If you’ve been hurt on the job and are considering applying for Tennessee workers’ compensation benefits, now’s the time to do it. That’s because the state’s system that’s responsible for overseeing such claims is undergoing several changes next week.
One of the major reforms kicking off on July 1st is moving away from the use of the state’s regular court system to hear workers’ compensation cases, and establishing a court that strictly handles these claims. The Nashville Business Journal reports that the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development recently announced the names of those who have been appointed to be judges for the newly created judicial group.
There will also be shifts in the laws that regulate the burden of evidence in Tennessee workers’ compensation cases. Many believed the responsibility of proving neglect or errors was unbalanced under the current system. The new laws will establish equal standards of proving liability in a Tennessee workers’ compensation case.
Experts say these new processes will create a more cost-effective system by hearing cases in a more efficient manner and pushing for settlements to be reached prior to a court date being held.
At Ponce Law, our team of Nashville personal injury attorneys applauds the efforts being made to improve our state’s workers’ compensation program. We are hopeful the changes being made are successful in making progress towards a better process to get benefits to the injured workers in our state.