Alaska Lawyers Can Do Many Things Well

by Kristen White Blogger

Qualities of a Good Alaska Attorney

The person seeking to bring a claim following any accident may be filled with emotions that could cloud judgment and render the ability to properly prosecute a claim. This is where a Personal Injury Attorney In Alaska comes in. When trying to find a quality attorney, some of the factors to look at are as follows:

Significant experience—learn the number of cases in your area that the attorney prosecuted in the past and what was his rate of success
Time—is the attorney too busy or mismanages time so that your case will not be properly worked up
Team—is your attorney without support or are there other lawyers, paralegals and support staff that will assist working on your case and what experience do these assistants have?

Reputation—do other attorneys, clients and court personnel feel positively about this attorney, thus making her effective
Discipline—was your lawyer previously reprimanded, suspended, disbarred and reinstated, etc.? This information can be found through the local state bar association.

Although a referral is the best way to find a quality attorney, these questions are important, too.

Claims for Workers’ Compensation

Employees injured while in the course of their employment should be Looking For Ak Compensation Lawyers because they typically have no right to sue their employer directly. Indeed, rather than a direct lawsuit, injured workers are permitted to make claims for workers’ compensation benefits.

In Alaska, workers’ compensation benefits fall under temporary disability benefits and permanent disability benefits. The former (temporary) are paid while you recover and receive treatment for your injuries; the latter (permanent) are paid once an injured party meets the “maximum medical improvement,” or the point that an injured party is fully healed or is not able to heal anymore.

Payment is typically a mathematical formula based on the injured party’s gross weekly income at the time she was injured, and is calculated as follows:

1.Temporary total disability benefits are paid for the period the injured party needs time off from work to recover. Although typically calculated at 80% of gross weekly income, Alaska sets minimum (no less than $273.00 per week) and maximum (no more than $1,239.00 per week) rates of compensation. The injured party must prove his level of earnings.
2.Temporary partial disability benefits are paid during the period when an injured party is able to work in some capacity, but not fully. In the case where an employer is able to accommodate medical restrictions by giving the worker alternative work at a lower rate of pay, Workers’ Compensation benefits will total 80% of the difference between gross weekly income before and after injury.
3.If an injured party is determined to be permanently disabled and cannot work anymore, she will be entitled to permanent total disability benefits, typically 80% of gross weekly income, to last as long as the worker is totally disabled.
Clearly, one who is injured in any way should seek the services of a Personal Injury Attorney In Alaska. Same goes if someone is injured at work, as he or she should be looking for a compensation lawyer that are experienced enough to prosecute such claims, which are different from your typical car accident and slip-and-fall claims.