The organization first made headlines in March 2010 when the Colorado Legislature considered tapping nearly a quarter of Pinnacol’s $2 billion surplus to balance the state budget. While this idea was eventually abandoned, Pinnacol didn’t stay out of the news for long.

In May 2010, Channel 7 News Investigator Tony Kovaleski found and reported a number of Pinnacol executives on a lavish vacation in Pebble Beach, California. Pinnacol reportedly paid for the trip.

A financial audit of Pinnacol Assurance in June 2010 revealed shocking financial exploits, “bordering on abuse,” according to auditors. Most of these fiscal irregularities were centered on excessive bonuses and extravagant travel expenses.

Among other findings, the audit revealed that the organization had indeed paid for employees to attend a vacation at Pebble Beach gold resort in California. According to auditors, 75 percent of the travel write-offs violated Pinnacol’s policy on reimbursable expenses. This included thousands of dollars in alcohol, hotel rooms, golf fees and winery tours.

Most recently, on January 17, 2011 Channel 7 News reported obtaining an internal Pinnacol Assurance email, stating that neither the CEO Ken Ross, nor three board members who attended the Pebble Beach trip plan to resign.

This comes after several Colorado lawmakers called for the resignation of these individuals. While the Governor appoints Pinnacol’s board of directors, the State is not able to force resignation.

The Colorado State Legislature founded Pinnacol Assurance to be a “last resort insurer,” providing workers’ compensation insurance to companies that were denied elsewhere. As such, it cannot turn down coverage for any Colorado business and is the state’s largest provider of worker’s compensation insurance.

Were you injured at work?
If you were injured on the job and face a claim against Pinnacol Assurance, please call the expert worker’s compensation attorneys at Bachus & Schanker for a FREE consultation. Our attorneys will make sure your rights are protected and that you receive the compensation you deserve. Call us now at 866-277-6711.

The summer jobs kids take on during college are nearly as diverse as the job market itself. Depending on their skills, qualifications, and experience, they may land jobs doing everything from sitting behind a desk in an office to working at a construction site. While some jobs do entail more physically demanding work, and take place in seemingly more dangerous settings, even that desk job can be an accident waiting to happen.

College students will sometimes take on manual labor jobs, or those that require skill but little experience. These jobs are seen as the opportunities to build experience so that once they graduate and embark on their careers, they have a good work history behind them. Construction sites and restaurants are common places for college kids to seek work. They’re also where a lot of work-related injuries occur, from falling bricks to hot grease burns.

Perhaps surprisingly, though, office workers are twice as likely to be injured as non-office workers, particularly by falling. Those who work on computers all day are also prone to repetitive stress injuries. These are injuries caused by repeatedly performing the same small movements, such as moving and clicking a mouse, or typing on a keyboard. If they become serious enough, they can lead to an absence from work. Millions of people every year miss work due to injuries like this, and end up filing workers compensation claims.

The thing is, a college student who has a part-time job over the summer may not realize that he is also entitled to workers compensation coverage. It’s not limited to full-time employees. In addition, the injury doesn’t have to occur in the workplace for the employee to be covered. It does have to occur during a work-related task, though, or even a social function that is business-related.

Before accepting summer jobs, college students must take into account not only the work hours and pay, but the potential for injury on the job. An injury that is serious enough to prevent them from returning to school could have serious consequences on their educational path. Once they’ve determined the reward is worth the risk, students need to familiarize themselves with workers compensation benefits and company policies. They should talk to the company’s human resources office to ensure they understand their rights, and the proper reporting procedures should a workplace mishap occur.

In addition, upon taking a summer job, college students should find ways to maintain safety on the job. By adhering to safety policies already in place, and working responsibly, they can avoid workplace injuries, and return to school in the fall with great experience on their r

Many individuals believe that waiting until the injury “cools off” is the proper course of action. As many doctors will tell you, the true extent of an injury is not always known at first. Also, an injury that seems minor initially may worsen over time to the point where it becomes a major problem.

The truth of the matter is that it’s dangerous to one’s health to delay in seeking assistance. Most attorneys will offer a free consultation to an injured worker. Bachus & Schanker, LLC offers this free consultation at any time during the day or night. This means that, no matter how busy your daily schedule is, it is possible to speak with an expert attorney regarding options for proceeding.

