The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHAs) regulations regarding trenching and excavations have made getting rid of potential and actual trench and excavation hazards on construction sites a top priority. Trench collapses and subsequent cave-ins pose a great risk to trench workers’ lives. That said, it is important for workers to know and understand their rights under the law.
Some typical ways to prevent cave-ins include:
Employers should also provide safe ways to enter and exit. Additionally, all workers should be on constant lookout for hazardous materials or leaks. And if there’s ever any question or concern, NEVER enter a trench unless and until it has been properly inspected.
There are other hazards related to trenching and excavations that workers need to know about before beginning any construction project. For instance, the atmosphere itself may be a health hazard for workers. OSHA requires testing for all excavations that are more than four feet deep, as well as in situations where oxygen levels may be low or other hazardous atmospheric conditions may exist. If this safety step is skipped, workers could be exposed to toxic chemicals or even worse — they could suffocate.
Further, heavy machines, trucks, backhoes, etc. are typically used on excavation and trenching sites. Employers have an obligation to ensure all workers on the project know how to properly use such equipment, as improper use could result in serious and severe injuries.
If you have been injured at work in Pennsylvania, a Lancaster workplace accident attorney can help you with your workers’ comp claims and review the circumstances surrounding the trench collapse and/or excavation accident. as well as advise on other potential legal claims you may have. We understand the laws and strategies needed for such cases and will use that to help you establish your claim.
Construction site managers and workers can maximize their safety by ensuring the following has occurred:
If you have been injured at work because of a trench or excavation accident, let a Lancaster workplace accident attorney at Vanasse Law LLC help you with your claim. You can contact us for a same-day response and a free consultation.
Workers’ comp in Pennsylvania, like most states, is a double-edged sword. The good news is that if you’re hurt on the job, you don’t have to show negligence or any type of fault by the employer. If you are hurt at work, you receive the benefits. The bad news is that your compensation is strictly limited to your workers’ comp benefits; in other words, the workers’ comp benefits are your exclusive remedy. This is known as the “Exclusive Remedy Rule.”
This is problematic for injured workers because workers’ comp only pays for medical expenses, lost wages, and disability. Yet, a typical negligence lawsuit also pays non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering and emotional distress. So, the key to recovering the most financial compensation is to find a way around workers’ comp and file a negligence or intentional tort claim. If you have suffered a work-related injury in Pennsylvania, let a Lancaster work injury lawyer help you be sure you’re recovering the maximum financial compensation you are legally entitled to.
Exceptions are rare in Pennsylvania. You are only allowed to bring a lawsuit for your work-related injuries if:
Third-party injuries are more common than you may think. For example, some third parties that may be responsible for work-related injuries include:
Third parties are commonly responsible for work-related injuries and are not exempt from liability by workers’ comp laws. However, it can be difficult to identify who these third parties may be. That’s where a Lancaster work injury lawyer at Vanasse Law LLC can help. Contact us for a same-day response and a free consultation.
According to the National Library of Medicine’sNational Center for Biotechnology Information, there is a “substantial overlap between chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in individuals who sustain accidental injury.” In subsequent studies, “[m]ost participants reported chronic pain and all were receiving workers compensation. Results indicated that 34.7% and 18.2% of the sample reported symptoms consistent with PTSD and partial PTSD.”
More simply speaking, evidence shows that work-related injuries can cause chronic pain, which leads to PTSD. An increasing number of states are passing new laws, rules, and regulations that allow the general workforce to receive workers’ comp benefits for mental health conditions caused by a person’s job, including PTSD.
While there has been substantial progress in recent years, much more needs to be done. Workers often face disheartening roadblocks when filing for their PTSD workers’ comp benefits, and many simply give up. If you have suffered a work-related injury in Pennsylvania, let a Lancaster workplace accident lawyer at Vanasse Law LLC help you recover the financial compensation to which you’re entitled.
