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AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COVERAGE IN ALABAMA

In 2013, Alabama enacted the Mandatory Liability Insurance Law to help define Alabama car insurance rules for all drivers. The law now requires Alabama drivers to carry auto insurance for their registered vehicles.  To fulfill Alabama car insurance laws, you must have liability insurance to help pay for any damages or injuries you may cause to others in a car accident. There are minimum coverage requirements and additional coverages that should be considered to protect yourself in case of an accident.

Social Media and the Law – a Conversation With Dan Burnick

Bernard chats with Birmingham lawyer Dan Burnick about Social Media and the Law.  Dan handles most types of employment law for employers and employees. He shared his experience and expertise about how social media can impact cases. Best advice is to not put anything on social media about your case. Too often injured workers put photos or comments that are contrary to their claims.

How Damages Are Calculated in Alabama Workers’ Compensation Cases


In an Alabama workers’ compensation case, damages are calculated based on the type of injury the injured worker has suffered.  Once the injured worker reaches maximum medical improvement, the authorized treating physician will determine the permanent physical impairment rating (PPI).  The PPI is used to calculate the value of the claim. Values for scheduled member injuries are different from body as a whole type of injuries.

While each case is fact specific, if you have any questions or concerns about this issue or other issues on the law, please call the Nomberg Law Firm at 205-930-6900.

 

What is MMI and Why Have My TTD Checks Stopped?

Video Transcript

Hello, this is Bernard Nomberg with the Nomberg Law Firm. I wanted to take a minute with you to explain the term you may hear in a workers’ compensation claim that is called maximum medical improvement, and to answer why has your weekly check stopped now that you’ve reached maximum medical improvement.

MMI is another term for it, but it is when the authorized treating doctor has come to the opinion that there is no further medical care or treatment that can be reasonably anticipated to lessen the symptoms or the disability of the injured worker. 

When MMI is reached, it depends on the particular circumstances of each event. 

But it is when the authorized treating physician—that’s the doctor approved by the workers’ comp insurance carrier to provide the care—is present that, by operation of law, a few things occur. 

If the injured worker has been receiving weekly or bi-weekly compensation checks for being away from work because of these injuries, those checks will stop.

Also, at that time, most of the time, the injured worker will receive a disability rating, meaning a permanent physical impairment rating. That’s the degree of injury that the authorized treating doctor believes is the impairment. 

As well as, most of the time, the injured worker might undergo a functional capacities evaluation, and we’ve talked about that in other videos here, which will help to determine return to work limitations or restrictions. 

So, a lot of things happen once the injured worker is placed at maximum medical improvement, also known as MMI. Typically, it results in the checks being stopped. In theory, hopefully the injured worker can return to work, but that’s all dependent upon the particular circumstances of the case, and the situation and the employer’s ability to accommodate and the like.

If you have questions about MMI, TTD checks, or anything about the workers’ comp process, please give us a call at (205) 930-6900. Find other videos along these topics at NombergLaw.com or at our Facebook feed, as well as our X (Twitter) page.

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Maximum medical improvement (also known as MMI) is when the authorized treating physician believes that no more medical care would improve the injured worker’s medical disability. Several things usually occur once MMI is reached.  Weekly compensation checks usually stop being paid because in theory the injured worker can go back to work. However, that is determined whether any permanent limitation or restrictions are imposed and if the employer can accommodate these limitations or restrictions.

While each case is fact specific, if you have any questions or concerns about this issue or other issues on the law, please call the Nomberg Law Firm at (205) 930-6900. Our website is NombergLaw.com. We are also on Facebook and X (Twitter).

Also, see our blog article about return to work issues.

ALIENS INJURED ON THE JOB

In Alabama, an alien who is injured on the job does have protections as a United State citizen pursuant to the Alabama Workers’ Compensation Act.  Regardless if they are hired legally or unlawfully, if the employer is subject to the Act then the hired alien has those some legal protections under the law as an injured United State citizen would have.

If you have any questions or concerns about this issue or other issues on the law, please call the Nomberg Law Firm at 205-930-6900. Our website is NombergLaw.com. We are also on Facebook and Twitter.

MINORS HURT ON THE JOB IN ALABAMA

In Alabama, a minor is defined as anyone under the age of 19. A minor who is injured on the job does have protections pursuant to the Alabama Workers’ Compensation Act. Regardless if they are hired legally or unlawfully, if the employer is subject to the Act then the hired minor has those some legal protections under the law as an injured adult would have.

HEART GALLERY ALABAMA

Bernard chats with Michelle Bearman-Wolnek with Heart Gallery Alabama.  They are discussing raising adoption awareness through the foster care system in Alabama.  Heart Gallery Alabama is based in Birmingham.  Heart Gallery Alabama is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding forever families for children in Alabama’s foster care system by raising awareness and educating the public.