Blog

Light snow may be more dangerous to drivers than heavy snowstorms

Jan 21, 2016

Winter brings with it icy and slick conditions that can imperil all drivers on the road. Intuitively, it may seem that heavier snowfalls would cause more dangerous road conditions and reduced visibility that could lead to a greater incidence of accidents and injuries. However, some believe that lighter snowfalls could be even more dangerous to drivers. That's because drivers operating under light snow conditions may not recognize how dangerous the roads have become, and may...

Pennsylvania ahead of national average for body part compensation

Jan 16, 2016

How much can you get for a lost leg? How about an index finger, or even an ear? The answer depends on the state where you live. Each state is allowed by Congress to determine on its own how much workers' compensation benefits pay for workplace accidents that cause amputations. The good news, if there can be such a thing in a workplace amputation scenario, is twofold. First of all, unlike having to prove that...

What if you’re offered a job while collecting wage-loss benefits?

Jan 14, 2016

Receiving workers' compensation benefits, including wage-loss benefits, can be a great relief when you've been injured on the job and are unable to work for a period of time. Having the financial breathing room and access to medical care you need without having to file a personal-injury lawsuit against your employer are some of the very reasons that workers' compensation benefits even exist. But that much-needed respite and recovery can be interrupted if your employer...

CDC confirms Utah nurse as serial hepatitis C infector

Jan 7, 2016

The CDC has now confirmed that the hepatitis C outbreak at McKay-Dee Hospital and Davis Medical Center & Hospital in Utah was caused by Elet Neilson, a healthcare professional who worked for Davis from June 2011 to April 2014 and at McKay-Dee from June 2014 to November 2014. The CDC says at least 7200 people have risked exposure. This case is similar to that of "serial infector" David Kwiatkowski who traveled around the country to...

Coal mining deaths at a record low

Jan 6, 2016

There is good news for people who work in the coal mining industry: on-the-job deaths for coal miners are at a record low. The last week in December the death toll stood at 11, whereas in 2014 there were 16 mining-related fatalities. Three of the deaths occurred in Pennsylvania, the most of any state. Of the deaths that occurred this year, seven happened in underground mines, and four of those were caused by roof or wall collapses...

Civil suit against Pennsylvania driller allowed to resume

Jan 4, 2016

Nearly four years after a fatal accident in Pennsylvania involving a water tanker that rolled down an embankment, killing the driver, a federal appeals court has allowed a civil lawsuit to go forward on behalf of the deceased driver's estate and his wife. At issue in the case is the question of whether a natural gas drilling company had been negligent in failing to install appropriate signage and lights to guide truckers to the work...

What happens if you’re injured out of state?

Dec 30, 2015

It depends. Originally, workers' compensation laws in Pennsylvania were intended to apply only to workers who actually worked within the state. Those laws have been expanded over time to include people who work in other states under certain conditions. Simply living in Pennsylvania while working in another state does not necessarily qualify a person to collect Pennsylvania workers' compensation benefits. A recent court case illustrates this point. A truck driver who lived in Pennsylvania was...

Pennsylvania athletes file lawsuit for concussions

Dec 23, 2015

Two former students from Neshannock High School in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and the father of a senior athlete from Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), alleging that the organization did little to protect students against sports-related brain injuries, and did little to help them once they did receive such injuries. The PIAA is fighting back, claiming that according to the 2012 Youth in Sports Safety Act, schools...

Tragic teen accident highlights dangers of forklifts

Dec 21, 2015

A joyride on a forklift turned fatal when teens entered a Wissinoming, Pennsylvania, paper company last fall for fun. A 13-year-old boy died after the forklift he was driving collided with another forklift driven by a friend. While technically the accident wasn’t a “construction accident,” the accident highlights the dangers of driving a forklift, even for seasoned adult workers on an active job site. There are many ways for workers (and curious kids) to be...

Cranes That Install Christmas Trees Aren’t Always Safe

Dec 16, 2015

As the holidays approach, residents of many cities may be enjoying the spectacle of giant Christmas trees set up for public enjoyment. In New York City, for example, the lighting of the Rockefeller Center tree is a yearly tradition that draws tourists and locals alike. But putting up a giant tree isn't an easy task, and it's not always safe, either. The job requires large cranes, and sometimes those cranes can collapse, tip over, snap...