Independent Contractor vs. Employee (Workers’ Compensation)

One tricky area of Workers’ Compensation law is the distinction between employees, who are entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits, and independent contractors who are not eligible. It seems simple enough, but in reality there are many aspects of the relationship and working practices of contractors that can qualify a seemingly independent contractor as an employee eligible for Workers’ Compensation.

For example, under Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation law, a contractor may be considered an employee if they have a longstanding or exclusive relationship with the person or group hiring them or if their work is closely supervised or controlled by their contract partner. There are other factors regarding payment and other aspects of the relationship that may qualify a contractor as an eligible employee.

Each case is considered on an individual basis, so if you are a contractor that has suffered a workplace illness or injury, you are likely to need an experienced Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation attorney to help you figure out if you are eligible for Workers’ Compensation insurance and benefits. Even if you should qualify for Workers’ Compensation as an employee, the employer’s insurance company may try to deny an employer-employee relationship in order to deny your claim. This may be grounds for a Workers’ Compensation lawsuit in Oklahoma.

If you or a loved one is an independent contractor or other nontraditional employee who has been injured on the job in Oklahoma, please contact Stipe Injury Law right away to schedule a free consultation to determine your eligibility for Workers’ Compensation benefits.

What Should I Do If I’m Injured at Work?

Workplace injuries are all too common in Oklahoma and around the country. In the event of a workplace injury, there are some important steps to follow to ensure that your medical bills, lost income and other expenses are covered by your employer’s Workers’ Compensation insurance company.

Some Workers’ Compensation insurance companies use intimidation and other tactics to deny full Workers’ Compensation benefits to injured workers. Insurance companies make money by paying out less in claims than they receive in premiums, and refusing to pay Workers’ Compensation benefits increases their profits. Often workers need to hire an Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation attorney to finally receive their deserved compensation. Here are a few steps you can take to ensure this does not happen to you.

• Report your injury to your supervisor and follow all company injury reporting and treatment procedures. This ensures that your claim cannot be denied on the grounds that you did not follow proper procedures.
• Seek medical evaluation and treatment immediately. The sooner you document your injury with a physician, the less chance there is for the insurance company to claim that your injury was not work-related.
• Speak with your employer about Workers’ Compensation procedures and complete all necessary paperwork.
• Find an experienced Workers’ Compensation attorney in your area to represent you in case your claim is not paid in full.
• Follow all your doctor’s instructions carefully and do not perform activities that your doctor restricts you from. Insurance companies have been known to videotape injured people performing restricted activities and use this as proof that the injury was not real or not as serious as claimed.

If you or a loved one has suffered a workplace injury or illness in Oklahoma and your Workers’ Compensation claim has been denied, please contact the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation attorneys of Stipe Injury Law for a consultation on how to get the benefits you deserve.

Understanding Workers’ Compensation

The federal government, under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), requires that employers follow certain guidelines and procedures to protect the health and safety of their employees. Nonetheless, workplace accidents, illnesses, and injuries are to some extent unavoidable. Both to encourage employers to emphasize safety and to help injured workers, employers are required to maintain Workers’ Compensation insurance to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses due to workplace injury or illness.

Most employers believe in the Workers’ Compensation program and are prompt in paying out needed benefits to injured or sick workers. However, some employers’ insurance companies try to protect their profits by denying legitimate Workers’ Compensation claims. In these cases, workers often require the services of a Workers’ Compensation lawyer. The insurance companies retain teams of lawyers to fight Workers’ Compensation claims, so Stipe Injury Law works on behalf of injured workers to get them the benefits they deserve.

Workers’ Compensation not only covers accidental injuries, but also illnesses or conditions caused by workplace conditions such as illness from exposure to chemicals and repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome and back pain. Our Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation lawyers have years of experience representing injured and sick people in Workers’ Compensation lawsuits. We will not be intimidated by the insurance companies and will do everything we can to make sure that your physical injury or medical condition does not become a financial tragedy for your family.

