In Kentucky, it is mandatory for employers’ to provide workers’ compensation. If there is a job-related injury or death, it is the employer’s responsibility to provide the employee or the employee’s family with medical and disability benefits.
Who is Considered an Employer?
Under KRS 342.630, an employer is any person or entity with one or more employees. This definition includes state, city and county. That’s pretty straightforward.
Who is Considered an Employee?
Under KRS 342.640, an employee is anyone working under contract for hire, expressed or implied; executive officers of corporations; state, county or city employees; volunteer firefighters; those who sell and deliver newspapers; and anyone person performing services in a trade profession or business. Although the list of covered employees is vast, under KRS 342.650 there are several exemptions including: agriculture employees, certain religious organizations and a domestic worker in a private home if less than two.
The 3 Major Components of Kentucky Workers’ Compensation…
Medical Expense pay
Disability pay
Vocational Rehabilitation
Workers’ compensation can be viewed as a type of insurance that accommodates employees who need compensation for medical care due to an injury during the course of work in exchange for the employee’s right to sue their employer for negligence. Plans vary according to jurisdictions, though they can be made for weekly payments instead of wages as a type of disability insurance, compensation for past and future economic losses, the payment or reimbursement of the medical expenses as a type of health insurance, and benefits payable to the dependents of workers who were killed as a type of life insurance. Not included in worker compensation plans are punitive damages for employer negligence and general damages for pain and suffering.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, contact Lawrence & Associates today! We can help you get the benefits that you deserve!
Kentucky has a greater length of navigable waterways and streams than any other contiguous state, but many Kentucky attorneys know precious little about admiralty law. At Lawrence & Associates, we represent injured workers every day both in state based Worker’s Compensation and through the federal maritime courts. At our Fort Mitchell, Kentucky office, we fight for injured workers’ rights!
Compensation Via The Jones Act
The Jones Act (Admiralty Law) and Kentucky worker’s compensation systems offer very different remedies. Both the Jones Act and unseaworthiness claims under general maritime law allow for damages that are very similar to damages for other tort cases based in negligence. The plaintiff can present and recover for past and future medical expenses, past lost wages and future loss of earning capacity, and past and future pain and suffering.
Compensation Via Kentucky Workers’ Compensation
Worker’s Compensation claimants get Permanent Partial Disability. Permanent partial disability simply takes an impairment rating created by the American Medical Association, multiplies it by the employee’s average weekly wage and some arbitrary, statutorily derived factors, and then presents a weekly amount to be paid to the employee over the course of 425 weeks. This weekly sum replaces all lost earnings and pain and suffering damages that could be received in a trial.
If You Are Truly Injured, a Trial in Maritime Court Could Provide the Most Compensation
Although there are some other benefits received under the worker’s compensation system that can match or offer alternatives to a trial’s more traditional damages, generally an injured worker will receive greater damages via trial than through Worker’s Compensation. The only exception to this rule is a plaintiff that is not seriously injured, and who is likely to return to work with no impairment whatsoever. In that case, the lower cost and relative speed of the worker’s compensation system is an advantage to the plaintiff. Further, worker’s compensation allows for temporary total disability at two-thirds of the plaintiff’s average weekly wage until the injured worker reaches maximum medical improvement or returns to work. Maritime law’s corresponding benefit, Maintenance, is merely the replacement cost of daily expenses and is always far lower. So an injured worker whose damages are almost exclusively past, related medical bills and missing pay during a short period in which he or she cannot work may prefer the worker’s compensation system.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job on the water, contact Lawrence & Associates today! We can help you get the benefits that you deserve!
It’s one of the most common questions we hear from new clients: Can my employer fire me for filing a Workers’ Compensation claim? The short answer to this question is no. Kentucky law does not allow an employer to fire an employee in retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim. The employer also cannot refuse to promote you or refuse to give you a raise because you filed a workers’ compensation claim. An employee that has filed a workers’ compensation claim is in one of the rare “protected classes” under the law, similar to gender and race. Just as an employer can’t fire you for being black or white, an employer can’t fire you for filing a workers’ compensation claim.
