Your IME will be performed by a doctor, physical therapist, or chiropractor who has not been involved in your treatments. The examination that the doctor or therapist will perform will determine: The cause, extent and medical treatment of your work-related or other injury, where liability is at issue Whether you have reached maximum benefit from…
In 2013, safety regulators with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), during Operation Quick Strike, shut down 52 unsafe bus companies, removing 340 vehicles from the road, and more than 240 other bus companies have been targeted for follow-up investigations. Report Cites Blatant Bus Safety Violations Of the 1,300 bus…
If you feel that the Independent Medical Examination (IME) your health insurance company or employer required you to take has unfairly concluded that you have reached maximum benefit from your injuries and no longer need care, there are things you can do to counter that decision. How to Challenge a Bad IME Report IMEs are…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Commission (NHTSA) wants you to know that “the best car seat is the one that fits your child properly, is easy to use, and fits in your vehicle correctly.” Finding a Car Seat That Fits Your Child There are three types of child car seats: Rear-facing: for ages birth-12 months Convertible…
If you were hurt by any state, county, or city entity or worker, you will need to first file an Oregon Tort Claim Notice, which is an official notice for a state, city, or county public body that you believe you have grounds for a lawsuit. Filing an Oregon Tort Claim Notice Because there is no form…
On January 22, 2014, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed new regulations that would require child car seats, for the first time, to protect children from death and injury in side-impact crashes. Today’s passenger vehicles have eight air bags designed to protect adults, but until recently nothing has been done to protect children…
Faced with a state budget deficit and 400,000 new patients projected to enroll in expanded Medicaid in Oregon by 2022, Oregon Governor Kitzhaber arranged a deal with the Obama Administration for $1.9 billion in federal funding over five years, with the requirement that Oregon’s expanded Medicaid program expenditures must grow at a rate that is…
In January 2014, the public comment period ended on a proposed law that would put so-called black boxes, called Event Data Recorders (EDR) in every new car sold by September 1, 2014, devices which have already been installed in 96% of new cars, unknown to car owners. Current regulations require that the presence of the…
A ban on truck driver cell phone use while driving took effect January, 2012, with stiff penalties for violation. Commercial Motor Vehicle interstate truck drivers and intrastate hazmat truck drivers are prohibited from holding, dialing, or reaching for a hand-held cell, although they may use hands-free devices. The rule permits truck and bus drivers to…
Oregon is one of twenty-five states and Washington D.C. that are expanding Medicaid in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act, to include those who are at or below 138% of the federal poverty level ($15,856 for a household of one and $32,499 for a household of four). This is good news for 45% of Oregon…