Lancaster PA Workers' Compensation Law Blog

When the COVID pandemic took away our ability to meet in person, many people began meeting online via platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. These are often referred to as virtual meetings. Hearings in workers’ compensation cases are now held online through Microsoft Teams as well. You might be tempted to call them “virtual hearings,” but that name is misleading. Something that is virtual is not quite real. But an online hearing is very real. The procedures used are just as formal, and the results are just as critical as those from in-person hearings. This catches many workers’ compensation…

According to recent studies, one out of every seven first responders suffers from a post traumatic stress injury. That’s over 14% of firefighters, police, EMTs, and others who serve and protect the public. Changes in Pennsylvania law recently took effect that are designed to make it easier for these workers to obtain workers’ compensation benefits. Traditionally, first responders have had a difficult time qualifying for benefits because of standards that were in place specifying that injuries of this type had to result from “abnormal working conditions” to be covered. The unfortunate reality for first police, firefighters, and emergency workers is…

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry recently announced that the statewide average weekly wage is increasing to $1,394. It’s important to understand what that could mean for workers’ compensation claims in progress, new claims about to be filed, and workers currently receiving benefits. In addition, it is also important to understand the new rules about direct deposit of wage benefits. Understanding Workers’ Compensation Wage Benefits in Pennsylvania The workers’ compensation program in Pennsylvania pays workers’ benefits if they are unable to work because of an on-the-job injury or occupational illness. To receive full benefits, an employee must be rated as totally…

When you’ve been injured on the job, the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system will not pay you outrageous sums of money, but it is supposed to provide medical care to meet your needs and funds to make up for much of the income that you are missing because you’re unable to work. These benefits are critical to meeting your basic needs. Unfortunately, the insurance company or employer responsible for providing those benefits may decide that you’re not eligible to receive them. This is what they “determine” after reviewing most claims. They seem to routinely deny everything and hope they can get away without paying….

Workers’ compensation provides valuable support for employees who get injured or become ill on the job, but that support is limited. Wage benefits don’t cover all lost pay. And workers’ comp won’t pay for every medical expense just because it provides relief. Expenses must be “reasonable and necessary” and related to the work injury in order to be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. This means that insurers that provide workers’ compensation coverage will contest a medical expense whenever they believe they can prevail in having it denied. Claimants frequently have to fight for their right to reasonable medical needs in…

If you are receiving benefits through the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system, you might be told that you are expected to go through an IRE or Impairment Rating Evaluation. While this is no immediate cause to panic, it should cause you to take note, because it indicates that the insurance company is looking for a way to reduce the amount they are currently paying because of your inability to work. It is important to understand how to safeguard your rights during and after the IRE process. Pennsylvania law provides certain protections to workers injured on the job, but they can easily…

Many workers’ compensation cases in Pennsylvania involve accidents in situations you might expect. A warehouse worker suffered injuries in a forklift accident, for instance, or a nursing assistant injured her back while moving heavy patients. But a Lancaster job injury lawyer with decades of experience helping injured workers recover full benefits through the Pennsylvania workers’ comp system knows that there are many occasions where workers suffer unexpected injuries due to highly unusual causes, and these should be covered too, as long as they occur in the scope of employment. Here are some examples of cases we’ve encountered over the years…

Many workers’ compensation cases in Pennsylvania involve accidents in situations you might expect. A warehouse worker suffered injuries in a forklift accident, for instance, or a nursing assistant injured her back while moving heavy patients. But a Lancaster job injury lawyer with decades of experience helping injured workers recover full benefits through the Pennsylvania workers’ comp system knows that there are many occasions where workers suffer unexpected injuries due to highly unusual causes, and these should be covered too, as long as they occur in the scope of employment. Here are some examples of cases we’ve run across over the…