Blog Posts in June, 2017

Studies Conflict on Marijuana and Car Accidents

Two new studies came out recently that looked at whether using marijuana causes car accidents. The studies are likely to be extremely helpful for states that are considering legalizing recreational or even medicinal marijuana. Unfortunately, the studies came to seemingly contradictory conclusions, raising doubts on the impact of smoking pot before driving. One Study Finds Small Increase in Crash ...

Right-to-Work Referendum Dealt Setback in Court

The health of Missouri’s workers’ compensation laws took another blow recently, when the voter referendum meant to overturn the new right-to-work law took a setback in court on a procedural issue. Now, union leaders who want to protect workers’ interests will have their work cut out for them to challenge the new law, which is set to go into effect in August. Missouri’s Right-to-Work Law Back on ...

Volks Rule Repeal Impacts Workers’ Compensation

An important regulation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been repealed, making it more difficult for ongoing safety problems in the workplace to be detected. The result is already being felt among workers in Kansas City and St. Joseph who might need workers’ compensation for personal injuries suffered while on the job. OSHA’s Recordkeeping Regulation The issue comes ...

How to Drive Safely During a Thunderstorm

While winter driving is often more difficult, staying safe while driving during the summer can be tough, too. Avoiding a car accident during strong thunderstorms, like the ones that tore through Kansas City recently, isn’t easy. Here are a handful of techniques to keep in mind, the next time the forecaster is calling for extreme weather. Know the Risks in a Thunderstorm If you’re on the road ...

Supreme Court Deals Workers’ Compensation a Blow

Workers’ compensation cases deal with workplace injuries that employees suffered while on the job. However, not all jobs are the same. While some jobs require a worker to sit at a desk in Kansas City or St. Joseph, other jobs require workers to move throughout the state of Missouri or even go into other states. For example, people who work for railroad companies could see several different states ...

Report Links Marijuana to Car Accidents

Everyone in Missouri knows of the dangers of drinking alcohol before driving. Studies have repeatedly linked operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol to an increased risk of causing a car accident. Worse, it seems that nearly everyone knows of someone who has been hurt or even killed in such an accident. The effects of marijuana on someone’s ability to drive, however, are much less ...

OSHA Rules on Beryllium Exposure Rolling Back

Since President Trump has taken office, the executive branch has moved swiftly to roll back numerous regulations that impact workplace safety and workers’ compensation. The broad scope of these changes will likely impact workers throughout Missouri, but especially at nuclear plants in Kansas City. OSHA Rule Had Meant to Protect People from Beryllium Disease According to a recent article in The New ...

Motorcycle Accidents and Leg Injuries

Traffic on I-229 south of St. Joseph was slow this morning after a serious motorcycle accident sent the biker to the hospital. The accident highlights the dangers of riding a motorcycle and the kinds of personal injuries that are common in motorcycle crashes. Motorcycle Crash in St. Joseph The incident happened at about 10am on June 6, 2017. A motorcyclist was going southbound on Interstate 229 ...

Workers’ Compensation for Farm Injuries

As we move into warmer months in Missouri, farmers across the state are starting to put in longer hours of work, each day. However, an often overlooked aspect of farming is just how dangerous it can be. Out of all of the occupations in the United States, farming has one of the highest rates of injuries and fatalities. This makes farming a common source of workers’ compensation claims in western ...