Every year hundreds of workers are injured because their job requires them to lift and move heavy objects. Indeed, heavy lifting injuries are some of the most common work-related injuries in Pennsylvania and in the United States.
The Attorneys at Lerner, Steinberg & Associates we have the experience needed to successfully bring a Workers’ Compensation claim that resulted from a heavy lifting injury. Our experienced and compassionate attorneys know how difficult it can be when you have suffered an injury and is no longer able to work. Call our law offices today at (215) 355-6400 for your free consultation
Common Injuries in Bucks County from Lifting Heavy Things at Work
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states, “…lifting, placing, carrying, holding and lowering [materials] are the principal cause of compensable work injuries.” Workplace injuries that stem from lifting a heavy object often occur from sudden trauma, however, they can also occur as a result of repeated and continuous heavy lifting.
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
- Rotator cuff tears and strains
- Patellar tendonitis
- Back sprains and strains
- Herniated disc
Factors that increase the chance and likelihood of an injury include:
- The weight of the object
- The duration that an object must be lifted
- The distance traveled while lifting an object
- Any twisting motions
- The number of lifts performed by the worker in a designated time
- The type of grip used during the lift.
One of the most common heavy lifting injury types are those involving the back, and specifically the lower back. A back injury can take days, weeks, months or years to recover. Unfortunately, it is also not uncommon for a back injury to render a worker wholly unable to work. According to the United States Department of Labor, more than one million workers across the country will be injured every year due to a back injury. In addition to the sheer number of workers who suffer from back injuries, more than two-thirds of all Workers’ Compensation claims are based on a back injury.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim for a Heavy Lifting Injury
Heavy lifting injuries can be traumatic resulting in lengthy recovery periods and extensive rehabilitation. Recovering from a torn muscle, a slipped or herniated disc, a fractured vertebrae can take weeks, months, or even years. If you have been injured because of a work related heavy lifting injury, then you are entitled to file a Workers’ Compensation claim.
Nearly every worker is covered under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, and employers are required to provide Workers’ Compensation insurance for all of their employees. In addition, it does not matter if a worker is part-time, a professional, or executive, generally workers who are employees are covered under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation system. Following an injury a worker is required to notify their employer that they were injured on the job. This is an important part of the Workers’ Compensation system because notice must be given to an employer within 21 days of their injury. If a worker does not give their employer a notice that they have been injured within 120 days, there shall not be entitled to compensation. An employer can either accept or deny a person’s claim. If an employer accepts a claim a worker may be entitled to any or all of the following forms of compensation:
- Medical expenses
- Total disability
- Partial disability
- Payments for lost wages
- Specific loss benefits
- Disfigurement benefits
- Death Benefits
Under the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Act, an injured worker is entitled to payments irrespective of medical expenses at a maximum weekly rate at two-thirds of their weekly wage. Under the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation schedule for payments the maximum compensation payable under the Workers’ Compensation Act, under Article 1, subsections 105.1 and 105.2, shall be $978.00 per week for injuries occurring on and after Jan. 1, 2016.
However, if your claim is denied that you have the right to file a claim petition with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
If a claim has been denied, the employer’s insurance carrier will send a Notice of Compensation Denial. If a claim has been denied, then a party has three years to file a Claim Petition from the date of the injury.
If You Injured Your Back or Shoulder from Lifting Something Heavy at Work in Bucks County, Contact Our Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
If you have been injured on the job because your job requires you to move heavy objects, then experienced and compassionate attorneys today. The Workers’ Compensation process can be difficult and particularly when there is a mental injury involved. Our attorneys serve the needs of injured workers and clients in Bucks County. Even if your Workers’ Compensation insurance claim has been accepted and you are receiving benefits, we will review your case for free to make sure your benefits are maximized at no cost to you. Simply call us at (215) 355-6400.