Pennsylvania is one of the few progressive states that recognize “mental-mental” injuries as workers’ comp injuries. A mental-mental workers’ comp injury is an injury that is the result of psychological trauma that was experienced in the workplace. For example, say your workplace was the scene of a shooting or an explosion or was robbed at gunpoint. These types of incidents can cause severe depression, abnormally high stress levels, and anxiety, particularly if your life was endangered.
PTSD can manifest itself through a wide variety of symptoms, including:
PTSD can also result in physical symptoms, such as:
PTSD has only been recognized in recent years, and for people other than military survivors and first responders, it is still only starting to gain traction as a very real and serious problem. PTSD can cause not only serious mental issues but genuine physical injuries as well.
As a result, PTSD workers’ comp claims can be problematic if these injuries are challenged. If you’ve had PTSD as a result of a work-related incident, contact a Lancaster workplace accident lawyer at Vanasse Law LLC for a same-day response. We offer a free consultation.
In most cases, when an employee is injured on the job or develops an occupational illness, it is considered a workers’ comp injury that is eligible for a workers’ comp claim. For help regarding work-related injuries and illnesses, contact a Lancaster job accident lawyer at Vanasse Law LLC.
If the claim is approved, the employee can receive medical coverage, wage replacement, and other benefits as compensation for the injury. However, to access these benefits, both the employee and employer must follow certain steps to ensure the benefits are distributed.
Workers’ comp protects employees in that they do not have to establish fault by the employer. If you are hurt at work, benefits are likely available to you even if your employer did nothing wrong. Workers’ compensation also protects employers in that the benefits are generally the employee’s sole remedy — meaning you typically can’t sue the employer even if they were at fault. This is why workers’ comp is sometimes referred to as “workers’ comp insurance.”
Of course, our Lancaster job accident lawyer knows there are various exceptions to these rules. The process of filing a workers’ comp claim for a workplace injury or illness can be quite complicated because of the multiple parties involved. These parties may include the employee, the employer, the insurance company, the healthcare provider, and the state’s workers’ compensation board.
Workers’ comp covers injuries and illnesses that are within the “course and scope of your employment.” Most courts have interpreted this phrase broadly, in favor of the employee, and have been lenient regarding covered injuries. In general, if you were engaged in an activity that benefits your employer, your injury will be covered.
Some of the most common workplace injuries/illnesses include:
It can be difficult to determine if workers’ comp covers some types of work-related injuries or illnesses. If you have suffered what you suspect is a compensable injury, contact a Lancaster job accident lawyer at Vanasse Law LLC. Workers’ comp is what we do. Our experienced workers’ comp attorneys will help you explore your legal options, which may include third-party claims, and help you with your claims.
Let us help. Contact us online for a same-day response.
Every state provides for “workers’ compensation,” otherwise known as “worker’s comp” or “workers’ comp insurance” for workers who are injured on the job. Workers’ comp insurance works like this: employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses receive workers’ comp benefits for things like medical expenses and lost wages.
The trade-off is that these workers’ comp benefits are the sole remedy for these employees. In most cases, they cannot sue their employer for these injuries, even if the employer was at fault.
If you have been injured on the job in Pennsylvania, let a Lancaster workplace accident attorney help you with this important decision process.
MMI, or Maximum Medical Improvement, is the point at which your doctor believes that your condition has improved as much as it ever will. You may be healed, or it may mean that your medical condition will not change in any meaningful way in the future. Your treating doctor is the one who determines whether you have reached MMI.
The first consequence of reaching your MMI is that your insurance company will likely want you to be examined by one of its physicians for an independent medical examination (IME) to determine whether you have really reached your MMI. You may also be offered a settlement in the form of either:
Remember that your insurance company does not have your best interests in mind.
In Pennsylvania, reaching MMI is a prerequisite for the performance of an Impairment Rating Evaluation (IRE). When workers have been getting workers’ comp benefits for 104 weeks, a medical impairment rating is needed to verify the existence and extent of a worker’s injuries and whether he or she can return to work. If you have not reached MMI at this time, the IRE would be invalid.