Employers Can’t Fire You for Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim But They Can Get Nasty
As many Kenton County workers know, an employer can be cruelly creative and many employers will try to get around the prohibition against firing employees for filing a workers’ compensation claim. Kenton County employers will sometimes start finding problems in an employee’s work after they’ve been hurt on the job even though there were no problems before. Employers will change an injured employee’s hours so they don’t get the full benefit of their paycheck. Northern Kentucky employers will sometimes even begin treating an employee nastily, so the employee will want to quit before they can be fired. When a Northern Kentucky employee is having these kinds of problems with the employer, is it still a good idea to file a workers’ compensation claim?
So Should You File Even though They May Get Nasty? Absolutely!
Our years of experience at the Kenton County offices of Lawrence & Associates have taught us that an employer that will give an injured worker a hard time for no reason is the kind of employer that will fire the employee anyway. An employee working for that kind of employer is exactly the kind of injured worker that has to protect his or her rights. You can only protect your rights by filing a workers’ compensation claim, and in order to file a workers’ compensation claim correctly – and see it through to the end – you need a good lawyer. That’s where the experienced attorneys at Lawrence & Associates come in.
Fighting Everyday to Make Sure Injured Workers Get their Benefits
At Lawrence & Associates, we fight every day to make sure injured workers like you get the benefits you deserve. You deserve full treatment of your medical bills, TTD and PPD and potentially other benefits like vocational rehabilitation. Injured or not, no one can guarantee your job tomorrow. When you are injured, that means you have to take a stand and fight for the benefits that you have a legal right to receive under Kentucky law. We want to help you fight for your rights.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, contact Lawrence & Associates today! We can help you get the benefits that you deserve!
While it is difficult enough when a worker suffers an injury while on the job, if injuries are severe enough to cause death, the situation becomes unimaginably worse. If you are the spouse or child of a worker who died in a work-related accident, you may be able to recover some financial compensation to help you through this trying time. A Northern Kentucky workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand Kentucky’s complex legal system set up to pay workers’ compensation benefits to the family of someone who has lost a loved one while on the job.
People Who May Be Eligible for Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Survivors Benefits
Kentucky has a complex legal system set up to pay workers’ compensation benefits to the family of someone who suffers a fatal work injury. The rules are very specific and our attorneys will explain them to you in detail when you visit our office, but generally, the following people are eligible for benefits…
A surviving spouse
Minor children of the deceased worker
Mentally disabled adult children of the deceased worker
The parent of the deceased worker, if he or she had no spouse and no children
The state of Kentucky sets minimum and maximum amounts that are available to survivors. These amounts change each year. When you visit us, we will be able to give you an idea of how much you may be able to expect.
If a loved one has suffered a fatal injury while on the job, contact Lawrence & Associates today! We can help you and your family members get the survivor benefits that you deserve!
A man was injured when a piece of construction equipment collided with his vehicle and crushed him.
$3.5 Million
A man was working on a motor vehicle when a truck struck the vehicle. The man was pinned between the two vehicles, and his hips and legs were broken.
$1 Million
A man was changing a tire on an Ohio road when he was negligently struck by another vehicle, resulting in life threatening injuries.
$950,000.00
A woman was killed while driving due to spillage left on the road.
$775,422.00
A man developed a rare nerve condition due to his employment, which made it impossible for him to use one arm.
$750,000.00
A man was a passenger in a rental car when it spun out of control and killed him.
$325,000.00
A barge worker (Jones Act Seaman) was climbing down a ladder from an empty to a loaded barge when the improperly secured ladder collapsed. The worker’s head injury which caused...
“Mr. Tripp did a great Job on my case. Made me feel at ease and made everything easy. I would definitely recommend Peter Tripp.”
Jay
FROM
“Overall...she knows what's she is doing attentive on time and she will fight for you without judging or being pushy.”
Keisha
FROM
“Mrs. Rodriguez was great, this was my first time ever seeking legal assistance with anything and she was very helpful for the whole process, she explained everything that was needed...”
Anonymous
FROM
“Danielle handled my case with care and compassion she knew that I was in over my head. She talked to me and made me feel at ease. She is a...”
