The Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., Discuss Reporting Workplace Injuries

PHILADELPHIA, PA--(Marketwire - Jun 27, 2012) - A recent case from the state of Washington illustrates an important fact about workers' compensation claims. A worker for Waste Connections, Inc., injured his back while pulling a heavy pallet off of an assembly line and left work during his lunch break because of his pain, which he mentioned to a supervisor. The next day, he went to a doctor, where he was diagnosed with lumbosacral degenerative disc disorder.

After recovering for 7 weeks, the injured employee returned to his workplace on light duty. After a little more than a week, however, he realized that his injury was too severe to continue working, and filed an injury report with his company. He was again required to see a doctor, who decided that his injury was likely caused by his work. However, a second opinion, requested by the insurance company, denied this outcome. Perry was initially denied benefits, but a jury eventually ruled that he had been injured at work. Waste Connections appealed, however, claiming that the worker had forfeited his right to benefits by not immediately reporting the injury. The Appeals Court denied this claim.

This is an important decision, as it expands the protections that injured workers may have against the financial consequences of a workplace injury. Because many injuries, particularly back injuries, may not appear to be as significant as they really are to workers until well after their initial occurrence, requiring workers to immediately report injuries in order to receive benefits may unfairly deny some truly deserving individuals of compensation. The Pennsylvania workers' compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., are prepared to help any worker who has suffered a workplace accident and encounters difficulties receiving the benefits to which they are entitled.

About the Firm

Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., is a workers' compensation law firm based in Pennsylvania, with offices in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York. To learn more about their services, contact them at 215-238-1130.