One of the important jobs we have, as attorneys who represent injured workers in Pennsylvania, is to educate our clients about the PA workers’ compensation system. It is vital to us that our clients fully understand their rights and responsibilities under the PA Workers’ Compensation Act, and the appellate cases…
Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Lawyer Blog
Developments in “Walking” for Paralyzed Injured Workers
A few months ago, we shared our excitement about the ReWalk motorized exoskeleton. We are now proud to note that one of our very own clients is working with another of these devices, called Ekso, through Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Allentown, PA. According to Susan Golden, Director of Neurorehabilitation…
ACL Tear Does Not Automatically Mean Surgery
A frequent injury we see in PA workers’ compensation cases is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee of the injured worker. In the past, this type of injury automatically required extensive reconstructive surgery to repair the tear. As we mentioned in a blog a few…
Change of Injury Description Barred by Court
Several years ago, we discussed the decision in Weney v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (Mac Sprinkler Systems, Inc.), wherein the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania precluded an injured worker from amending a description of injury, because the injured worker had previously filed a Petition to Review and did not address that…
Undocumented Worker Cut Off from PA Workers’ Comp Without Change in Condition
As we have previously noted, undocumented workers in Pennsylvania are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, but such benefits can be stopped when the injured worker is no longer totally disabled. What a workers’ comp insurance carrier must prove to stop benefits in this situation was examined recently in the matter…
PA Workers’ Compensation Judge David Slom Retires
Last month, we mentioned that the Northeast Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Hearing Office was now closed, forcing all residents of Philadelphia to have their cases heard in Center City Philadelphia. This change forced the Workers’ Compensation Judges (WCJs) at this location, and their staffs, to relocate as well. Though we cannot…
Bad Faith Causes Denial of Reinstatement to Total Disability Benefits
When an injured worker in Pennsylvania goes back to modified duty work, and then loses that job through no fault of his own, typically the injured worker is entitled to a reinstatement of benefits, back to total disability benefits. Of course, as always, there are exceptions to the rule. One…
Injured PA worker Denied Benefits Due to Not Having Transportation
Once an injured worker in Pennsylvania establishes that he or she is disabled from work, due to the work injury, typically the workers’ compensation benefits continue (at the “temporary total disability” rate) until either the injured worker goes back to work, fully recovers, settles the case, or, loses litigation which…
Workers’ Compensation Judge Nathan Cohen Retires
Though we handle PA workers’ comp cases primarily in Southeastern and Central Pennsylvania, we still like to keep a watch on the entire PA workers’ compensation system. It was in this regard that we learned Workers’ Compensation Judge Nathan Cohen, who presided in Pittsburgh, retired from the bench yesterday. We…
Pain Medication Denied to Injured PA Worker
Not long ago, we discussed our belief that the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce and PA workers’ comp insurance industry will soon be gearing up to have legislation introduced to curtail the rights of injured workers in PA. As we mentioned, the Utilization Review (UR) process is squarely on their radar…