Anonymous
FROM
“She is awesome, if I have a question she is on it. She takes the time to explain everything to me until I completely understand. She's very nice, polite, and...”
Bessie - Warsaw, KY
FROM
“Very clearly defined what was going to happen and then took control of the situation and got things done. Had been fighting things for over a year before her”
Michael - Crittenden, KY
FROM
“Lawrence & Associates handled my case professionally with detailed explanations of the process. Every question I had was answered to my satisfaction. Their knowledgeable staff guided me through a difficult...”
Glen - Union, KY
FROM
“I worked with Marisa after a coworker recommended her. I have worked with with a few attorneys due to some on-going issues with an ex-spouse. Marisa was much better to...”
Charles - Cincinnati, Ohio
FROM
“She (Marisa Dyson) went above and beyond for my family after we got scammed out of $1,000 even though it was a small claim she treated our case like it...”
Janyce - Blue Ash, Ohio
FROM
“My family retained Marisa to represent our father in an Ohio Worker's Compensation fraud case. Every other attorney laughed at him and said it was hopeless. Marisa put her heart...”
Danielle - Lebannon, Ohio
FROM
“I previously submitted a rating for Ms. Rodriguez a few months ago. She represented me and my family very well in a personal injury matter arising from a car accident....”
Heather - Highland Heights, Kentucky
FROM
“Having Danielle go to bat for me was a decision I'll never regret. She's a thorough sharp shooter who does what she says she's going to do. Danielle has excellent...”
Julie - Florence, Kentucky
FROM
“I recommend Pete as an attorney to anyone who's been injured because he took care of me personally when it came to helping me with getting my medical benefits through...”
Chris - Cold Spring, Kentucky
FROM
“Danielle Rodriguez worked very hard to help me with my insurance company after I was hit by a non-insured, non-licensed driver who hit my car. She explained that is why...”
Denise - Fort Mitchell, Kentucky
FROM
“Mr Tripp was very helpful with all the questions I had about my workers compensation claim. He seemed very knowledgeable and really explained things in a way that I could...”
Becky - West Chester, Ohio
FROM
“I highly recommend Justin Lawrence and his office. I have sought guidance from Justin in personal injury cases multiple times over the years and have referred countless individuals to him...”
Aaron H - Union, Kentucky
“Without hesitation, I would recommend Ms. Rodriguez to anyone seeking high-quality legal representation. You can trust her to work hard on your behalf. She was knowledgeable, thorough, responsive, and kept...”
Heather - Newport, Kentucky
“I just used Mr.Tripp to settle a workman's comp claim and he was phenomenal. He was very professional. He told me up front what to expect an what he expected...”
Ernest - Covington, Kentucky
“My experience with my attorney, P. Tripp, was excellent. My case was settled with an outcome beyond my expectations. He was very informative with future happenings and knew what to...”
J. Good - Newport, Kentucky
FROM
“The professionalism along with genuine care for a client could not be beat. I walked in with my problem and walked out with no worry. I highly recommend this group...”
Becky R - Covington, Kentucky
“I was fortunate to have Peter Tripp as my attorney. If I ever need a lawyer again, (I hope I never do) I will call him. Mr. Tripp was very...”
Larry S. - Highland Heights, Kentucky
FROM
“Mr.Tripp was very honest, up front and a genuine guy. He did not promise me anything but he said he would work hard to get every penny that I deserved...”
John - Walton, Kentucky
FROM
“I was referred to Peter Tripp by my personal attorney and he successfully and fairly settled my worker's compensation claim. My former employer became much more cooperative once Pete began...”
Danny - Fort Thomas, Kentucky
FROM
“Justin recently assisted me with a Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing. Needless to say this is a very traumatic experience for one to go through. Justin's advice, knowledge, responsiveness, and compassion...”
Ralph - Cincinnati, Ohio
“I thought Justin was very professional and took care of my case as quickly as possible. He was knowledgeable on the procedures and what information he didn't know he researched...”
Jennifer - West Chester, Ohio
“Justin has been excellent throughout my case. He was very reassuring from the beginning. Justin has worked hard at my difficult case and has made every effort to keep me...”
