Month: March 2020

Cómo la Administración del Seguro Social está manejando el COVID-19

Posted on by Rick Fleming

Anuncio de Servicio Público Urgente: Evite el Fraude con el Cheque del Estímulo del COVID-19

Posted on by Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

La pandemia del coronavirus (COVID-19) ha llevado a la mayoría del país a detenerse. Para aliviar el estrés financiero, el gobierno aprobó una ley de estímulo, llamada Ley Ayuda, Alivio y Seguridad Económica para el Coronavirus o Ley CARES (por sus siglas en inglés). Bajo esta Ley, los adultos que cualifiquen recibirán un cheque de estímulo de $1,200, aunque algunos pueden recibir menos. Por cada niño menor de 16 años que cualifique, el pago aumentará por $500 de acuerdo con esta sección de preguntas frecuentes del New York Times.

De qué debo estar pendiente: Fraude con Cheque del Estimulo del COVID-19

Esta distribución de dinero en masa crea el potencial de fraude, y ya ha habido casos que han sido reportados. La confusión sobre cómo y cuándo los cheques serán emitidos no ha ayudado. Según un artículo reciente de Forbes, estas son algunas de las formas que los estafadores están tomando ventaja de las personas:

Estafa #1: Alguien le contacta por teléfono, email, redes sociales o mensaje de texto y sugiere que usted puede cualificar para un subsidio especial del COVID-19 y que es necesario primero verificar su identidad para procesar la solicitud.

Verdad: Están tratando de robar su identidad. No existe tal subsidio. NO provea ninguna información privada, tal como su Número de Seguro Social o número de cuenta bancaria.

Estafa #2: Alguien le contacta y le dice que usted puede obtener más dinero del gobierno, o recibir el cheque de estímulo más rápido. Solo necesitan verificar su información y colectar “honorarios de procesamiento”.

Verdad: La ley del estímulo ofrece beneficios específicos para los individuos que cualifican. Nadie puede obtenerle más dinero del gobierno, y nadie puede obtenerlo más rápido.

Estafa #3: Alguien le llama diciendo ser del IRS para verificar los detalles de su depósito directo para que pueda recibir su cheque de estímulo.

Verdad: Aun cuando es cierto que el IRS le hará un depósito directo del cheque de estímulo en su cuenta de depósito directo asociada con su reintegro de impuestos (o le enviara un cheque de papel), NO le llamaran para confirmar esos detalles. Cualquiera que le llame diciendo ser del IRS solicitándole su información financiera es un timador.

Datos sobre el Cheque de Estímulo por la Comisión Federal de Comercio (FTC por sus siglas en inglés)

Para clarificarle al público lo que deben y no deben esperar, la Directora Asociada de la FTC de la División de Educación de Consumidor y Negocio, Jennifer Leach, publicó un blog en el sitio web del FTC. En este, ella clarifica ciertos puntos importantes para ayudar a los consumidores a identificar y evitar fraude:

  • El gobierno no le solicitará que pague por adelantado para obtener su cheque de estímulo.

    •  

  • El gobierno no le contactará para solicitarle su Número de Seguro Social, número de cuenta bancaria o número de tarjeta de crédito.

    •  

  •  Si se le requiere que verifique información en línea o mediante otros medios antes de que lo pueda cambiar o depositar, definitivamente es falso.

    •  

  • Usted no puede hacer algo para recibir su cheque más rápido. Llegará cuando llegue.

    •  

Leach establece además que, no importa la forma que tome, o cuando tome efecto, cualquier persona solicitándole que usted pague para recibir su estímulo es un estafador. Usted puede reportar estafas al FTC si usted se ha dado con uno, y  aquí puede aprender más sobre estafas relacionadas con el brote de COVID-19 y como evitarlos.

¡“Somos el IRS”!

No, no lo son. Quien le llame diciendo que es del IRS es un estafador, así le estén hablando del cheque de estímulo o no. A continuación una lista, en caso de que esté preguntándose si esa llamada del “IRS” es legítima. ¡Cuando hay duda, es probablemente una estafa!

  • El IRS nunca le llamará para solicitar pago inmediato por teléfono.

    •  

  • El IRS nunca le llamara sobre sus impuestos adeudados sin primero enviarle por correo un estado de cuenta.

    •  

  • El IRS nunca le amenazará con enviar la policía local u oficiales de ley para arrestarle.

    •  

  • El IRS nunca le requerirá que pague su cuenta de impuestos sin permitirle hacer preguntas o apelar la cantidad que debe.

    •  

  • El IRS no requiere un método de pago específico, tal como una tarjeta de débito pre-pagada o transferencia electrónica.

    •  

  • El IRS nunca le solicitará que provea números de tarjeta de crédito o débito por teléfono.

    •  

Los negocios también están siendo estafados

Los estafadores buscan cualquier oportunidad de malversar fondos de los confiados. Los negocios, especialmente las pequeñas empresas, son vulnerables a algunos de estos métodos.

