The Workers' Compensation Survival Guide
10 Ways to Survive the System.
Injured workers who are placed on workers' compensation without the benefit of experienced lawyers on their side are left to rely upon human resource managers, workers' compensation insurance adjusters, and other for advice and information regarding their workers' compensation rights. All too often, injured workers mistakenly believe that workers' compensation insurance is their insurance. Nothing could be further from the truth! Rather, workers' compensation insurance is insurance for the employer, and an injured worker is considered a "claimant." In fact, Pennsylvania laws are written in such a way that the workers' compensation benefit system has become a system of the injured worker versus the employer and insurance company, an the employer and insurance company are well informed regarding workers' compensation law and have experts, such as rehab nurses and lawyers, on their side. In contrast, the average injured worker placed on workers' compensation has no understanding of the system and is left out trust the workers' compensation insurance company to protect his/her rights. At the Workers' Compensation Institute we believe that such trust is misplaced.
There are many crossroads that are reached during the life of a workers' compensation claim. Starting from the time that the injured worker is placed on workers' compensation and continuing until the time that the injured worker successfully returns to meaningful work, the choices made at each of these crossroads can and do change the outcome of a workers' compensation claim for better or for worse. The Survival Guide was prepared with the hope that it would help injured workers identify the red flags that should prompt them to call The Workers' Compensation Institute.
The Workers' Compensation Institute, through the presentation of our educational seminars and with the preparation of this Survival Guide, is committed to our mission of ensuring that injured workers receive valuable information regarding their workers' compensation rights before a costly mistake is made.
Tip #1 - Be Sure Your Injury Description Is Correct
Tip #2 - Be Sure Your Wage Rate Is Correct
Tip #3 - Document Receipt Of Late Checks
Tip #4 - Beware Of Offsets To Your Benefits
Tip #5 - Know The Significance Of An Independent Medical Exam
Tip #6 - Know Whose Side The Rehab Nurse Is On
Tip #7 - What Out For Labor Market Surveys
Tip #8 - Be Sure Your Medical Bills Are Paid Promptly
Tip #9 - Prepare For The Impairment Rating Exam
Tip #10 - Plan Before You Settle
Smigel, Anderson & Sacks
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
4431 North Front Street • Harrisburg, PA 17110
717.234.2401 • 1.877.CompHelp