Rebecca - Blue Ash, Ohio
“I have a work injury and was having trouble getting my injury taken care of through Workers Compensation. Lawrence & Associates worked on my case from day one and I...”
Jackie S - Dry Ridge, Kentucky
“I was struggling with debt and had to file bankruptcy. I looked at several lawyers and felt Justin Lawrence was the most trustworthy and inspired confidence. His rate was reasonable...”
Jose - Florence, Kentucky
“After my car accident I spent weeks trying to deal with insurance companies with no satisfaction. I contacted Justin Lawrence and his firm. Justin explained step by step how the...”
Rodeny N - California, Kentucky
“Justin Lawrence and his staff were very down to earth and personable. They made my wife and I very comfortable and turned a very uneasy situation into not such a...”
Chad P - Florence, Kentucky
“Our home of 25 years was in foreclosure and we were devastated. We didn’t know what to do. Someone told us about Justin Lawrence. He began to work on getting...”
Janice F - Warsaw, Kentucky
“Not only did Justin Lawrence do a great job on handling my case, he is a great guy as well. A very good lawyer!”
Timothy M - Warsaw, Kentucky
“I contacted Justin Lawrence and his firm when my uncle needed help getting social security. Mr. Lawrence and his staff were professional and kind, always asking how my uncle was...”
Emily B - Warsaw, Kentucky
“Great Attorney and staff – fabulous to work with!”
Shannon S - Seymour, Indiana
“The service provided by Mr. Lawrence and his firm was rendered professionally, timely, and with complete concern towards my situation. I would use their services again.”
Patricia P - Falmouth, Kentucky
“I am happy with Justin Lawrence’s hard work on my case. I send out a big thank-you to his staff also.”
Jacklyn E - Verona, Kentucky
“Justin L. Lawrence and his firm assisted me with some probate court issues and he had all the legal documents in order for my court date. He represented me in...”
Julie B - Ft. Thomas, Kentucky
“Justin Lawrence is a very good attorney and his staff is very nice. Justin is very knowledgeable about the law”
Rhonda M. - Warsaw, Kentucky
“I recently contacted Justin Lawrence for legal assistance, and his firm not only presented itself in the utmost professional manner, but the understanding of their clients well surpassed expectations. I...”
David S - Burlington, Kentucky
“I find Justin Lawrence to be a most competent attorney. Everyone at Lawrence & Associates is very accessible and I would highly recommend Justin and his team.”
Sonny R - Glencoe, Kentucky
“I went to Lawrence & Associates with a problem and within 1 week Justin Lawrence had some money coming to me that was rightfully mine. And soon after that he...”
In Kentucky, it is mandatory for employers’ to provide workers’ compensation. If there is a job-related injury or death, it is the employer’s responsibility to provide the employee or the employee’s family with medical and disability benefits.
Kentucky has a greater length of navigable waterways and streams than any other contiguous state, but many Kentucky attorneys know precious little about admiralty law. At Lawrence & Associates, we represent injured workers every day both in state based Worker’s Compensation and through the federal maritime courts. At our Fort Mitchell, Kentucky office, we fight for injured workers’ rights!
It’s one of the most common questions we hear from new clients: Can my employer fire me for filing a Workers’ Compensation claim? The short answer to this question is no. Kentucky law does not allow an employer to fire an employee in retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim. The employer also cannot refuse to promote you or refuse to give you a raise because you filed a workers’ compensation claim. An employee that has filed a workers’ compensation claim is in one of the rare “protected classes” under the law, similar to gender and race. Just as an employer can’t fire you for being black or white, an employer can’t fire you for filing a workers’ compensation claim.
While it is difficult enough when a worker suffers an injury while on the job, if injuries are severe enough to cause death, the situation becomes unimaginably worse. If you are the spouse or child of a worker who died in a work-related accident, you may be able to recover some financial compensation to help you through this trying time. A Northern Kentucky workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand Kentucky’s complex legal system set up to pay workers’ compensation benefits to the family of someone who has lost a loved one while on the job. 