Estos son frecuentemente perpetrados por llamadas-robóticas (robocalls) – llamadas automáticas con mensajes grabados que escucha por respuestas de la víctima. Algunos de estos robocalls hacen declaraciones sobre la disponibilidad de fondos especiales, o préstamos para empresas para brindar alivio económico por el COVID-19, si la empresa puede verificar o entrar cierta información privada, pagar una tarifa, y otros. Algunos timadores intentarán convencer a la empresa que tienen una solicitud pendiente de verificación en línea, intentando así ganar acceso a información privada.

Estas llamadas frecuentemente utilizan tácticas de miedo y libretos estresantes para hacer que las personas reaccionen a consecuencia del miedo. Si usted piensa que ha sido víctima de una estafa del coronavirus o COVID-19, le motivamos a que contacte a las autoridades inmediatamente.

¿Qué hacer si usted es contactado por un estafador?

Antes que todo, no les provea alguna información. Es mucho mejor colgar la llamada si usted la contesta accidentalmente. No diga algo. Solo cuelgue o termine la llamada. No interactúe con ellos, ni siquiera para decirles que les sospecha.

Si recibe un mensaje de texto, no responda, bajo ninguna circunstancia debe presionar en los links que contengan. Borre los textos inmediatamente.

Otro método común son los emails, y estos no siempre vienen directamente de los estafadores. Personas con buenas intenciones que piensan que comparten información útil – mediante email o redes sociales – pueden contribuir a la propagación del fraude. No presione en los links de esos correos electrónico y no se los envíe a otros. Bórrelos.

En adición a reportar las estafas al FTC, también puede reportarlos al Better Business Bureau (BBB), la Comisión Federal de Comunicación (FCC) o entre a esta página sobre alertas de fraude.

Manténgase seguro del COVID-19 y los estafadores que tratan de ganar dinero fácil

Las Oficinas Legales de James Scott Farrin continúa trabajando por nuestros clientes y aceptando casos durante esta crisis, a pesar de que la forma en la que le servimos ha cambiado un poco.  Fraude de esta naturaleza está fuera de nuestra experiencia legal, pero publicamos esta información porque la salud y seguridad de nuestra comunidad es importante para nosotros. No permita que usted u otros caigan victimas del fraude con el cheque de estímulo. Por favor comparta esta información con todos los que conozca, ya que puede evitar que un estafador sea exitoso.

Si usted o alguien que conoce ha sido lesionado por razones que no fueron su culpa, puede contactarnos al 1-800-968-5342 o contáctenos en línea para una consulta gratuita. Estamos listos para ayudarle.

Text UsTexteanos

Updates: How the Social Security Administration Is Handling COVID-19

Posted on by Rick Fleming

Urgent Public Service Announcement: Avoid COVID-19 Stimulus Check Fraud

Posted on by Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has ground much of the country to a halt. To help ease the financial strain, the government has passed a stimulus bill, called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act. Under this Act, adults that qualify will receive a one-time $1,200 stimulus check, though some could receive less. For every qualifying child under age 16, the payment will increase by $500, according to this FAQ published by the New York Times.

Three scams to watch for with COVID-19 stimulus fraud

What Scams to Watch For: COVID-19 Stimulus Check Fraud

This mass distribution of money creates the potential for fraud, and there are already some cases being reported. The confusion over how and when the checks will be issued has not helped. According to a recent article from Forbes, here are some ways fraudsters are taking advantage of people:

SCAM #1: Someone contacts you via phone, email, social media, or text message and suggests that you might qualify for a special COVID-19 government grant and that it’s necessary to first verify your identity and process your request.

TRUTH: They’re trying to steal your identity. There is no such grant. Do NOT give out any private information, such as your Social Security Number or bank account number.

SCAM #2: Someone contacts you and claims that you can get more money from the government, or get your stimulus check faster. They just need to verify your information and collect a “processing fee.”

TRUTH: The stimulus bill offers a specific benefit to qualifying individuals. No one can get you more money from the government, and no one can give it to you sooner.

SCAM #3: Someone claiming to be the IRS calls you to verify your direct deposit details so that you can receive your stimulus check.

TRUTH: While it is true that the IRS will direct deposit your stimulus check into a direct deposit account associated with your tax return (or cut you a paper check), they will NOT call you to confirm those details. Anyone who claims to be the IRS on the phone asking for your financial information is a scammer.

Stimulus Check Facts from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

To further clarify for the public what to expect and not to expect, FTC Associate Director in the Division of Consumer and Business Education, Jennifer Leach, published a blog on the FTC’s website. In it, she clarified some key points to help consumers spot and avoid fraud:

  • The government will not ask you to pay up front to get your stimulus check.

    •  

  • The government will not contact you to ask for your Social Security Number, bank account number, or credit card number.

    •  

  • As of March 30, checks have not yet been issued. Any check you may have received thus far is bogus. If it requires you to verify information online or by other means before you can cash or deposit it, it’s definitely fake.

    •  

  • You cannot do anything to receive your check sooner. It will come when it comes.

    •  

Leach further notes that, no matter what form it takes, or when it takes effect, anyone asking you to pay to receive your stimulus is a scammer. You can report scams to the FTC if you encounter one, and learn about known scams related to the COVID-19 outbreak and how to avoid them.

