October 11, 2013
The Nashville Workers Compensation Lawyers with Ponce Law explain the construction industry has one of the highest rates of on-the-job injuries in the United States today. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that last year, 9.5 construction workers out of every 100,000 individuals employed in the industry suffered fatal accidents.
In an effort to reduce these numbers and offer better protection of construction worker safety, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development will be closely watching for businesses in the industry that are committing workers’ compensation fraud. According to Clarksville Online, the department will be specifically targeting behaviors such as:
The department stated that as many as 36,000 construction companies across Tennessee may be guilty of these violations. Furthermore, any company found committing violations would be turned over to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation or the appropriate District Attorney General for criminal prosecution. Companies could also face financial penalties, including fines of up to $1,000 as well as being required to pay higher insurance premiums in the future.
Michael D. Ponce & Associates’ team of Nashville Personal Injury Lawyers is aware of the importance of protecting the legal rights of injured workers and are hopeful the new measures are successful in holding greater accountability over employers.