Worker's Comp. Insurance

[ORclimber]

The insurance co's ought to offer policies with high deductables to get premiums down. Say $5,000+ since many employers aren't going to file a small claim anyway.

In this state proprieters and corporate officers can use there personal health insurance for on the job injuries. However, I had one health policy through an employer that excluded "trade" related injuries. Wonder how that would have washed out in the courts. One coworker fell out of a tree on a weekend broke his pelvis, crawled to his car, and was driven 2 hours to his hometown hospital. He "fell of a ladder at home" so his medical bills were paid for, but no pay for 2 months.

Many health insurance companies(here anyway) have adopted "pay and pursue" policies. That means they pay the claims and then start looking for another insurance policy(WC) to pass the buck to.

 

[Nickrosis]

The system is definitely different in Wisconsin. My friend smashed his finger this summer, and he gets the red carpet treatment for everything. Since it's a WC injury, everything gets recommended, there's lots of therapy ordered by the doctor, he's getting 3 surgeries.... It's the saga of a WC claim.

We joke about it all the time - if you get a WC injury, you hit the jackpot when it comes to luxury care. "Oops, workmen's comp. I'm out for the week." "I think I twisted my ankle - I'll done for the month." It's a whole lot better to get injured at work than anywhere else.

Nickrosis

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Brian, as you can see by Nick's response things are better here, if anything we have the opposite problem, they treat you too good if you're hurt.
Don't you get to choose the company that covers you?

Dan, I didn't say the lawyer was honest, I said they keep the insurance guys honest.

Is it the same in your areas with auto insurance?

 

[tjk]

WC is treats us good around here. They are very carefull though. We have had guys claiming back injuries or shoulder injuries coolecting pay and seeing a doctor once a week. If we think it may be suspect they send out a private investagator. I recieved a major injury when I was 18 (chain saw to the face) 6 hours of surgury. Full recovery. I have no disability from it except a small scar and numbness. They sent me a ppretty fat check and do not even know why.

 

[Ax-man]

I'm just going to add this to the thread as to why it wise to carry W/C ins.

If your operating as an sole prop. and have by definition an "employee " get injured and the owner can't satisfy the "claim". Mostly likely the injured will get a lawyer and sue you for not only your business, but any personal assets you may have such as cars, property, any thing with a tangible value they will go after it.

If this isn't enough to satisfy the " injured " they can go back to the property owner where the accident happened. This how the law is in Illinois, I don't know if would differ in other parts of the country??

If your an incorporated business like I am, I don't know if hiding behind the corporate shield, would be enough to fend off a shark lawyer. I'm sure there are ways around this so your not safe no matter how your operating.

I had a guy get injured severely a long time ago. After everthing was settled, this lawyer flat out told me they would have taken every thing we had for the injured party.

We had the insurance to protect ourselves, but statements like that scare the h### out of ya. Just because some one gets injured wheather accidental or on purpose ( there out there) that every thing you have work for could be gone in the blink of a eye.

Don't be fooled into thinking that who ever you hire, freinds relatives, or who ever, that if they get injured while in your employ, they won't sue you. All it takes is a trip to a comp lawyer to change their minds in their feelings toward you. The lawyer will sweeten things by saying " we aren't sueing you, were sueing your insurance company. Like that is just going to make it all better. HAH People really change when they know, they can get some thing out you.

Insurance is cheap compared to being sued for every thing you own and run the risk of losing it. Better to have it than not, just to protect your a## and your clients.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Originally posted by tjk
I recieved a major injury when I was 18 (chain saw to the face) 6 hours of surgury. Full recovery.

Wow, could not tell that by looking at you! :angel:

 

[Abbershay]

I most always work alone ... but i sometimes have my son help.

how much does w/c cost? and if you do get it can you expect inspections?

 

[Stumper]

Abby, WC costs vary from state to state and according to occupation. Tree work is statistically very hazardous so is usually the highest rate-from 20-30% of Payroll in most states! In most states temporary labor and family members are exempted-you CAN buy it for them but don't have to.
Additionally after taking 30% of payroll costs for the WC (yep, it is a place to flush money down the drain) the employer may be required to pay unemployment benefits for an injured worker as well! Some people don't understand why their pay rate isn't higher-They don't understand that if they are being paid $10 per hour the employers costs are actually about $20!

 

[Abbershay]

that is a big gap to fill , i can see where the saying less is more comes in. I can make more money with less by doing it myslef.

 

[Abbershay]

How does the city and grass cutting companies get away with cutting trees?

I know the city cuts trees and using the street depts to get there labor they also use jail;birds for labor.... Even to the point of taking work form people who are in biz.

Also a local lawn care company has also moved into stumps and trimming.. I know my cassification for my state is considered landscaper. even though i am consdiered a tree service.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
Ax-Man...
referring to your post, if a person is working as a sole proprietor then he won't HAVE any employees. Sole means 'by yourself'. If you have employees then you are not a sole proprietor, but a small business owner.

Any sole proprietor paying into this system is a fool IMHO.

Wrong, and wrong.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

In trying to understand Brian's attitude about insurance I've come up with a theory.
If you are single, don't have kids, and don't really have any assets to lose, why buy any kind of insurance? If you smash your old truck, get a new one. If your apartment burns down, move to a new one. If you get seriously hurt, the state will pick up the tab.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

I think the exact opposite as you say I do.
I don't want people to have to care of me, so i protect myself with non-government private insurance.

You claim to be all self sufficiant, but in fact, your counting on government if you get seriously hurt. And while your doing it, you're driving down the price of tree work so others, who have insurance, can't compete.

Sorry if I went on too long, you could stop responding too, you know.

 

[ORclimber]

Buying insurance IS taking care of yourself. Not buying insurance is risking becoming a burden to your family or reliant on welfare. I'm not sure WC is the answer, but having no insurance is selfish.

 

[ORclimber]

I'm looking into the disability policy Abbershay described earlier in this thread. Exchanged emails with the local Country agent, have been waiting for a call. I can't help but wonder if he got my message machine, heard "tree care" and hung up.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Disability insurance is for when you are disabled while you are not working or have a non work related disability, I think.
For work related injuries it's WC.

 

[Abbershay]

this policy covers you weather you are at work or play.... it is disability and they take on tree people .. i have a friend who has this policy..... he had to take a two month wait to get it going but he has had it now for a couple years.

 

[ORclimber]

Rocky J,

Sole proprieter refers to business ownership. Sole proprieters can have employees. Corporations can be one man bands. Both can be small businesses.

 

[Ax-man]

Rocky,

Orclimber beat me to the reply I was going to do.

Basically what it boils down to is how you are seen in the eyes of Uncle Sam for paying taxes.

Tax paying is different if your incorporated and are an employee of the corp. Sole Props are taxed different. Not much but there is a difference.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Originally posted by TreeCo
I would not even consider paying WC on myself. It's a bad deal. We do have it on all employees as required by law here in Georgia.

If you have a serious injury, what then?