Anyone calling and claiming to be the IRS is a scammer

“We’re the IRS!”

No, they aren’t. Anyone calling and claiming to be the IRS is a scammer, whether they’re talking about the stimulus check or not. Here’s a checklist, in case you’re wondering whether that “IRS” call is legitimate. When in doubt, it’s likely a scam!

  • The IRS will never call you to demand immediate payment by phone.

    •  

  • The IRS will never call you about taxes owed without first mailing you a bill.

    •  

  • The IRS will never threaten to dispatch local police or law enforcement to arrest you.

    •  

  • The IRS will never demand you pay a tax bill without allowing you to question or appeal the amount you owe.

    •  

  • The IRS will not require a specific payment method, such as a prepaid debit card or wire transfer.

    •  

  • The IRS will never ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

    •  

Businesses Are Also Getting Scammed

Fraudsters look for any opportunity to siphon funds off of the unwary. Businesses, especially small businesses, are vulnerable to a few methods.

These are often perpetrated by robocalls – auto-dialed recorded messages that listen for responses from the victim. Some of these robocalls may make claims about the availability of special funds or loans for businesses for COVID-19 relief if the business will verify or enter some private information, pay a fee, and so on. Some may attempt to convince the business that they have some sort of online listing that is pending verification, and will again attempt to gain access to private information.

These calls often use scare tactics and high-pressure scripts to make people react out of fear. If you think you’ve fallen victim to a coronavirus or COVID-19 scam, we encourage you to contact law enforcement immediately.

What to Do If You Are Contacted by a Scammer

First and foremost, do not give them any information. In fact, it’s best just to hang up if you accidentally answer. Do not say anything. Just hang up or end the call. Don’t engage them in any way, even to tell them you’re onto them.

If you receive text messages, do not respond, and under no circumstances should you click any links they may contain. Delete these texts immediately.

Emails are another common method, and they do not always come directly from scammers. Well-meaning people who believe they’re helpfully sharing information – via email or social media – can contribute to the spread of fraud. Do not click links in those emails or forward them to anyone. Delete them.

In addition to reporting scams to the FTC, you can report them to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or check out their scam alert page.

Stay Safe From COVID-19 and the Scammers Looking to Make a Buck

The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin continue to work for our clients and accept cases during this crisis, although how we serve you has changed a bit. Fraud of this kind falls outside of our legal expertise, but we are putting this information out because our community’s health and safety are important to us. Don’t let yourself or others fall victim of stimulus check fraud. Please share this post with everyone you know, as it may prevent a scammer from succeeding.

And if you or someone you know has been hurt through no fault of their own, the HurtLine is always open at 1-866-900-7078, or you can contact us online for a free consultation. We’re ready to help you.

Text UsText Us

Exposed to Coronavirus at Work?

Posted on by Matt Harbin

If you haven’t heard of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, you’ve probably been living under a rock. And if that’s the case, you may want to stay there. We’ve all heard stories about people getting quarantined on cruise ships or at hotels due to the fear of the disease spreading. You may have seen someone walking around with a mask covering their face while out at a store or at an airport.

COVID-19 symptoms may manifest anywhere between 2 to 14 days after you’ve been exposed.3 Moreover, the symptoms can closely resemble the common cold or flu, so it’s important to stay vigilant with washing your hands and staying home if you feel unwell.

3According to the CDC, this is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses.

What Happens If You Were Exposed to Coronavirus (COVID-19) or Another Dangerous Virus at Work?

Your work may have taken steps to help contain the spread, like asking employees to work from home and grounding all travel. But what happens if you were exposed to coronavirus at work anyway? What if your symptoms don’t show up until later? Does your employer have to cover your medical bills through their workers’ compensation coverage? Are you legally entitled to benefits if you can’t work due to the disease?

As with many things in law, there are no clear-cut black and white answers to whether an infectious disease contracted at work could be covered by workers’ compensation laws. In North Carolina, coverage for workers’ compensation injuries is divided into two broad categories:

    1. Injuries that occurred by an accident or sometimes a specific traumatic event (i.e. spinal injuries or hernias); and

 

    1. Those caused by an occupational disease

 

We focus on occupational diseases below, as it is the most directly related to a potential workers’ compensation claim for coronavirus.

Occupational diseases in NC can be covered by a medical condition associated with a job or a job more at risk

North Carolina Workers’ Compensation: Occupational Diseases

In North Carolina, occupational diseases can be covered either by:

 

    • When an occupation places someone more at risk than the general public to contract the disease

 

For example, certain conditions like asbestosis and silicosis are assumed to be occupational diseases in nature. They fall under a category that is listed and covered by state law.

Diseases that are not listed are only covered by workers’ comp if they are peculiar to a trade, occupation, or employment. The law goes on to exclude ordinary diseases of life when the public is equally exposed to the risk, like the common cold or flu.

COVID-19 is, for now, a relatively rare condition in the state, but there are already several confirmed cases in North Carolina. Exposure to the condition has been limited as those infected were told to self-quarantine in their homes. However, just because it is a rare condition does not mean it is an ordinary disease like the flu or a common cold.

