Alabama, Coronavirus and the War on Injured Workers

Alabama, Coronavirus and the War on Injured Workers

We have written several articles over the years detailing how Alabama has among the worst workers’ compensation benefits in America (click here), to the detriment of our injured workers (here). Unfortunately, this War on Workers’ Compensation is continuing here in Alabama during the current national crises.

Earlier this week Alabama Senator Arthur Orr submitted a bill that would grant immunity to employers of those who have been working on the “front line” should their employees contract COVID-19.

Once again, our politicians publicly heap praise on those whose job has been deemed essential and whose job duties put them at a greater risk than the general public in becoming ill with coronavirus-yet privately they go out of their way to prevent them from obtaining the limited benefits workers’ compensation provides should they become ill with the virus that has kept the majority of us home over the past 6 weeks.

Health Care Workers, First Responders, Grocery Store Workers, Convenience Store Clerks, everyone who has been forced to work during the crises are being told that they have to put themselves at a greater risk than the general public or lose their job (and be prevented from receiving unemployment benefits), and at the same time they are told that if they become ill: (1) the will not be entitled to medical care, (2) they will not receive any workers’ compensation checks during the time they are recovering from the disease, (3) should they suffer a serious permanent injury-they would not be entitled to any compensation, and (4) if they should lose their life their families would not be entitled to any workers’ compensation death benefits.

This is wrong. The government has been telling all of us that the situation is so dangerous that we should stay at home in order to protect ourselves, our loved ones and society itself; at the same time we have instructed those deemed “essential” that their jobs are so vital that we are calling on them to put themselves at risk, but instead of making it easier for them to obtain workers’ comp benefits should they contract COVID-19, Alabama is trying to make it impossible for them to obtain benefits.

If you work in a Grocery Store, Convenience Store, are a Health Care Worker or First Responder and you have questions about your right to Alabama Workers’ Compensation benefits related to COVID-19, please don’t hesitate to contact and speak with one of the experienced Alabama Job Injury Attorneys at Powell and Denny today for a FREE consultation.  Virtual appointments are available through Zoom for your protection from the coronavirus pandemic.

Powell and Denny: We Work When You Can’t

Offices in Huntsville, AL and Hoover, AL

Alabama Workers Compensation Attorneys
Birmingham Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
Huntsville Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

Powell and Denny have been selected as one of the Best Law Firms by U.S. News and World Report for each of the last 6 years, have been selected as one of Birmingham’s Top Lawyers by B-Metro Magazine for the last 3 years, have been selected by The National Advocates as one of the Top 20 Workers’ Compensation Firms (plaintiffs) and Powell and Denny, P.C.-has been selected as one of the “Best of the Best” law firms by The American Registry.
Mr. Denny is AV rated by Martindale Hubbard (the highest rating possible) and Mr. Powell has been rated as Superior by The National Registry
Alabama, Coronavirus and the War on Injured Workers

Alabama, Coronavirus and the War on Injured Workers