There exists another danger in waiting to report a claim or assert your rights: this delay may make it more difficult to prove your case once you do hire an attorney. Because workers’ compensation cases are often decided in Court, evidence and facts become hugely important.

Traps to look out for after an injury has occurred are the “manipulative” bosses or coworkers. Though these individuals may not actually wish harm to an injured worker, the pleas to “not report” right away, or “take the day off, see if you feel better,” can be devastating if listened to. Nothing is more frustrating to a workers’ compensation attorney than getting a case too late to do any good for the injured client.

However, there usually is a lot of good that can come from a consultation with an attorney – even if the injured worker thinks it’s “too late” to report the injury. The attorneys at Bachus & Schanker, LLC encourage you to call our office immediately if you’ve been injured on the job. We believe in leveling the playing field so that injured workers can make the best out of a tough situation.

A crucial stage in this timeline is when the injured worker reaches “maximum medical improvement,” or “MMI.” This is when the doctor(s) believe that the injured worker has hit a plateau in treatment and recovery. While it is advisable to seek legal representation prior to this point in time, some who have been injured at work choose to handle the intricacies of the case on his or her own. This can have mixed results.

But one thing is certain: There is likely no better time to involve an attorney in your workers’ compensation case than when it comes time to determine the amount of compensation – or money – the injured worker is entitled to. This will often be decided by the Final Admission of Liability that is sent to the injured worker by the insurance company.

The importance of this document cannot be overstated. Simply put, it is likely the most important document during a workers’ compensation case. The moment it is received by the injured worker, contacting an attorney is probably advisable. The information contained in this document is tricky, and often confusing. Missing something at this stage may impact the individual for years to come. Also, having an attorney assist you at this stage may actually increase the benefits you are entitled to. There are many reasons why it is dangerous to let this final admission of liability stand without contacting an attorney first.

The workers’ compensation attorneys at Bachus & Schanker, LLC have many years of experience handling claims at this crucial stage. Please contact our offices for a free consultation. If we decide that we can assist you, the claim will be set up promptly, so that fair and meaningful recovery can become a real possibility. On-the-job injuries can cause unnecessary stress and financial risk, please allow us to turn your stress into real compensation.

Many people believe that workers’ compensation insurance is a benefit provided to employees strictly for his or her well-being. In fact, workers’ compensation insurance is a requirement for most businesses in Colorado. Therefore, employees should realize that workers’ compensation coverage acts somewhat differently, and employers may be reluctant to report claims.

There are usually posted requirements for reporting injuries to the employer. If you are aware of these requirements, you should follow them when reporting an injury. However, many employees are in the dark on what to do when injured at work. After all, no one plans on suffering an injury, and many are unprepared for how to handle such an occurrence.

If the employer refuses to send you to medical care, or does not provide a referral to a doctor or hospital, this should be a red flag that you need to protect your rights. Common sense tells us that an employer should be willing to help an injured employee regardless of the implications for reporting a workers’ compensation claim. But practically speaking, employers occasionally feel that the employee should handle it with their own insurance.

If you have been injured at work, and you suspect that your employer may be failing to assist you in any way, please contact the law offices of Bachus & Schanker, LLC for a free consultation regarding your rights at this important stage in a workers’ compensation injury.

The human spine is an infinitely complex operating system. Bundles of nerves intertwine with soft tissues and bone, creating opportunities for minor injuries that have serious repercussions. The smallest of back injuries must be taken very seriously. Not all damage will become instantly known at the time of a back injury. Indeed, problems that seem insignificant at first often deteriorate in ways the employee did not foresee.

The spine is also fragile. It doesn’t take much to force a disc out of place, leaving the employee unable to perform any physical tasks for weeks or even months. All of this points to one truism: injuries to the back should always be reported to the employer. Some employers are skeptical of back claims because the effects of them are not immediately visible. However, our parents always told us it’s better to be safe than sorry, and with back injuries that is especially true.