Occupational diseases are more likely to impact people in certain occupations than the general public. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you navigate your case.

Does the Nature of Your Work Put You More at Risk to Exposure to Coronavirus?

A person’s employment may put them in contact with the virus if they travel for work to an area where they are unwittingly exposed to other carriers of the virus. So if you travel for work and are exposed to coronavirus, do you automatically have a workers’ compensation claim? It depends. Simply being exposed in a work setting will not likely be sufficient for it to be covered under workers’ compensation laws. In North Carolina, for an injury to be covered by workers’ comp insurance, the person’s occupation would have to place them more at risk for contracting the virus than the general public. So you may want to ask yourself: Does the nature of my job place me more at risk of being exposed and contracting coronavirus than the general public? One large, and perhaps most obvious, example of a group that this may apply to is healthcare workers.

North Carolina Healthcare Workers, Coronavirus, and Workers’ Comp Laws

At the forefront of the battle against novel coronavirus, healthcare workers serve a vital role for diagnosis and treatment of the illness. Healthcare workers certainly would be a category of people who cannot avoid contact with a potentially infected person due to the nature of their work. We also know that more healthcare workers have contracted the virus than any other profession, and it has recently been reported that nearly 3,000 Chinese healthcare workers have gotten the coronavirus.

In North Carolina, simply being a healthcare worker may not be sufficient for employers to be required to extend coverage through workers’ compensation laws in the state. Even if a healthcare worker could prove that they were more at risk for contracting the disease, they would not necessarily be able to prove the claim.

A final element of proving you are entitled to coverage would be showing the work caused the condition. If a condition becomes commonplace, it is unlikely that you would be able to prove the condition arose at the employment. This may be a smaller hurdle due to the limited number of cases of coronavirus currently. However, it still could be a hurdle that would prevent a healthcare worker from obtaining necessary medical and disability coverage.

One fix for healthcare workers who are particularly at risk would be for the North Carolina legislature to mandate coverage for COVID-19 as a listed disease. It may be worth considering from a public policy standpoint to protect people who are placing their lives at risk to care for the injured and sick. Healthcare workers are in a demanding occupation with long hours and difficult jobs. Providing special protection for these workers would perhaps make sense given the nature of the risk we currently face.

NC Workers’ Compensation Lawyers: We’re Here for You

As we at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, we also continue to serve our clients who were injured at work. We are committed to working with, and for, our clients, even as we remain vigilant of how this pandemic will affect our state.

If you were injured at work in North Carolina, please do not hesitate to call us at 1-866-900-7078 or contact us here.

Text UsText Us

You May Also Be Interested In

Hurt While Driving for Work in North (and South) Carolina

Injured While Working From Home: Can I Get Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ Compensation Laws in (NC) North Carolina: What’s Covered

Common Types of Workers’ Comp Injuries

Compensación de trabajadores – Covid-19

Posted on by Matt Harbin

Si no ha escuchado de la pandemia del coronavirus (COVID-19), usted probablemente ha estado viviendo bajo una roca. Si este es el caso, es preferible que se quede allí. Todos hemos escuchado historias de personas aisladas en cruceros o en hoteles por miedo a propagar la enfermedad. Usted puede haber visto a alguien caminando con una máscara cubriendo su rostro en una tienda o en un aeropuerto.

Los síntomas del COVID-19 pueden manifestarse en cualquier momento entre 2 a 14 días luego de haber estado expuesto.* Además, los síntomas son muy parecidos a los del resfriado o influenza, así que es importante mantenerse vigilante al lavarse las manos y quedarse en su casa si se siente enfermo.

*Según el CDC, esto se basa en lo que previamente se ha observado sobre el período de incubación del virus MERS-CoV.

¿Qué sucede si usted estuvo expuestos al Coronavirus (COVID-19) u otro Virus Peligroso en el Empleo?

Su empleo puede haber implementado medidas para contener el propago, como solicitar a los empleados que trabajen desde su casa y detener los viajes. Pero, ¿qué sucede si aun así usted estuvo expuesto al coronavirus en su empleo? ¿Qué tal si sus síntomas no se presentan hasta más tarde? ¿Tiene que su patrono cubrir sus cuentas médicas mediante su cubierta de compensación laboral? ¿Tiene usted derecho a recibir beneficios si no puede trabajar a raíz de la enfermedad?

Como en muchos otros casos, no existe una contestación clara sobre si contraer una enfermedad infecciosa en el trabajo estaría cubierto por las leyes de compensación laboral. En Carolina del Norte, la cubierta de lesiones bajo compensación laboral se divide en dos amplias categorías:

    1. Lesiones que ocurren por accidente o por eventos específicos traumáticos (ej lesiones de la espina o hernias); y

 

  1. Aquellas ocurridas por enfermedades ocupacionales

A continuación, nos enfocamos en las enfermedades ocupacionales, ya que es lo más directamente relacionado con a una potencial reclamación de compensación laboral por coronavirus.

