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In a recent decision favorable to injured workers in PA, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania said that, under certain circumstances, a workers’ compensation insurance company must pay not only to modify a van to be wheelchair accessible, but to pay for the cost of the van itself. This is an important change in the law, because there had been an older case, finding the workers’ compensation insurance company was only responsible to pay for making a van wheelchair accessible (and not for the cost of the van itself).

The injured worker in this case, who was paralyzed in a work injury, was not able to get out of the house, even to medical appointments, without this special van. Fortunately, the Court saw the unfairness of making the workers’ compensation insurance company pay only to modify the van for a wheelchair, when the injured worker might then not even be able to afford buying the van itself. The Court said, ” . . . the van is crucial to restore some small measure of the independence and quality of life that existed before the work injury.”

This rule is probably limited to cases like this, involving a catastrophic injury. The Court also said the situation of the injured worker in each case needs to be examined. For example, is a new van required? Did the injured worker own a van before the injury? Was any automobile owned by the injured worker before the injury? The answers to these questions, and others, would determine whether the workers’ compensation insurance company would have to pay for the cost of the van in any future case.

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Though workers’ compensation insurance companies routinely deny that carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by work activities, a recent article suggests that about half of all cases of carpal tunnel syndrome are, in fact, related to work activities. According to the article, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment, approximately two million people in the United States suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. An estimated 260,000 surgeries are performed each year to address the condition.

“Carpal tunnel syndrome . . . tends to affect people more frequently who use their hands excessively, such as pianists, concert violinists, hairdressers, computer operators, manual laborers, artists, sculptors, dentists, and even neurosurgeons,” says James R. Bean, MD, American Association of Neurological Surgeons president-elect.

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One of the common injuries we see in workers’ compensation cases is to the neck. A recent study published on Spineuniverse, a website dealing with neck and back pain suggests that acupuncture relieves neck pain as well as injection therapy does, without the use of any medication. Unfortunately, though, neither of these methods seems to work for even half of patients. According to the study, 43.6% of acupuncture patients described themselves as being at least satisfied with their treatment, as compared to 41.3% of injection patients. Since surgery is a last resort, acupuncture can at least be considered as an option to relieve neck pain.

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Under certain circumstances, injured workers in Pennsylvania are required to submit to a vocational evaluation (a meeting with a vocational counselor). Until recently, the injured worker would usually then hear nothing . . . until a petition was filed by the workers’ compensation insurance carrier to reduce the injured workers’ benefits based on a “Labor Market Survey” (Basically a listing of jobs said to be available to the injured worker). This “hiding” of the vocational evidence made it more difficult for the injured worker to fight the petition.

In June, 2007, new regulations were passed by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, requiring vocational counselors to provide a copy of their initial report, as well as any additional reports, including the Labor Market Survey, to the injured worker, and his or her attorney within certain time frames. This makes the battle to protect an injured worker’s benefits much more fair.

When a workers’ compensation insurance carrier requests the injured worker have a vocational meeting, this should be a clear signal to the injured worker that his or her benefits are in jeopardy. It is at this time, if not before, when an injured worker should seek a workers’ compensation attorney.

Contact Information
Trevose
5 Neshaminy Interplex Dr, #205
Trevose, PA 19053
Phone: (215) 638-7500 [Formerly (215) 244-8101]Fax: (267) 803-6298
Lehigh Valley
609 Hamilton Mall
Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 740-1002Fax: (267) 803-6298
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P.O. Box 196
Pineville, PA 18946-0196

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