Back injuries at work should be reported to the employer in writing. This is a law that many workers are not aware of. Remember that in order to get workers’ compensation benefits, the employer usually must know about the injury. Some employees assume that coworkers will be available to give statements to employers if there are questions about the back injury. Sometimes that happens, and sometimes not.

Even if symptoms are minor in the early stages following the back injury, they may later become unmanageable. Also, the laws in Colorado may be able to compensate someone regardless of whether their symptoms or pain keep them from working. Therefore, it is smart for employees to communicate fully and honestly with the employer about back injuries. Sometimes, back pain can resolve over time with proper physical therapy. Some back injuries, however, create lingering pain and dysfunction that can be both alarming and painful.

Employees should always abide by the safety rules of his or her company. However, even when abiding by these rules, injuries to the lower, mid or upper spine can occur at the drop of a hat. Some employers will be skeptical of a back injury if it’s not reported immediately. This may lead to a delay in getting benefits, or worse, a denial of the claim altogether. Though statistics show that very few back claims are fraudulent in the U.S., the best policy is to play it safe and report any injuries as soon as they happen so the claim is not denied. Doctors can diagnose injuries to the human spine that may be invisible to the naked eye. It is a mistake to assume that pain in the back will just resolve itself all the time. In order to seek effective medical treatment, and to properly navigate the Colorado workers’ compensation system, pay close attention to the health of all the regions in your back, and report any injuries that you suffer while working.

If you’ve suffered a back injury at work, contact the experienced workers’ compensation attorneys at Bachus & Schanker, LLC, for a free consultation regarding your rights.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the individual author, and not those of Bachus & Schanker, LLC. Furthermore, this blog is for entertainment purposes only, and nothing contained herein should be construed so as to create an attorney-client relationship. This blog is not legal advice.

Of course, the insurance company may deny your claim from the outset. This claim denial can occur for many reasons. Usually, an employee will have a preexisting condition and the insurance company will deny coverage. Or the claim may be denied because the employee failed to report the injury immediately. Very few workers’ compensation claims in the United States are fraudulent. Yet insurance companies continue to deny claims because the employee’s story isn’t believed.

If your claim has been denied because of a preexisting condition, you must act quickly. If you really did experience an injury at work, contact an attorney, and fast. A workers’ compensation attorney will be better able to fight the denial of your workers’ compensation claim the earlier you contact him or her. The fact that you may have had a preexisting condition—this occurs often with back injuries—doesn’t mean you won’t be able to win your claim. However, the insurance company may offer you a settlement instead of fighting your claim in court, and this money can help dig you out of a tough spot. In order to “play the game” with the insurance company, you need to approach the denial of your claim skeptically. Many individuals are naive about the way insurance companies operate—through no fault of their own. But remember that an insurance company is always scrutinizing your claim for reasons to issue a denial of the entire claim.

If your claim is denied by the insurance company, don’t be discouraged. Insurance companies often take a different approach once an attorney is retained. Hiring an attorney is a win-win situation for a worker whose claim has been denied. The attorney only gets paid if the denied claim results in benefits to the worker. The workers’s compensation attorneys at Bachus & Schanker, LLC specialize in denied claims. These claims require tough and experienced litigation attorneys.

James Olsen
Associate Attorney

In 2006, there were 137 work-related deaths in Colorado, an average of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 workers. The national average was 3.9 deaths.

The leading causes of on-the-job fatalities in Colorado in 2006 were:
– Transportation fatalities (including highway, rail and aircraft accidents)
– Assaults and violent acts
– Contact with objects and equipment

Nationwide, the largest number of work-related deaths occurred in the Construction field, followed by the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting fields. Work-related injuries in the United States claim 5,000 lives a year with men being the most frequent victims.

Workers Compensation cases can be settled in two ways; by a Compromise and Release (C&R) or by a Stipulation with Request for Award. A C&R most commonly settles a claim with a single lump sum payment. A stipulation may leave specific issues open such as future medical treatment/vocational rehabilitation.

Our workers compensation attorneys at Bachus & Schanker, LLC, know the importance of safety in the workplace. If you or anyone you know has been injured on the job, please contact Bachus & Schanker. For more information on workers compensation, please click here.