Workers' Compensation Archives | Westmoreland Injury Lawyers Blog

Types of Common Work Restrictions That Can Happen After a Work Injury

Highlights

Understanding the purpose and scope of work restrictions after a work injury
Exploring how medical professionals determine and impose work restrictions
The critical interaction between work restrictions and workers’ compensation benefits
Navigating the implications of permanent work restrictions on employment
Legal obligations of employers to accommodate work restrictions and potential consequences of non-compliance
The pivotal role of Independent Medical Examination (IME) doctors in assessing work injuries and recommending restrictions
Highlighting the importance of compliance with work restrictions for a safe and effective recovery

Frequently Asked Questions About Light Work Duty After A Workplace Injury

Highlights:

Light duty is a temporary change in job duties following a work injury, involving fewer demanding tasks and possibly fewer hours to accommodate the employee’s recovery.
Modified duty alters your existing job to fit physical limitations, while light duty assigns new, less demanding tasks that align with medical restrictions.
It’s a short-term solution where injured workers can perform tasks within their medical limitations, sometimes including workers’ compensation benefits.
May include administrative tasks such as filing or data entry, and could permit working from home.
The pay might be less due to reduced tasks and hours, but partial workers’ compensation benefits could cover wage losses.
Light duty is active employment, not counted as lost time, thus not affecting workers’ compensation lost time cases.

How Do Lump Settlements Work Under Workers Comp Laws in PA?

Highlights:

Injured workers in Pennsylvania are entitled to benefits under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act.
These benefits include coverage for medical expenses, lost wages, and vocational rehabilitation.
Lump-sum settlements in PA workers’ comp cases involve a one-time payment instead of ongoing benefits.
Both parties must agree on the settlement amount, which may require negotiation or mediation.
Factors to consider when deciding on a lump-sum settlement include immediate financial needs and potential future medical expenses.
There are significant benefits to choosing a lump-sum settlement, such as immediate access to all funds owed and greater financial flexibility.

A Workplace Injury Lawyer On How To Report A Work Accident To Your Employer

Highlights:

After suffering a workplace injury, it is important to seek immediate medical attention and make sure to document the incident with an accident or incident report form.
When filing for workers’ comp, you should include in the report a timeline of events, photos, medical bills and records, pay stubs, description of injuries, and any previous complaints about safety hazards or concerns at work.
It is important to report workplace accidents immediately as this can help bring unsafe conditions to light while giving you the time necessary to gather evidence for legal action. It also creates a paper trail that records the details of the incident and allows you to get necessary medical help while protecting your rights as an injured worker.

What to Do If You’re Denied Workers’ Compensation

Have you filed a claim for workers’ compensation (WC) benefits after being injured on the job and received the dreaded denial letter in your mailbox in response? There are various reasons why your workers’ compensation claim may have been denied, but you do have options for pursuing your claim and possibly having the denial reversed. Today we’re looking at some of the best subsequent actions you can take after a denied worker’s comp claim in Pennsylvania.

Your Complete Guide for When and How to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

When you are hurt in an auto accident, on the job, or due to a medical mistake, it’s easy to feel confused or overwhelmed in dealing with the aftermath. You may have expensive healthcare or even regular household bills that you have no idea how you can pay, especially if you are off work and have no paycheck coming in. You may have been unfairly treated by insurance companies, doctors, your employer, or others who should be trustworthy. Unfortunately, they are only looking out for their own best interests.

When experiencing these difficult times, you need someone looking out for you. That person can be an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you put a nightmarish situation behind you and get you the compensation and justice you deserve for your personal injury claim.

This guide aims to teach you everything you need to know when hiring a personal injury lawyer. It covers everything from how to find the most experienced and compassionate legal representation right in your local community to the common question, “why should I hire a personal injury attorney for my case?”

If you have already decided to contact a personal injury lawyer for your case, you can turn to Westmoreland Injury Lawyers. We can help you replace lost wages, deal with creditors, stop bill collectors, and fight back against those who have mistreated you.

Speak With a Work Injury Lawyer in Greensburg, PA, to Avoid These 3 Mistakes

“What happens if I get hurt at work?” concerns all workers, no matter their industry. From professional forklift operators to people who work in an office at a desk, there is a risk of injury. This loaded question is one we deal with frequently at Westmoreland Injury Lawyers.

As professional workers’ comp lawyers, we understand how the ins and outs of all the paperwork and legal jargon can be overwhelming for employees like yourself. And while our firm is small, we’re a mighty local team of attorneys and dedicated paralegals with over 30 years of workers’ compensation experience on our side. We understand how the workers’ compensation system works in Pennsylvania. Period.

So, when you’ve experienced a workplace injury and want to speak with a work injury lawyer in Greensburg, PA, you deserve to speak with someone with experience in workplace injury laws, like us.

With our depth of experience, we have also seen plenty of easily avoidable mistakes that employees have made after they’re injured at work. Today, we’re going to discuss some of the most common errors we see with workers’ compensation claims and how you can better prevent them and protect yourself in the future.

Why Having the Best Workers’ Comp Lawyer in Greensburg, PA, is Important for Your Case

Workers’ compensation can seem very foreign to you if you have never dealt with PA work injury law before. However, it can feel daunting to get a claim together by yourself when you are injured. Pennsylvania law states that most employees have the right to make a workers’ compensation (WC) claim, regardless of their industry, if they are injured or sickened while they are working.

While there are a few exceptions, you are unlikely to fall into that category. Speaking with a dedicated workers’ compensation lawyer can make the comp claim process less overwhelming and confusing. To ensure you get the compensation you deserve after your work-related injury, you will want to consult with the best workers’ comp lawyer in Greensburg, PA.

At Westmoreland Injury Lawyers, we have helped injured workers just like you get through the workers’ comp process. If you have a claim you are waiting to file or have already filed and received a denial, we can help.

When to Settle Your Workers’ Compensation Case

When you’re looking for workers’ compensation lawyers near you, you’ve come to the right place for information. Here at Westmoreland Injury Lawyers, we talk about workers’ compensation (WC) a lot. From how it works to how to file, or even more info about the types of injuries that qualify and what to do if you’re denied workers comp.

In this post, we want to discuss the pros and cons and what can happen if you decide to settle your workers’ compensation case for a cash payout. Settling can be very tempting, but depending on your injuries, you should be aware of what could happen if you settle too early.

Workers’ Comp Claims Are Insurance Processes, Not Suing Your Employer

There is a common misconception that being hurt on the job means you will have to sue your employer to recover compensation for your injuries. This idea naturally scares many people, and plenty of employees who have experienced a workplace injury suffer silently—and unnecessarily—to avoid what they believe will be a confrontational and emotionally fraught situation at work.

However, making a workers’ compensation (WC) claim in most situations will involve working through an established WC insurance process specially designed to eliminate the need to sue your employer and avoid a fight. If you’ve been hurt, disabled, or developed an illness while working, it is your right to make a workers’ comp claim, and you should not avoid doing so out of fear.