Assessing the loss of physical function determines the impairment rating. If, according to the IRE, it is determined that an employee has an impairment of less than 35%, then wage loss payment benefits will be capped at a maximum of 500 weeks.
If you have reached MMI, and your IRE determines that you are healthy enough to return to work, your benefits will stop, and you will return to your job.
If the IRE shows that you are left with an ongoing medical problem that prevents you from going back to work at all or only lets you work part-time on a limited basis, you may then qualify for benefits that may include:
Under Pennsylvania law, there is no limit on how long an injured employee can receive total disability payments.
If your doctor and the IME doctor disagree on your condition, you do not have to accept the IME doctor’s determination, and a Lancaster workplace accident attorney at Vanasse Law LLC can negotiate for further benefits. If both physicians agree that your MMI has been reached, but you still have an ongoing disability, your attorney can help you reach a settlement with your employer’s workers’ comp insurance company.
The rules surrounding workers’ comp in Pennsylvania can be complicated. A Lancaster workplace accident attorney at Vanasse Law LLC will help you understand Pennsylvania law regarding workers’ comp, help you identify your options, and file any workers’ comp or legal claims on your behalf.
Contact us online for a same-day response.
Workers’ compensation is a self-explanatory expression; in other words, workers’ compensation law is designed to compensate employees who have been hurt at work.
One particular aspect of workers’ compensation law concerns the situation in which an employee who has been hurt at work, after some time in rehabilitation for his or her injuries, obtains permission from the doctors to return to work with restrictions. In this case, he or she may be offered what is known as “light-duty” work. However, there is the risk that the employer may be asking the injured employee to perform duties that are beyond your doctors’ restrictions.
If you have been hurt at work, this is just one of many potential issues you’re facing, some of which are complicated. Therefore, you should immediately call the Lancaster hurt at work lawyers at Vanasse Law LLC to help you navigate this difficult time.
Light-duty work, sometimes known as modified-duty work, can be simply defined as work that is physically, or even mentally, less demanding than your typical job duties. Therefore, your employer will either offer you other types of work or alter your current work duties to fit within the restrictions placed upon you by your doctors.
If your employer cannot or will not alter your current duties, they may ask you to perform altogether new tasks that require less physical or mental challenges. Some of these new types of duties may include:
Light-duty work may also include working your typical job, but at a slower pace, or working your regular job with specific limitations.
As mentioned above, when it comes to light-duty work, there is a risk that your manager or supervisor will either directly, by requiring you, or indirectly, by passive-aggressive tactics (such as “well, if you don’t want to work….”), expect you to resume your pre-injury duties before your doctor has approved such an increased workload.
Many employees will comply out of fear of losing bonuses, other types of discretionary benefits, or even their job in such situations. However, the risk is that prematurely resuming heavier duties will result in an injury setback or additional injuries, and, as discussed below, employers are not allowed to take any adverse action against you for claiming your workers’ compensation benefits.
Employees who find themselves in this position should consult with their doctors first, and contact the Lancaster hurt at work attorneys at Vanasse Law LLC if your doctors cannot help you resolve the issue. Your long-term health is your most important consideration, and the team at Vanasse Law LLC can help you protect your rights.
In a related situation, some employees, especially type-A personality employees, may decide on their own to return to normal work duties too early. After all, some of the light-duty work, as listed above, can become tedious and boring rather quickly. However, you must follow your doctors’ recommendations precisely. Again, the risk of additional injury is simply too significant.
Employees who have been injured on the job and offered light-duty work face issues other than the critical issue of resuming regular work duties.
Although the law varies from state to state, salaried employees are generally entitled to receive their usual salary while working under light-duty work restrictions. Hourly-wage employees are typically paid based upon the number of hours worked while on light duty.
