Fact:
Every year, 3.9 million Americans are injured on the job or traveling for work. When this occurs, the worker is entitled to benefits under Workers’ Compensation Law.
In the past, workers would have to sue their employers for any work-related injury or illness. They would only receive compensation if they won their lawsuit. Lawsuits often dragged on for many months, months where they would not receive any pay or compensation. These lawsuits would affect companies as well. Employers would be bogged down with costs of defending themselves against these lawsuits which would affect the company’s ability to grow or survive. In an attempt to solve this, workers’ compensation insurance was set up to protect both the employees and the employers.
Pennslyvania Workers’ Compensation
Today, in Pennsylvania, if a worker is hurt on the job (s)he has 120 days to file a claim with their supervisor. Upon filing, the employer has 15 days to file the claim. Once filed, the insurance company has 21 days to accept or reject the claim. Upon filing with your employer, (s)he should then give you a list of at least 6 panel physicians that you are to treat with. You will have to treat with at least one of these physicians for the first 90 days after your injury except if:
- They did not give you the panel list when you were first hired.
- They did not give the list again to you when you were hurt.
- The type of doctor you want to treat with is not on the panel.
If you are hurt on the job, Relief Chiropractic is a great choice to treat your injuries. With over 25 years’ experience treating work injuries, we understand the nuances of work-related injuries and the best practices to get you back to health. Even if we are not on your panel list, you can treat with us from day 1 of your injury if there is no chiropractor on the company panel, or they did not do any of the other things listed above. If unsure, call us at 215-337-3997 to discuss your situation.
Why Treat With a Chiropractor?
Work injuries are often treated with medications. While they can reduce the pain, they do little to heal the injury. Adding chiropractic to your treatment plan maximizes your chances for a full recovery. In fact, studies have shown that chiropractic care after a work-related injury significantly reduces recovery time, decreases the need for hospital admissions (click here for studies), and is more cost-efficient than traditional medical care.
There are two main goals following a work-related injury, manage the pain, and getting the individual back to work as soon and as safely possible. Relief Chiropractic can play an essential role in reaching these goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Be Fired if I Report a Work Injury?
In short, no. Firing an individual for filing a workers’ compensation claim is illegal is considered wrongful termination and retaliation. A wrongfully fired employee can sue for damages as well as worker compensation benefits. It’s the law.
I Have Injured This Area in the Past, or Have a Preexisting Injury. Can I Still Be Covered Under Workers Compensation?
Yes, you are still covered. An aggravation or exacerbation of a pre-existing condition, properly documented, can be a compensable work injury. Further, an aggravation of a pre-existing degenerative condition is also a work injury. The key to establish a work-related aggravation is that “the medical evidence must establish that the injury materially contributed to the disability rather than the disability resulted from the natural progression of a pre-existing condition.”. With 25 years’ experience treating work-related injuries, we are able to determine and properly document whether the injury contributed to your disability or if it is a natural progression of the preexisting condition.
Do I Have to Treat With the Company Panel Doctor?
You only have to treat with the panel doctor for the first 90 days if the employer gave you their panel list when you were first hired and then again when you put in your claim. Even if they did that, if there is no chiropractor on the panel you can treat with us from day one. Further, you can treat with both the panel doctor and us at the same time.