by Karl Voigt, June 19, 2025 Summer starts tomorrow - and with it, long hours, heavy lifting, and dangerous heat. Whether you’re roofing under the sun, driving long shifts with no A/C, or pulling freight in a sweltering warehouse, summer is prime time for workplace injuries. If you get hurt on the job, don’t assume … Continue reading Summer starts tomorrow! Injured on the Job? Don’t Let Your Boss or the Insurance Company Decide What You Deserve
Tag: Workers’ Compensation
2024 PA Workers’ Comp Report: Fewer Injuries, Higher Costs, and a Crackdown on Cheating Employers
by Karl Voigt On June 6, 2025, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania released its 2024 Workers’ Compensation Annual Report, and the data reveals some important - and surprising -trends for both workers and employers. While reported work injuries are down significantly, the cost of treating those injuries is rising fast. At the same time, state officials … Continue reading 2024 PA Workers’ Comp Report: Fewer Injuries, Higher Costs, and a Crackdown on Cheating Employers
The Importance of Revising the Official Description of a Workers’ Compensation Injury in Pennsylvania
by Karl Voigt Navigating workers’ compensation claims can be complicated, particularly when the initial injury diagnosis is incomplete or inaccurately described. For workers injured in Pennsylvania, it’s essential to understand that insurance companies are legally required to acknowledge an injury through a document called the Notice of Compensation Payable (NCP) within 21 days of the … Continue reading The Importance of Revising the Official Description of a Workers’ Compensation Injury in Pennsylvania
COVID-19 and Workers’ Compensation: What Happens if I’m Exposed at Work?
by Karl Voigt By now, you're probably fatigued by news about Covid-19, the virus that has been acknowledged as a worldwide pandemic. Pennsylvania, as of the date of this post (April 10, 2020) is certainly no stranger to the disease, with some 19,979 cases and 416 deaths. Even worse, Philadelphia is now the next projected … Continue reading COVID-19 and Workers’ Compensation: What Happens if I’m Exposed at Work?
COVID-19 and Workers’ Compensation: What Happens After a Layoff?
by Karl Voigt Just last week, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 3 million workers nationwide were laid off due to mandatory or economic employer closings. And more people are expected to file in the upcoming weeks. While we all hope for a quick resolution to the crisis, there is some remedy for injured workers … Continue reading COVID-19 and Workers’ Compensation: What Happens After a Layoff?
Insurance Medical Exams and Workers’ Compensation
by Karl Voigt When you have been injured at work, you and your treating physician make the important decisions. Both of you weigh treatment options and decide the best course of care. However, the workers' compensation insurance company has a statutory right to get opinions from a third-party doctor in what they call an "independent … Continue reading Insurance Medical Exams and Workers’ Compensation
Pennsylvania Announces 2019 Average Weekly Wage
by Karl Voigt Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Labor and Industry has announced the 2019 Statewide Average Weekly Wage. This figure serves as the basis for determining the maximum and minimum weekly Workers’ Compensation benefit rates in Pennsylvania. The figure has increased 2.3% to $1049 from the 2018 average of $1025. This increase affects the weekly rates … Continue reading Pennsylvania Announces 2019 Average Weekly Wage
Tesla: Environment Friendly But Not So Injured Worker Friendly
by Karl Voigt An industrial laborer fractures his ankle on an assembly line. He goes to his employer's infirmary, receives some perfunctory first aid and is immediately sent back to work full duty, unable to even stand on his injured foot. Which in turn increases the likelihood of further injury - not just to him … Continue reading Tesla: Environment Friendly But Not So Injured Worker Friendly
Governor Wolf Signs Workers’ Compensation Bill – Act 111
by Karl Voigt Yesterday, October 24, Governor Tom Wolf, signed into law as Act 111 a bill that resurrects impairment ratings for injured workers in Pennsylvania. Impairment rating evaluations (IREs) allow insurance companies to subject an injured worker to a medical exam after receiving benefits for 104 weeks. The stricken 1996 law, if the worker … Continue reading Governor Wolf Signs Workers’ Compensation Bill – Act 111
Governor Wolf Introduces Opioid Prescribing Guidelines for Workers’ Compensation Patients
by Karl Voigt This week, Pennsylvania Governor Wolf launched opioid prescribing guidelines for workers' compensation claimants, citing the opioid epidemic as its impeller. The Governor stated that Pennsylvania ranks third highest in the nation in the percentage of injured workers who become long-term opioid users. To counter that trend, these guidelines, which are not intended … Continue reading Governor Wolf Introduces Opioid Prescribing Guidelines for Workers’ Compensation Patients
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