Compensación Laboral en Carolina del Norte: Enfermedades Ocupacionales

En Carolina del Norte, una enfermedad ocupacional puede ser:

    • Una condición médica o enfermedad que los legisladores determinen esta comúnmente asociada con una ocupación y está incluida en la ley del Estado (vea aquí la lista completa y enumerada de las enfermedades ocupacionales), o

 

    • Cuando una ocupación pone a alguien en mayor riesgo, que al público en general, de contraer una enfermedad

 

Por ejemplo, ciertas condiciones como asbestosis y silicosis, se presumen son enfermedades ocupacionales por su naturaleza. Estas caen bajo una de las categorías enumeradas en la ley estatal.

Enfermedades que no están enumeradas, estarán cubiertas por la compensación laboral, solo si son peculiares al oficio, ocupación o trabajo. La ley excluye enfermedades ordinarias de la vida cuando el público está igualmente expuesto al riesgo, como la gripe o influenza.

COVID-19, por ahora, es una condición relativamente rara en el estado, pero ya tenemos varios casos confirmados en Carolina del Norte. La exposición a esta condición ha sido limitada ya que se les ha solicitado a aquellos infectados que permanezcan aislados en sus hogares. No obstante, el que esta sea una condición rara no significa que es una enfermedad ordinaria como la influenza o la gripe.

¿La Naturaleza de su Trabajo lo Pone en Mayor Riesgo de Exponerse al Coronavirus?

El trabajo de una persona puede ponerlos en contacto con el virus si viajan por su trabajo a un área donde pueden estar expuestos a portadores del virus sin su conocimiento. Por tanto, si usted viaja por su trabajo y está expuesto al coronavirus, ¿tiene automáticamente una reclamación de compensación laboral? Depende. El simple hecho de estar expuesto en un escenario de trabajo probablemente no sea suficiente para que esté cubierto bajo las leyes de compensación laboral. En Carolina del Norte, para que una lesión esté cubierta por el seguro de compensación laboral, la ocupación de la persona debe ponerla en mayor riesgo de contraer el virus que al público en general. Así que debería preguntarse a sí mismo: ¿la naturaleza de mi lugar de trabajo me pone en mayor riesgo de estar expuesto y contraer el coronavirus que el público en general? El ejemplo más grande, y tal vez el más obvio, los son los trabajadores del campo de la salud.

Trabajadores del Campo de la Salud de Carolina del Norte, Coronavirus, y Leyes de Compensación Laboral

A la vanguardia de la batalla contra el coronavirus, los trabajadores del campo de la salud sirven un rol vital para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la enfermedad. Los trabajadores de salud ciertamente pueden ser una categoría de personas que no pueden evitar contacto con sujetos potencialmente infectados, por la naturaleza de su trabajo. Además sabemos que más trabajadores de salud han contraído el virus que en cualquier otra profesión, y recientemente se ha reportado que cerca de 3,000 trabajadores de salud chinos contrajeron el coronavirus.

En Carolina del Norte, el solo hecho de ser un trabajador de salud, puede no ser suficiente para que se les requiera a los patronos extender la cubierta de la ley de compensación laboral en el estado. Aun cuando un trabajador de salud pueda probar que ellos estuvieron en mayor riesgo de contraer la enfermedad, no necesariamente podrán probar su reclamación.

Un elemento final para probar que se tiene derecho a la cubierta, es mostrar que el trabajo causó la condición. Si la condición se torna común, es poco probable que se pueda probar que la condición surgió en el empleo. Esto puede ser un pequeño obstáculo por la cantidad limitada de casos de coronavirus actualmente. No obstante, puede ser un obstáculo que prohíba que los trabajadores de salud puedan obtener la cubierta médica y de incapacidad necesaria.

Un arreglo para los trabajadores de salud que están particularmente en riesgo, sería que la legislatura de Carolina del Norte ordene cubierta para el COVID-19 como una enfermedad enumerada. Se debe considerar, desde el punto de vista de la política pública para proteger a las personas que están arriesgando sus vida para cuidar de los enfermos y lesionados. Los trabajadores de salud están en una ocupación exigente con largas horas y trabajos difíciles. Proveer una protección especial para estos trabajadores tendría sentido dada la naturaleza del riesgo al que actualmente nos enfrentamos.

Abogados de Compensación Laboral de NC: Estamos Aquí para Usted

Mientras nosotros, Las Oficinas Legales de James Scott Farrin, continuamos monitoreando la pandemia del COVID-19, continuamos sirviendo a nuestros clientes que se lesionaron en el empleo. Estamos comprometidos con trabajar con y para nuestros clientes, aun cuando permanecemos vigilantes de cómo esta pandemia afectara nuestro estado.

Si usted sufrió una lesión en el trabajo en Carolina del Norte, no dude en llamarnos al 1-800-968-5342 o contáctenos aquí.

El Sr. Harbin se unió a Las Oficinas Legales de James Scott Farrin en el 2003 y se convirtió en accionista de la Firma en el 2008. Practica en el Departamento de Compensación Laboral de la Firma y es un Especialista Certificado por la Junta de Carolina del Norte. El Sr. Harbin recibió su J.D. de la Escuela de Derecho de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte, y su B.A. de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte en Charlotte. Previo a unirse a la Firma, el Sr. Harbin trabajó en la Comisión Industrial como un SubComisionado Especial.