If you or a loved one has been suffering with a work-related injury or illness and your Workers’ Compensation benefits have been delayed or denied in Oklahoma, please contact the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation lawyers of Stipe Injury Law today for a free consultation.

What Are Common Job Injuries?

Injuries on the job are a problem all workers and employers would like to avoid. However, especially in jobs that involve strenuous physical labor or machines, some injuries every once in a while are unavoidable. Employers are required to implement specific safety training, equipment, and other precautions to help prevent these injuries and reduce their costs related to workers' compensation. Below are a few common workplace injuries that can result in workers' compensation claims.

• Slips/Falls – This is one of the most common types of injuries in many situations including the workplace. Slippery floors, improper lifting, and inadequate footwear can all contribute to slips and falls.
• Vehicle/Machine Accidents – Whenever workers interact with large machines like forklifts, presses, and even small machines like power tools, there is the potential for injury. Wearing all personal protective equipment (PPE) and following safety guidelines are the best ways to prevent injury with machines and vehicles.
• Repetitive Stress/Motion Injuries – These injuries occur due to repeated motion or stress on a certain body part over time. The most common examples are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from typing and back injuries from repetitive lifting.
• Occupational Diseases – These conditions are caused by exposure to chemicals or other disease-causing agents in the workplace. For example, many who have worked regularly with asbestos over the years have since contracted mesothelioma, a dangerous form of cancer.

Each of these workplace injuries, if sufficiently documented, can entitle the injured worker to workers' compensation benefits in Oklahoma and many other states. However, some employers are reluctant to pay workers' compensation or claims are denied by the employer's workers' compensation insurance company. If your claim has been denied, you may need to hire an experienced workers' compensation lawyer to achieve a successful result.

If you or a loved one has been injured on the job and your Oklahoma workers' compensation claim has been denied or delayed, please contact the Oklahoma workers' compensation lawyers of Stipe Injury Law for a complimentary evaluation of your case.

Importance of Wearing a Motorcycle Helmet

Many people enjoy riding motorcycles because of the feeling of freedom that comes with driving fast through the open air. The excitement of leaning into turns and zooming down the open road is attractive to millions of Oklahoma residents and Americans around the country. However, the same freedom from the confines of a car or truck that motorcyclists enjoy can be extremely dangerous in the terrifying event of a motorcycle accident.

Without the metal frame of a four-wheeled vehicle for protection, motorcyclists are exposed to extreme danger even in low-speed motorcycle accidents. One especially common motorcycle accident injury is head trauma, which can cause permanent disability, brain damage, and even death. In order to prevent serious head injuries and save thousands of lives every year, many states have adopted laws that require motorcyclists to wear helmets.

In Oklahoma only riders 17 years old and younger are legally required to wear helmets. However, experts across the board recommend that all motorcyclists wear helmets. A helmet can truly save your life in a motorcycle accident.

The Oklahoma motorcycle accident attorneys of Stipe Injury Law in Oklahoma City have years of experience representing motorcycle accident victims who have been injured as the result of another driver's negligence. We understand the severity of motorcycle accident injuries and are prepared to fight for your right to fair compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, and other damages.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Oklahoma, please contact the motorcycle accident lawyers of Stipe Injury Law today for a complimentary consultation.

Why Are Motorcycle Accidents So Dangerous?

An accident involving any vehicle can potentially cause injuries to those involved, but without the protection of the metal frame and body of a car or truck, motorcyclists are at a severely increased risk of injury even in minor accidents. When a car or truck hits a motorcycle, it does not hit a strong metal surface, but may strike the motorcyclist directly.

Also, drivers and passengers in four-wheeled vehicles typically stay in the vehicle unless a severe crash throws them through a window. Motorcyclists, on the other hand, are likely to be thrown quite far, possibly striking objects near the road or landing with great force on the road's surface. With this added danger of impact, motorcycle helmets can literally save a life in the event of a motorcycle accident as head injuries are one of several common motorcycle accident injuries in Oklahoma and nationwide.

