When you've suffered an injury on the job, and it seems clear that your employer was responsible, it can come as a surprise when the workers' compensation insurance company initially denies your claim. It's important to understand that your employer and the insurer both have a vested interest in paying you as little as possible to settle your claim. One of the more frequent defenses that many employers will use is the allegation that you weren't really an employer, but were actually an independent contractor and should have had your own workers' compensation insurance.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION--WHEN YOUR EMPLOYER ALLEGES INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS
NEW JERSEY'S DOG BITE LAW - LIABILITY AND DEFENSES
A dog is man's best friend-most of the time. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than four million Americans are bitten by domesticated canines every year, and almost a million of those bites develop some type of infection. New Jersey law imposes what is known as "strict liability" on dog owners, making it easier for victims to recover for their injuries. But there are also specific defenses dog owners may raise.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'VE SUFFERED A BRAIN INJURY
The human brain is an amazing organism, but it's also pretty delicate-there's a good reason it's encased in the hard shell of the human skull. Often, even a minor jolt to the brain can cause cognitive dysfunction-more than a million people seek medical treatment every year for brain injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). When you've sustained a brain injury, there are specific steps you need to take to protect your legal interest.
PROTECTING YOUR RECOLLECTION OF WHAT HAPPENED IN AN ACCIDENT
When you are involved in an accident, chances are good that you'll replay the events over and over in your mind, like a video that keeps looping. You may think you'll never forget exactly what happened. You may be surprised then, when you're in a deposition a year later, that everything seems less than clear. It happens to all of us-that's why it's a good idea to sit down in the immediate aftermath of events and take notes about what you recall. But you don't want to just sit down one time and try to remember everything-our brains don't function very well that way. The better strategy-keep a journal and make notes any time you remember something from the accident. Here are the important things to write down
