INJURED ON THE JOB AND NEED HELP?

The Pennsylvania Federation of Injured Workers can help you understand your rights under the Pennsylvania Worker's Compensation Act.  If you need some information about Pennsylvania's Worker's Compensation System or you need a little support to make it through tough times the PFIW is here for you.  We help injured workers because "An Injury to One is an Injury to All"!

WORKER'S COMPENSATION MANDATE

There is an opinion in law that explains what the purpose of the workers compensation act is to be; the only problem is finding a way to get the commonwealth to enforce it.  The following is part of a decision handed out by Judge Robert Simpson: "The object of all interpretation and construction of statutes is to ascertain and effectuate the intention of the General Assembly." 1 Pa. C.S.A. §1921(a).  The ultimate goal of the workers' compensation program is to make an injured employee whole.  O'Brien v. Workers' Compensation Appeal Board (City of Philadelphia), 780 A.2d 829 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2001). 

MEDICAL TREATMENT

When injured on the job the employer will send you to a physician selected and listed on a panel physician list that is posted at the job site.  It is important to know that there is a reason the employer has chosen that particular physician to be a company panel physician.  The physician has agreed to treat any work injury with as little expense as possible.  This may lead to the injury not receiving aggressive treatment necessary for a complete recovery.

In Pennsylvania, injured workers must treat with an employer selected panel physician for the first 90 days after the injury.  After the 90 days injured workers can get the physician they choose.

PENNSYLVANIA'S WORKER'S COMPENSATION ACT 57

Workers Compensation Act 57 legislation was passed the same way the recent 2005 pay raise was passed.  It was voted on and passed during the late hours of the night without any public debate opportunity.  The reason for it being passed that way is because it would not have stood debate.

The Legislative Leadership hoped this bad worker's compensation reform legislation would go unnoticed by the majority of workers and it did.  Many workers are under the impression they will be taken care of in the event of a workplace injury.  In many serious injury claims this is not true.  It has become standard practice of self-insured employers and workers compensation insurers to deny a serous workplace injury to save on worker's compensation insurance premiums or for self-insured's medical costs.

Pennsylvania Worker's Compensation Act 57

LEGAL REPRESENTATION

When it is time to get legal help for your workers compensation claim know the right questions to ask an attorney.  It is important to select an attorney that will go the distance in the legal battle to protect your right to receive workers compensation when injured on the job.  Once you sign an attorney agreement it is next to impossible to change to get a better attorney.  Most attorneys will not take a case that has had a previous attorney.  This is the most important decisions you will make for your future.  Learn how to evaluate an attorney.  Take advantage of a free consolation before you decide on an attorney.

PFIW BERKS/SCHUYLKILL COUNTY CHAPTER COMMUNITY TV

The show can be seen on Comcast-Reading channel 13, Comcast-Oley channel 4, and Service Electric Cablevision channel 19,

the first Monday of odd numbered months at 8:00 PM EST.

If you don’t have cable, you’ll be able to see it all at www.bctv.org.

Guest speakers are on the show to provide information and to answer any questions about Pennsylvania worker's compensation.

If you would like to be considered to appear on the show as a guest contact:

Dennis Straub at 888-376-7942 or dennisstraub@verizon.net