"Labor omnia vincit," meaning "Work Conquers All" has been imprinted on Oklahoma's seal since 1907. This slogan became a favorite of multiple United States labor unions during the labor movement of the late 1800s and early 1900s. The labor movement fought to bring dignity to workers. These gains would not have been accomplished without the sacrifice of many workers. The lawyer you choose needs to understand, appreciate, and be proud to represent Oklahoma's working people.
Working people come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. By and large they share a common value: An Honest Day's Work for an Honest Day's Wage. This shared value used to be America's value. Workers' Compensation statutes were designed to compensate injured workers. The worker would give up his or her right to pain and suffering in exchange for wage continuation and disability. However, over the years there has been a massive erosion of workers' rights inflicted by corporations and the chamber of commerce. Workers' wages and benefits continue to drop. Work conditions and safety for employees are compromised in the name of corporate profit. Injured employees are routinely pressured to "get back to work" as soon as possible or they may face termination.
Employers will pay large sums of money to hire Case Management nurses to tail, spy, and interrogate injured workers in order to pressure the worker back to work — sometimes even before the treating doctor feels comfortable releasing them. This abuse is all too common. This type of abuse has been occurring for so long that injured workers almost expect to be treated unfairly. Employers and/or insurance carriers will not treat you or any injured worker fairly, unless they are forced to treat you fairly.
It is not uncommon for a new client to tell me they wanted to give the employer a fair chance, so they did not hire an attorney at the outset. As a human being you have every right to enforce your rights. In 2014, drastic changes were made to the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Law. The laws were designed to give the employer and insurance company almost total control over the rights of workers.
There are not many lawyers who can navigate through the shark-infested, corporate-controlled waters of the Oklahoma Administrative Workers' Compensation Act. You owe it to yourself to find a firm that will work for you! At Zurawik Law Firm we have been on the front line representing injured workers for over 33 years. Jack Zurawik has been representing injured workers since 1985.
If you have been injured on-the-job you need to call us at 918-664-1113. The contact is free. The longer you wait, the more the employer controls your future.
Remember: WE PUT PEOPLE FIRST — not Corporations and Insurance Companies.