However, when an hourly wage employee accepts light-duty work, the employee will generally be paid less than what they earned from their former duties. Fortunately, workers’ compensation is designed to pay the difference. Unfortunately, unscrupulous employers may deny having any light-duty work available, which means they do not have to pay either wages or workers’ compensation benefits. If you suspect this is the case regarding your employer, you should contact the Lancaster hurt at work lawyers at Vanasse Law LLC to help you protect your rights.
Generally, an employer cannot take adverse action to penalize an employee for taking advantage of any workers’ compensation benefits. This includes denying employees the right to return to their original jobs once they have sufficiently recovered from their injuries and received the green light from their doctors to return to their pre-injury jobs.
Generally, an employee has the right to refuse an offer of light-duty work if the employee’s health care provider has not authorized it. If the doctors have cleared an employee to return with light-duty work restrictions, a refusal to do so by the employee could result in the loss of workers’ compensation benefits.
Generally, employers are not obligated to offer light-duty work to employees seeking to return after a work-related injury. There are, however, exceptions to this rule, which vary from state to state.
Workers’ compensation law can be complicated and difficult to navigate on your own, but the laws are designed to protect your rights as an employee. Furthermore, workers’ compensation claims may not be the only option if you have been injured at work. The Lancaster hurt at work lawyers at Vanasse Law LLC will help you explore all of your options, protect your rights, and file any necessary claims on your behalf during this difficult time. If you need our help, please contact us online for a same-day response.
As we conclude our four-part series on mistakes to avoid when pursuing a workers’ compensation case, our Lancaster workplace accident attorney will discuss failing to hire an attorney for your case (or choosing the wrong type of attorney), lying to your attorney and providing the insurance company with a recorded statement and/or signing medical authorizations.
Insurance adjusters, regardless of how pleasant they are when speaking to you or how nice they seem to be, do not have your best interest in mind. Their goal is to save the employer’s insurer as much money as possible by paying out the least amount possible for the claim. That said, it is imperative that you seek legal counsel from a competent Lancaster workplace accident attorney who will look out for your best interests.
To ensure you are treated properly after your workplace injury, you should speak to a lawyer and discuss the facts of your case, including the extent of your injuries. Experienced attorneys know how to take this information and dissect it in order to ensure that you have taken every possible consideration into account. Additionally, an attorney will review any proposed settlements made by the employer and make the proper recommendations before you agree and/or sign any documents.
For cases such involving workers’ compensation claims, your attorney selection is crucial. In the same way you choose doctors based on their specialties, you should be looking for a workplace accident lawyer who has extensive experience in handling such cases, along with a proven record of success. While it may be true that your cousin Joe may be an excellent estate planning attorney, he may not be the best choice when it comes to dealing with workplace injury cases if he doesn’t have a sufficient amount of experience in handling them.
Failing to disclose all of the facts of your case to your attorney could be the difference between victory and defeat. Just as we mentioned above about speaking with your doctor, it is important that you tell your Lancaster workplace accident attorney everything that may be relevant to the case, including current medical issues, prior injuries, any doctor’s care currently in place, previous legal and/or financial issues, employment history, prior and/or current drug or alcohol use, or anything else that my be used by the employer to discredit your claim. Remember this: your attorney is on YOUR side and is prepared to fight to the end for you; however, he can’t defend you properly if he is unaware of certain things.
First and foremost, it is important to note that you are not required to provide the insurance company with any recorded statements or signed medical authorizations. Why is this important to know? Think of it like a criminal case where “anything you say can and will be used against you.” Many people do not realize that such statements are not required. The adjuster may say it’s part of standard procedure or they may go as far as to say they can’t proceed with the claim until you’ve signed certain documents. But understand — there is no rule or law that says you must make a recorded statement or sign anything. They may have this rule, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re bound by their rules. If you’ve already provided a recorded statement, no need in panicking. Just call a Lancaster workplace accident attorney at our office so we can discuss your situation and come up with an appropriate resolution.