Text UsTexteanos

También le puede interesar

Cómo la Administración del Seguro Social está manejando el COVID-19

No permita que el seguro se aproveche de usted con una oferta de “Precipitarse y Resolver”

Why We Take the Fight for Fair Treatment of Spanish-Speakers Personally

Nuestros Prominentes Abogados de Compensación Laboral de Carolina del Norte

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Poses Danger to the Elderly – Are Your Loved Ones Safe?

Posted on by Kelley Solomon Johnson

The novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is in the U.S. and will continue to spread. It is particularly threatening to those with weakened immune systems and the infirm. That puts elderly loved ones squarely at risk, especially when they’re around other people with compromised immune systems, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Here are the facts about the Coronavirus, some health tips, and things you and nursing homes can do to help protect your loved ones from this global pandemic.

The Coronavirus: New Threat, Familiar Foe

The World Health Organization states that coronaviruses are a family of illnesses, not just one virus. Several viruses in the family are known to cause respiratory illnesses in humans. “These range from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19,” according to the WHO website.

In other words, this is a new member of that virus family. While the common title used in media may be “Coronavirus,” the term actually refers to the family of illnesses. What’s spreading now is a novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. It’s a new, different version and was unknown prior to its discovery in Wuhan, China, in December of 2019.

Although this virus is in the same family as the common cold, it is a much more serious risk to the health of the frail elderly. Some in the media have insisted that this virus is no worse than a common cold, but the medical experts, the WHO, Medicare officials, and epidemiologists who study viruses all agree that COVID-19 must be taken very seriously.

Tips to protect from infection including washing hands, use disinfectant wipes & avoid high-use objects

Coronavirus Symptoms, Its Spread, and How to Protect Yourself

Again, according to the World Health Organization, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are a fever, tiredness, and a dry cough. These can escalate to aches and pains, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, or diarrhea. Around 80% of people who contract the disease will recover without special treatment. Serious illness strikes about one of every six who contract it, with the elderly and those with compromised immune systems being most vulnerable. Mortality rates among those aged 80 and above are being pegged at an alarming 15%.

The disease is spread in the moisture expelled by an infected individual when they cough or sneeze. Tiny droplets of moisture containing the virus land on surfaces awaiting transfer to other people. The WHO suggests that contact with the eyes, nose, and mouth from these droplets is what spreads the disease in the vast majority of cases. Therefore, when someone who has the disease – even a mild case – coughs or sneezes, they lay the groundwork for it the disease to spread.

Protecting yourself, therefore, is fairly straightforward. A popularly shared and confirmed legitimate missive from James Robb, former professor of pathology at the University of California, San Diego, offers these tips on protecting yourself:

  • Discontinue handshakes.

    •  

  • Avoid touching high-use objects, such as light switches, door knobs, handrails, elevator buttons, gasoline handles, etc., with your fingers. Use your knuckle to flip switches, and use disposable gloves or paper towels when interacting with other things if possible.

    •  

  • Use disinfectant wipes when available, such as at grocery stores. Be sure to wipe the shopping cart handle and child seat as well.

    •  

  • Wash your hands thoroughly whenever you’ve been in places where other people are present. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, using soap, and warm running water. When soap is unavailable, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content.

    •  

  • Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer at each entrance of your home and in the car for on-the-go use.

    •  

  • Cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow if absolutely necessary, but be aware that the clothing may contain infectious virus that can be spread for a week or more.

    •  

If the focus on hand-washing and keeping the hands clear of infection seems odd, consider that a study published by the Journal of Occupational Health and Environmental Hygiene found that ten subjects doing office work by themselves for three hours touched their faces, on average, 15.7 times per hour. Similar studies have produced results between 3 and 23 touches per hour. The point is, we unconsciously touch our faces a lot, and that enables the disease to spread – unless we wash our hands.

Nursing Homes and Your Loved Ones – Preparation and Prevention

Elder care facilities like nursing homes and assisted living facilities are at great risk. COVID-19 is highly contagious, and the elderly or infirm may not have the immune system strength to resist it. Once the virus hits a facility, every resident could be in jeopardy. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently traced the country’s highest concentration of COVID-19 cases to a nursing home facility in the state of Washington.

In the face of the outbreak, guidelines have been issued from multiple sources to help these facilities increase their prevention measures and prepare. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) and oversees virtually all nursing homes in the U.S., issued thorough guidelines. Some of the measures include:

  • Screening visitors, contractors, and staff for travel history and possible infection

    •  

  • Restricting activities to reduce exposure

    •  

  • Requiring all who enter to wash their hands immediately upon entry

    •  

  • Develop and deploy remote communication methods so residents can contact loved ones safely

    •  

As of March 9, 2020, CMS was urging all nursing homes in the United States to discourage visitors from entering their facilities. In the case where COVID-19 is present in the community, visitors are being restricted altogether. Where a case of COVID-19 is in a nearby county or community, visitors are being limited, which means they will only be allowed into the facility in an end-of-life situation, or where the visitor is essential to the health or well-being of the resident. Preventing the spread of this virus is on all of us, not just the staff of the nursing homes. When the facility tells us not to visit, we need to respect that, even though we want to go see our loved one. Even where we are not at high risk for death from COVID-19, the nursing home you enter may be full of those at high risk. Prevention is not just about preventing your infection – it also means preventing someone else’s.

