On June 4, 2020, the Senior Appeals Officer at the Nevada Department of Administration, Appeals Division, released a statement regarding the Department of Administration’s plan to reopen. June 4, 2020, also marked the start of casino reopening, a major step in the economic recovery for Nevada. The Senior Appeals Office is putting in place a 5-phase plan to reopen the Department of Administration, that puts safety of their employees, attorneys, and injured workers to the forefront. Below is a recap of the workers’ compensation COVID-19 update issued by the Senior Appeals Officer. Phase 1...

Getting hurt anywhere can be a scary experience but can be even more frightening when it happens at work. On top of the pain associated with the injury, my clients often also express fear of losing their job and costly medical bills. It is important to remember that accidents happen, and Nevada’s workers’ compensation system is a non-fault system. A valid work injury covered by workers’ compensation insurance provides the benefit of covering your medical treatment with no out-of-pocket costs, unlike private health insurance. Here are 4 steps to take if you’ve been injured at work:   1)...

A few weeks ago, I posted a blog regarding “5 Mistakes That Can Affect Your Nevada Workers’ Compensation Claim.” Number one on the list was missed filing deadlines. Filing deadlines refers to filing claims with the insurer, giving notice to your employer, and filing appeals to the Department of Administration. However, there are many deadlines that may affect your claim and they can expire fast. Below are some time deadlines for a Nevada workers’ compensation claim that you should keep in mind! Time to notify your employer that you have been injured at work or have been diagnosed with...

If you are injured at work, it is important to know what you are entitled to and what are Nevada workers’ compensation benefits. The Nevada Industrial Insurance Act (NIIA) is the act that governs Nevada’s workers’ compensation in conjunction with NRS 616 – 617 and NAC 616 – 617. In short Nevada’s workers’ compensation benefits can be broken down into “7 types of benefits injured workers may be entitled to.” Medical Treatment One of the main goals of the NIIA is to return an injured worker to pre-injury condition/health. This entails getting them proper treatment at no cost to them. When...

It was on March 17, 2020, that Nevada Governor Sisolak closed all casinos and gaming establishments in Nevada and recommended the closure of all “non-essential” businesses. This has led to non-essential surgeries being cancelled, massive layoffs/furloughs, and the partial closure of the Department of Administration. Below is an update on how Coronavirus impacts workers’ compensation. I have been very impressed with how the workers’ compensation insurance companies/ adjusters and the workers’ compensation doctors have been working to accommodate Nevada’s injured workers. I have not had any...

The Nevada workers’ compensation community includes, but is not limited to injured workers, claimant’s attorneys, the Department of Administration, healthcare providers, third-party administrators, insurers, employers, and defense attorneys. The Coronavirus is affecting workers' compensation for everyone in some way or another. The effect of the Coronavirus on Nevada’s workers’ compensation community is being felt the most by Nevada’s injured workers. “If workers’ comp will still be paid out during the COVID-19 / Coronavirus outbreak” has been a popular search on Google this week. The...

With growing concern over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the last few weeks, many are asking, “If I get the Coronavirus will Nevada workers’ compensation cover my missed work and medical expenses?” The answer is… probably not, unless you are a first responder or health care provider (paramedic, doctor, firefighter, or police officer). This is extremely concerning after the recent positive cases here in Las Vegas. Las Vegas is a hot spot for conventions, sports tournaments, shows, and large social gatherings of all types. Social distance is not something that is typically practiced in our...