptop WC Claim Headaches On Court Room
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One WC court case can change how adjusters handle these claims.   Each state is to its own on these rules and laws.   The following are three great resources on preventing ice/snow slip and fall injuries.  One even has a payroll envelope stuffer.

They are:

The most severe injuries that I have seen lately on snow/ice injuries are truckers that slip and fall when getting out of the truck.  One claim resulted in four knee operations with the claim ending with a Permanent Total disability rating with lifetime benefits. That one is here in my office as I write this article.

There are many articles on trucking safety on snow/ice.   One interesting note is none of the articles such as this one from the American Trucking Association mentions getting in and out of the trucks during icy conditions.

An interesting fact is that heatstroke accounts for the most weather-related injuries and not injuries involving cold weather.

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James J Moore - Workers Comp Expert

Raleigh, NC, United States

About The Author...

James founded a Workers’ Compensation consulting firm, J&L Risk Management Consultants, Inc. in 1996. J&L’s mission is to reduce our clients’ Workers Compensation premiums by using time-tested techniques. J&L’s claims, premium, reserve and Experience Mod reviews have saved employers over $9.8 million in earned premiums over the last three years. J&L has saved numerous companies from bankruptcy proceedings as a result of insurance overpayments.

James has over 27 years of experience in insurance claims, audit, and underwriting, specializing in Workers’ Compensation. He has supervised, and managed the administration of Workers’ Compensation claims, and underwriting in over 45 states. His professional experience includes being the Director of Risk Management for the North Carolina School Boards Association. He created a very successful Workers’ Compensation Injury Rehabilitation Unit for school personnel.

James’s educational background, which centered on computer technology, culminated in earning a Masters of Business Administration (MBA); an Associate in Claims designation (AIC); and an Associate in Risk Management designation (ARM). He is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and a licensed financial advisor. The NC Department of Insurance has certified him as an insurance instructor. He also possesses a Bachelors’ Degree in Actuarial Science.

LexisNexis has twice recognized his blog as one of the Top 25 Blogs on Workers’ Compensation. J&L has been listed in AM Best’s Preferred Providers Directory for Insurance Experts – Workers Compensation for over eight years. He recently won the prestigious Baucom Shine Lifetime Achievement Award for his volunteer contributions to the area of risk management and safety. James was recently named as an instructor for the prestigious Insurance Academy.

James is on the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the North Carolina Mid-State Safety Council. He has published two manuals on Workers’ Compensation and three different claims processing manuals. He has also written and has been quoted in numerous articles on reducing Workers’ Compensation costs for public and private employers. James publishes a weekly newsletter with 7,000 readers.

He currently possess press credentials and am invited to various national Workers Compensation conferences as a reporter.

James’s articles or interviews on Workers’ Compensation have appeared in the following publications or websites:

  • Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS)
  • Entrepreneur Magazine
  • Bloomberg Business News
  • WorkCompCentral.com
  • Claims Magazine
  • Risk & Insurance Magazine
  • Insurance Journal
  • Workers Compensation.com
  • LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites
  • Various trade publications

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