People in nursing homes don’t just need blood pressure medicine. They need supplies up and down the line.  So how can you find out how a facility is preparing for novel coronavirus/COVID-19?

Questions to ask assisted living facilities regarding COVID-19

Ask the Nursing Home Facility What Its Plan Is

Nursing homes have policies in place if there’s a tornado, if there’s a flood, or if there’s a hurricane coming. They have policies in place for all kinds of emergencies and contingencies. What about this emergency? You may want to ask them. In fact, there are a number of questions you should ask.

  • What is the facility’s plan for dealing with the COVID-19 threat?

    •  

  • Are they well-supplied with food, medications, adult diapers and the other things residents need, and do they have enough to last the duration of an outbreak?

    •  

  • What measures are they implementing regarding visitors, contractors, and staff?

    •  

  • Under what circumstances will they accept an infected person from a hospital?

    •  

  • Does the facility have any special features, such as an Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR)?

    •  

  • Are residents or patients being kept abreast of the latest developments, and prepared for changes to the facility’s operation?

    •  

  • Does the facility have ample amounts of CDC-approved cleaning supplies, and is it disinfecting high-touch surfaces often?

    •  

  • Are group activities being canceled?

    •  

The last question to ask may be the most important: How can you help? Nursing homes across the country are faced with staffing shortages as it is. There may be nothing you can do, but it does not hurt to ask. We must do everything we can to protect our often-overlooked senior population from this potentially deadly disease.

When Nursing Home Facilities Ignore the Warnings

Nursing homes must comply with numerous regulations, intended to keep their residents safe. If you or a loved one are in a facility that is not taking prudent steps to protect residents from this threat, alert a doctor, nurse, other healthcare professionals, or your area’s long-term care ombudsman.

To neglect to take recommended and immediate steps to protect residents could be viewed as neglectful behavior. We at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin hope that this information helps you and enables you to help others.

If you or someone you know has suffered abuse or neglect at a nursing home or assisted living facility, contact us immediately for a free case evaluation at 1-866-900-7078 or click here.

 

UPDATE 3/13/20: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a strict ban on nursing home visits excepting end-of-life visits, and even those will be heavily scrutinized. The emergency rule also included a waiver of the three-day rule that requires Medicare beneficiaries to spend three days at a hospital on an inpatient basis in order to receive a subsequent 100 days of covered care at a skilled nursing facility. To read more about this new development, click here.

Text UsText Us

12 Red Flags of Nursing Home Sexual Abuse

Posted on by Kelley Solomon Johnson

The frail elderly are some of the most vulnerable people in our society, so we have to do our part to protect them. Unfortunately, nobody ever thinks the unthinkable could happen to their loved ones.

Until it does.

Recently, a male staff member at the Brookdale Senior Living Facility in Smithfield, North Carolina was arrested after the reported sexual assault of a 79-year-old disabled female resident there. The accused, Joseph Ngigi Kariuki, has been charged with second-degree forcible rape. Read the WRAL story.

As horrific as these stories are, they are far from isolated. We must do what we can for our aging loved ones to protect them from harm, especially since only 30% of victims report sexual abuse to the authorities, and the abuser is the primary caregiver 81% of the time. Elderly women are six times more likely to be sexually abused than elderly men. In this blog, we will guide you through the signs of elderly sexual abuse and how to proceed with getting help if you suspect abuse.

Recognize the warning signs of elderly sexual abuse like depression, pelvic injury, and sudden weight loss

Recognize the Warning Signs of Elderly Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse includes inappropriate physical contact, groping, intercourse, or any other sexual activity with a patient who does not consent or is unable to consent, is threatened, or is physically forced. Many of the signs given for physical abuse also apply here. In addition, look for:

    • Torn, bloody, or missing underwear or undergarments

 

    • Pelvic injury

 

    • Trouble sitting or walking

 

    • Any bruising, bleeding, irritation, or discomfort in the genital area

 

    • Unexplained Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and infections

 

    • Depression

 

    • Social or emotional withdrawal

 

    • Anxiety or signs of fear around their caregiver

 

    • Changes in mood, agitation

 

    • Sudden weight loss

 

    • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

 

    • Suicide attempts

 

In cases where the person has Alzheimer’s or is non-verbal, it can be significantly more challenging to see the symptoms of sexual abuse. If this is the case with your loved one, you will need to monitor him or her more closely for indicators. Look for the warning signs in the list above, but also monitor them for changes in behavior, lapses in hygiene, or financial changes. As an added precaution, it may be helpful to keep an eye on other residents in the facility and gauge their wellbeing.

Preventing Nursing Home Sexual Abuse

There’s no perfect way to prevent sexual abuse in nursing homes. However, knowledge and awareness are the first defense.

