Few people would think of tribal populations' workers' compensation systems, but Arizona residents should be informed about Indian tribes' injury insurance. With a large percentage of Arizonans residing and working on Native American reservations, workplace injuries are bound to become troublesome. A recently released decision from the Arizona Court of Appeals has provided more specific guidance for those who are injured while working for an Indian tribal organization.
Judges: Employees can tape workers' comp exams
In an important victory for workers' compensation victims throughout the state, judges have ruled that workers in Arizona have the right to tape record their own medical evaluations. The decision springs from a recent case involving a woman who was injured during a 2010 slip-and-fall incident. Injured employees who are accused of interfering with the workers' compensation process generally have their benefits revoked. The woman now has had her benefits reinstated.
Arizona court: Lawmakers can take from injured workers' money
Arizona lawmakers will be permitted to dip into cash for injured workers in order to balance the state budget, according to recent reports from the capitol building. The Court of Appeals approved the move, which would essentially strip funds from the workers' compensation fund in order to provide other essential services for state residents.
Arizona court rules on scheduled injury claim
A ruling handed down by Arizona courts this summer has discouraged some workers' compensation seekers as they find that their injuries are categorized as scheduled losses. Experts say that scheduled injuries are those that are defined by the state using formal treatment terms and costs. Unscheduled injuries, on the other hand, fall outside the scope of those definitions and are generally subject to fewer payment restrictions.
Postal distributor cited for safety failures
A government postal facility in Tucson has been cited for at least one willful safety violation after an inspection. The distribution center faces potential fines of $70,000 or more. Investigators say the inspection was prompted by communication from a worried employee who feared that someone might suffer from a workplace accident or injury.
Football player gets workers' comp approved
Professional athletes here in Arizona and throughout the country face physical challenges and injuries on a regular basis. However, when that injury prevents a player from performing their job, many wonder what recourse he or she has.
Widow fights for officer's workers' comp benefits
A woman whose off-duty police officer husband died saving a drowning child has been fighting for a decade to obtain his posthumous workers' compensation benefits. The woman, a resident of nearby New Mexico, has taken the case to the state Supreme Court, where it was slated to be heard on Aug. 15 of this year.
Arizona workers' comp: Docs' testimony alone can't bar benefits
Employees in Arizona just got a legal boost from a ruling handed down by the state's Court of Appeals. Judges have recently ruled that a physician's testimony, indicating that an employee's injury could have been caused by unknown influences, does not constitute grounds for denying workers' compensation benefits.
Study: OSHA inspections don't harm profits
A new study released in the May issue of the scientific journal Science shows that government safety initiatives preserve employees' health and welfare without cutting into companies' profits. The report provides substantive evidence that programs administered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration actually reduce on-the-job injuries and workers' compensation costs without harming firms' earning potential.
Insurers: Pot law doesn't affect workers' comp
Arizona voters made marijuana a legal medical treatment nearly one year ago. Still, many questions remain about provisions designed to protect prescription cardholders. During a recent panel in Flagstaff, officials attempted to clear the air about uncertainties regarding the laws. The panel discussion featured a special section about marijuana use and its relation to workers' compensation payouts.