In the unfortunate event of a motorcycle accident, the injuries sustained can lead to mounting medical bills, loss of income, and even permanent disability. When these consequences result from a motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another driver, there may be grounds for a motorcycle accident lawsuit to recover damages for these devastating problems.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Oklahoma, please contact the experienced motorcycle accident attorneys of Stipe Injury Law to determine the best course of legal action in a free motorcycle accident consultation.

Truck Accidents: Licensing Fraud

Driving a commercial truck, which can weigh as much as 40 tons, is a difficult and dangerous business. Trucks cannot stop as quickly or as easily as smaller vehicles, and are tougher to turn quickly, causing them to jackknife. Therefore, any person operating a commercial truck is required to obtain a special license called a Commercial Driver’s License, or CDL. This special training ensures that truckers have the skills and knowledge to safely operate a large truck.

However, obtaining a CDL is not easy and requires hours of training and study. While the vast majority of truckers get their CDL in the correct way, there may be thousands operating under fraudulent CDLs. The way this happens is that a person who wants to be a truck driver or their driving school pays a third-party tester to alter exam results so the driver can pass. This is an extremely dangerous practice as it can lead to untrained, unskilled drivers on the road, leading to deadly truck accidents in Oklahoma City and around the country.

The Oklahoma truck accident attorneys of Stipe Injury Law are dedicated to helping those injured in all kinds of truck accidents, including those involving improperly licensed truck drivers. We seek to hold drivers and trucking companies accountable for the injuries they cause and to get just compensation for victims. We are ready to help you build your case and answer your truck accident questions.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident near Oklahoma City, please contact Stipe Injury Law to speak with one of our Oklahoma truck accident lawyers.

What to Do After a Large Truck Accident

Accidents involving large trucks, such as commercial semis, can be especially dangerous to motorists because of the large mass of large trucks. Truck accidents often involve serious damage to vehicles, as well as severe injuries. Here are a few steps to follow in the unfortunate event that you are involved in a large truck accident:

Call 911 if anyone is injured. Make sure everyone involved in the accident is fine, and call for emergency assistance in the case of any injuries. If you or a loved one is injured, seek medical attention right away and be sure to keep all documentation of your injuries. Even if you do not feel pain at first, you may find later that your neck, shoulders, or other body parts have been injured.

Do not admit fault or give any statement to an insurance company. Even if you feel you may be partially at fault for the accident, do not mention this to anyone at the scene of the truck accident. Admitting fault at the scene of a truck accident may jeopardize your chances of a successful truck accident lawsuit to recover your medical expenses and other costs.

Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer. In the event of a truck accident, liability for your injuries may fall to the driver, the trucking company or its maintenance provider. Each of these parties is insured against truck accident liability and their insurance companies will try to intimidate you into dropping your claim. The Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers of Stipe Injury Law will not back down in the face of insurance company intimidation and will pursue your case until the best possible outcome is achieved.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident near Oklahoma City, please contact the truck accident attorneys of Stipe Injury Law as soon as possible for your free consultation.

I was in a car accident and it wasn’t my fault. Can I sue for damages?

If you have been in a car accident that was caused by the negligence of another driver, that driver is liable in most cases for your costs related to the accident. With the help of an Oklahoma City accident attorney, you may be able to recover damages for vehicle repair, medical bills, lost wages, and even emotional pain and suffering.

While the negligent driver is the one directly responsible for paying these costs, they are often in fact paid by the driver’s insurance company. In these cases, hiring an experienced accident attorney is crucial because insurance companies almost always fight to deny liability claims, even legitimate ones. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses whose bottom line depends on paying out less in claims than they receive in premiums. One way they protect that bottom line is by retaining teams of lawyers who seek to deny injured people their right to fair compensation.