If you are an injured worker who is currently seeking workers’ compensation for your injuries, we hope that our series on mistakes to avoid during this process has proven to be helpful. If you have more questions and would like to discuss the specifics of your case, contact our Lancaster workplace accident attorney as soon as possible.
So far in our series, we have provided crucial information to injured workers regarding four errors that could demolish their workers’ compensation claim. In Part III of this series, our Lancaster workplace accident attorney will look at failing to go back to work when approved by the doctor, doing job duties that go beyond the doctor’s recommendations and getting caught doing so, and believing that the workers’ comp adjuster’s average weekly wage calculation is accurate.
Depending on the extent of your injuries, your doctor may determine that you can return to work in a lower capacity than you were working prior to the incident. This is sometimes a source of contention between workers and employers, as the worker may feel that the suggested job is “beneath them.” However, our Lancaster workplace accident attorney suggests that you return as recommended, as the employer may use your failure to return to a lower position against you to claim that you’re really not interested in getting back to work.
If you truly do not think that you can return to work to perform the duties they’ve suggested, be sure to talk about it with your physician. If he or she still believes that you can do what you’ve being asked to do, then you should go back to work as requested and make note of all pain, discomfort and any other symptoms that may arise at that time in order to follow up with your doctor later so changes to your plan can be made as needed.
It never fails — people always think they can do more than they actually can after an injury. The world we live in lends itself to getting things done quickly and doing it yourself to ensure it happens in the timeframe expected. Still, even if you feel like you’re up to carrying your own groceries into the house or picking up that package that was dropped off by the mail carrier, wait for someone to help you, if necessary. It is not worth risking your health and ultimate recovery.
What many injured workers fail to realize is that they are often being watched by overzealous insurance adjusters who send private investigators out for the very specific purpose of catching and discrediting injured workers doing acts that extend far beyond the recommendations of the doctor. So if you’re alone and tempted to take that long walk down to the mailbox to get a package, don’t do it. Ask for help and don’t let video footage ruin your workers’ comp claim.
Contrary to popular belief, workers’ compensation adjusters may not properly calculate your average weekly wages. If you believe yours has been incorrectly determined, speak to our Lancaster workplace accident attorney for immediate assistance. The adjuster may have failed to include important numbers, such as overtime hours, vacation pay and other incentives you may receive when making his determination, and we can review all of your pay information to ensure an accurate accounting is made for the 52 weeks prior to the injury.
Nothing can be more important than your overall health and safety. If you have been hurt while on the job, contact our Lancaster workplace accident attorney for help with your claim. We want to ensure you get the proper financial help you need during your recovery.
In Part One of this series, we discussed the importance of acting right away after an on-the-job accident occurs, as well as telling your doctor the full extent of your injuries without creating false symptoms or injuries. In Part Two of our series, our Lancaster workplace accident attorney will discuss mistakes related to doctor selection and failure to heed the doctor’s advice.
Unfortunately, many hurt workers may not even realize that they do not have to use an employer-provided doctor. While using the company’s doctor may seem like a convenience or requirement, it is not mandatory, and more often than not, a workplace accident lawyer will advise against using the employer’s doctor.
The law provides employees with the ability to select and visit any doctor of their own choosing, along with any other healthcare providers that may be recommended by the primary care physician. Additionally, you should be aware that you, as the injured worker, are entitled to obtain second opinions, including the tests and/or services recommended by those physicians offering such opinions.
If you want to ensure the downfall of your workers’ comp case, simply do not do what your doctor tells you to do. We cannot stress enough the importance of following your physician’s orders, recommendations and treatment plan. If the doctor wants you to return for follow-up exams and tests, or he needs you to attend physical therapy, make sure you go to these appointments. All too often, people think that certain treatments and recommendations are “optional” as opposed to required. And more often than not, injured individuals incorrectly think that when they start feeling better, they no longer need treatment. This simply is not realistic, and you are leaving a wide opening for the insurance company to claim that your injuries are not as severe as you claimed because of your failure to follow treatment recommendations.