The fact of the matter is that sometimes, Medicare may choose to put your aging loved one in a home nearby, leaving you with no choice about where to put them. However, if you do have a choice, thoroughly research the nursing facility. Google the name of the nursing home and add terms like “reviews,” “ratings,” “abuse,” etc. You may also find reviews of the facility on the facility’s Facebook page. Be sure to visit Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare website, which provides the results of inspections and investigations into every nursing home in the United States that accepts Medicare payments. The North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation website contains links to NC nursing homes’ penalties, star ratings, inspections, and violations.

Many nursing homes make staffing decisions at the corporate level that can translate to negligence, lack of resources, high turnovers, and poor hiring decisions at the facility level. You may uncover areas where the facility is lacking with a little digging.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home, call them regularly, and if you can, visit them in person regularly as well. Pay attention to their physical and mental wellbeing, their caregiver, the staff, and other residents at the facility.

What to Do If You Suspect Sexual Abuse at a Nursing Home

If your loved one says they are being abused, BELIEVE THEM. Let them know that you are there for them, no matter what happened. This may seem like a given, but when confronted with such a heinous situation, some people’s initial shocked reaction may translate into denial or disbelief. The earlier you intervene, the better. The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care wrote this brief on what you need to know about the issue.

Your next steps could look like the following:

    1. If it’s an emergency, remove them from the situation immediately and call 911.

 

    1. Gather evidence and record everything. Without hard evidence, it can become more difficult to prove wrongdoing on the nursing home’s part. If appropriate, and as soon as you can, take pictures. Make note of the circumstances that make you suspect wrongdoing, write down your observations, and have a paper trail of any complaints you send to the nursing home.

 

    1. Speak up. Contact Adult Protective Services. You do not need proof to do this. You can also contact the North Carolina ombudsman for long-term care. Contact the Division of Health Service Regulation at 800-624-3004 and your county’s Division of Social Services at once.

 

    1. Contact a nursing home lawyer ASAP. A lawyer who is dedicated to the practice of nursing home abuse will likely be most familiar with these kinds of cases. Much like you would need to see a specialist doctor for certain diseases, you also should consider seeking a lawyer whose experience is catered to elderly abuse. They are likely more familiar with the state laws and legal procedures that pertain to nursing home abuse, and they will have the necessary experience to take you through the process.

 

If you suspect your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, don’t wait.
Call an experienced attorney today.

Nursing Home Abuse Cases: The Difference Between Civil and Criminal Law

In the U.S., there are two separate judicial courts: civil and criminal. In nursing home sexual abuse cases, the perpetrator is charged and tried through the criminal court system, and the victim can sue the individual or the company that wronged them for compensation.

The criminal process is what you see on Law & Order. That is, a suspect commits a crime, they are arrested and charged with the crime, and they are held in jail under bond. They then go to trial in front of a jury, and they are either convicted (found guilty) or acquitted (found not guilty). In criminal trials, the perpetrator is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty. If they are found guilty by a jury of their peers, they are sentenced to prison.

In the Brookdale Smithfield case we mentioned at the beginning of this blog, the victim reported the sexual assault to the police, and the police came to arrest the suspect. He was then charged with second degree forcible rape according to NC criminal statutes.

The civil process is a separate but related process. The civil process deals with the damages the plaintiff sustained, and how much money should be recovered from the liable party. In civil cases, the court will likely examine the duty of care the nursing home facility owed to the harmed party.

This is what the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin can help with. We are here to help you through a difficult, emotional situation. We have seen the difficult issues that plague nursing home facilities in the state, and we want to be there for you and your loved ones. We can help try to prove that there was negligence on the part of the individual or the facility, and we can help you sue them for the amount of money it would take to cover the damages you or your loved one sustained.

Civil cases can either be “settled” before it goes to trial, or the case can go to trial in front of a judge and jury. If the case goes to trial, the judge/jury can potentially decide to award even more money to “punish” the liable party. In this case, proving negligence becomes a matter of legal strategy. Our NC nursing home attorneys can help position you to try to recover as much as you can from the liable party.

The victim of the Brookdale Smithfield case may choose to sue both the individual and the corporation that owns and operates Brookdale Senior Living for the damages she incurred. If you would like to learn more about why you should hire a nursing home lawyer like us, visit our nursing home abuse and neglect FAQ page.

Contact a North Carolina Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

At the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, we are proud to have nursing home abuse lawyers who know the ins and outs of nursing home abuse cases and have helped improve the lives of the frail elderly in North Carolina. Our nursing home abuse attorneys are hard-working advocates for the aging population, and will work hard to try to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.

Please do not wait to contact us if you suspect nursing home abuse at your loved one’s assisted living or nursing home facility. Time is of the essence when it comes to bringing a potential lawsuit against the liable parties. Your initial case evaluation with us is free. Call us at 1-866-900-7078, or contact us here.

Text UsText Us

You May Also Be Interested In

Protecting Loved Ones from Their “Protectors”: Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes

The Ultimate Betrayal: Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Assisted Living Facility vs. Skilled Nursing Facility: The Basics

Contact the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

×