The Oklahoma City accident lawyers of Stipe Injury Law are not intimidated by the insurance companies’ legal tactics. You can count on us to defend your rights and hold the negligent driver accountable for the damage he or she has caused.

If you or a loved one has been in an auto accident near Oklahoma City, please contact the accident attorneys of Stipe Injury Law to schedule a complimentary consultation.

SUV Rollover Accidents

With the ever-increasing popularity of SUVs and other large vehicles, rollover accidents are a growing threat to Oklahoma drivers and drivers nationwide. Because SUVs and some trucks have a higher center of gravity than sedans or smaller vehicles, they are at an increased risk of rolling over at high speeds, around sharp turns, or in a vehicular collision. Even though vehicle manufacturers were aware that top-heavy SUVs are more likely to roll over, some automakers did not adequately take this risk into account in the design and manufacturing process. Therefore, auto accident attorneys around the country have successfully sued manufacturers over this defect.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an SUV rollover accident, you may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit against the vehicle manufacturer. Especially if the carmaker has previously been held liable in rollover lawsuits, you may be able to recover damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, as well as past, present, and future loss of income. Stipe Injury Law is dedicated to helping the victims of accidents and defective products receive fair compensation for their injuries, and our Oklahoma accident attorneys will fight for your rights every step of the way.

In addition to a product liability claim, if your SUV accident injuries were from a crash involving another vehicle, the other driver may also be held responsible for your injuries. Stipe Injury Law’s experienced accident attorneys are ready and able to help you with an auto accident lawsuit.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a SUV rollover accident in Oklahoma, please contact the accident attorneys of Stipe Injury Law to ask for a free consultation on your case.

I admitted some fault at the scene to the other driver, am I still able to make a claim?

As most drivers know, it is important after an auto accident not to admit any fault. However, if you honestly believed the accident was at least partly your fault and you admitted this or apologized at the scene, you may still be able to make a claim for your injuries. To be successful in an accident injury claim after you admit fault, you will certainly need an experienced accident attorney.

If after you admitted fault in an accident, another driver or passenger files a suit against you for his or her injuries, you may be able to file a counterclaim against that person. A counterclaim is a type of case that responds to an accident injury lawsuit by claiming that the plaintiff also bears some responsibility for the accident and is therefore liable for our injuries. Needless to say, counterclaims can get quite complicated, and hiring a qualified Oklahoma City accident lawyer is the key to a successful counterclaim.

Even if you have not been sued for damages, or if the accident was partially or entirely your fault, you may be able to file a claim with your insurance agency. This claim can cover your accident injury expenses such as medical bills and lost wages, but is unlikely to succeed without an accident attorney.

If you have been injured in an auto accident in which you were partially at fault in Oklahoma City, please contact Stipe Injury Law right away to schedule a free consultation.

Steps to Take After an Accident

Being involved in an automobile accident, even a minor one, can be a tense and terrifying experience. An accident may leave you shaken or confused, unsure as to what happened. However, in order to protect your rights and make sure that the person at fault is responsible for any injuries you may have sustained, there are important steps you should follow after an automobile accident. These steps should be taken at the scene, even before you contact an Oklahoma accident attorney.

First, if anyone at is at all injured or hurt, call 911. The first priority is to keep everyone safe and treat any injuries. Second, exchange contact and insurance information with all other drivers and try to get the contact information of any witnesses. Next, notify the police so that an officer can come to the scene and fill out a report on the accident. At no time during this process should you admit fault in any way, even if you suspect the accident may have been at least partially your fault.

If you have been injured in any way in the accident, even minor injuries, seek medical attention soon so that your injuries can be documented. To be sure that the party responsible for the accident is held accountable for any medical bills, lost wages and other damages that result from the accident, it is crucial to hire a skilled automobile accident attorney.

If you or a loved one has sustained any type of injury from a car accident in the Oklahoma City area, please contact the Oklahoma accident attorneys of Stipe Injury Law today to schedule a free consultation.