Our Lancaster workplace accident attorney knows all too well that symptoms will lessen during the treatment process; however, if you stop receiving treatment or following the doctor’s guidelines, those symptoms can return, and in some instances, they can come back worse than they were originally. That said, you are reminded to tell your doctor every little detail you can think of about your injuries and the feelings you’re experiencing, despite how minor they may seem. You are also encouraged to discuss any injuries that were present before the accident. Even if you had pre-existing injuries, you may still be entitled to compensation for those stemming from the incident at issue.
You don’t have to attempt to handle your workers’ compensation case on your own. Any Lancaster workplace accident attorney at our firm can help you with your case and discuss how the process works under the law. Contact our office for immediate assistance.
If you have been hurt on the job, you are undoubtedly suffering from not only physical pain, but also emotional pain as you begin to face the harsh reality that you may be out of work for weeks, months or even longer. Each Lancaster workplace accident attorney at our firm understands this and we are prepared to assist you as much as possible with your claim to ensure you get the just compensation you deserve.
In this four-part series, we will discuss a number of mistakes you need to avoid while dealing with your workers’ comp case — errors that could ultimately damage your case beyond repair.
If you’ve sustained an injury while performing your job duties, you may have experienced a level of embarrassment, as well as disorientation. At the time, you may not be thinking clearly even if your physical injuries aren’t immediately evident. Still, there are a number of steps that need to be taken at the time of the accident in order to preserve your claim.
For instance, if your coworkers witnessed the injury, they most likely will be able to advise the employer of what happened just prior to the accident. Their versions will probably vary, as is normal when individuals witness an event from different vantage points. That said, your version of what took place before, during and after the incident will be critical to your case. Accordingly, our Lancaster workplace accident attorney encourages accident victims to write everything down while the incident is still fresh in their mind. Ensure that your notes are as thorough as possible, paying particular attention to what was said by whom and when. No detail is insignificant, so the more complete your notes are, the better.
It is also important to maintain copies of all documents related to the injury, especially from a financial standpoint. Such costs can include travel to and from doctor’s appointments, lost wages and various after-care services. Be sure to obtain and keep copies of all medical records, including MRI and CT scan results, lab reports and other related documents every time you go to an appointment. Doing so from the beginning will help you and your attorney save a ton of time, expense and stress in the long run.
You must let your physician know everything about your injuries that occurred from not only this accident, as well as injuries that existed previously on the same part of the body (which we commonly refer to as pre-existing conditions). So, if your doctor asks how you are doing, do not simply say, “I’m doing okay.” Go into in-depth detail, as the doctor actually needs to know how you are feeling physically. Tell him or her about every symptom you have, including those that have changed or continue to evolve as time passes.
While you are explaining your ailments to the doctor, it is also crucial for you to advise him or her if you’re feeling better than you were initially too. Our Lancaster workplace accident attorney knows that one sure way to damage your workers’ comp claim is to make up injuries that do not exist or to overblow the extent of your injuries. Doctors are professionals who have been trained to spot certain signs and symptoms related to various injuries — so if you’re faking it, they will likely know this sooner rather than later. When doctors think a person is faking injuries, it will be noted in the medical records and that notation may ultimately bring your case to an abrupt end or severely devalue it.
You should be justly compensated for any injuries you sustain while performing your job duties. Don’t mess up your claim by making reckless mistakes that could’ve easily been avoided. Contact our Lancaster workplace accident attorney today to discuss the particulars of your situation.
30 East Roseville Road, Suite C
Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: 717-397-1010
Office Hours:
After Hours: 717-471-2168
Fax: 717-397-2644
Vanasse Law LLC is conveniently located just north of center city Lancaster just off Route 30. We are in Sterling Center just off Lititz Pike/Route 501. Our office has plenty of free parking and is handicapped accessible.
Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Vanasse Law LLC serves injured workers throughout Lancaster County and surrounding communities.
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