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November 29, 2011
Will The Workers' Compensation Insurance Carrier Act Like The Grinch This Holiday Season
November 29, 2011
PostTis the Season: For Work Injuries, Aches and Pains part II
November 29, 2011
Tis the Season: For Work Injuries, Aches and Pains part I
October 09, 2011
Employers Are Taking Advantage Of Tough Economic Times By Punishing Injured Workers
September 28, 2011
When Should An Injured Worker Go Back To Work
Workers Compensation
Will The Workers' Compensation Insurance Carrier Act Like The Grinch This Holiday Season
Posted by: Jason Krasno
November 29, 2011
If you have consistently had problems with late checks or non payment of medical treatment, that is a trend that is likely to continue. The remedy for this is the filing of a penalty petition. At KK&O, we keep insurance companies in check every day by filing these petitions so our clients are not deprived of their right to receive wage loss and medical care. If your checks have been coming consistently and you do not have a problem with your medical care, the likelihood or something happening to your check is slimmer. However, many people go away around the holidays including your claim's adjuster. If you know your adjuster is going away or if your check is late, notify your attorney so they can call the adjuster right away. Sometimes, it is simply a matter of your claim fell off the schedule for payment and a quick stroke of the computer key by the adjuster can fix this. At KK&O, we realize your workers' compensation check is the lifeline for your financial existence and we react right away if that lifeline is put in jeopardy. Have a Happy Holiday Season and let us know how we can help you.
PostTis the Season: For Work Injuries, Aches and Pains part II
Posted by: Jason Krasno
November 29, 2011
If you have a work injury that involves a break or a fracture, then you can probably tell when it is going to snow or rain. The joint or point of injury will get stiff and sore. This is a consequence of the injury itself. It also means that you still have lingering issues as it relates to your work injury. A broken or fractured bone can mean the early onset of arthritis. Damp weather and Arthritic pain go together like a slug on a brick of salt, get my drift. If you are having ongoing problems associated with your injury, report this to your doctor and make note of the area where the pain radiates from. Always stay on top of your injuries before they get the upper hand on you.
Tis the Season: For Work Injuries, Aches and Pains part I
Posted by: Jason Krasno
November 29, 2011
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. The song for injured workers should be , Don't let me fall, Don't let me fall, Don't let me fall. Inevitably, we have all had our fair share of slip and falls on icy pavements, roads or stairs. If you happen to fall while in the course and scope of your employment, it is considered a work injury. November through March proves to be the worst time for back, knee and wrist injuries. If you think about the mechanism of a fall, you try to brace and balance yourself with your arms and legs. In the process of this action, you end up hurting your extremities as well as your back. You should report this right away to a supervisor or manager and fill out an incident report. If the employer tries to discourage you by using the old "bad weather" excuse tell him or her to stick it where the sun don't shine (Just Kidding). Stand your ground and report the incident. For more answers to your questions on work injuries, email or call Jason Krasno.
Employers Are Taking Advantage Of Tough Economic Times By Punishing Injured Workers
Posted by: Jason Krasno
October 09, 2011
Over the past five years, a disturbing trend has emerged that is becoming more frequent. Employers are using work injuries as an excuse to terminate injured workers and replace them with cheaper and less skilled laborers. In some cases, the employers action can be seen as retaliatory. However, employers are becoming very crafty at hiding retaliatory action. As an injured worker, it is important to protect yourself. At Krasno Krasno & Onwudinjo, we can help you develop a game plan to take on whatever your employer throws at you. Call us today for a free consultation
Light Duty or Modified Duty, What Does This Mean?
Posted by: Jason Krasno
August 29, 2011
LIGHT DUTY OR MODIFIED DUTY, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
If you are injured on the job and your doctor gave you a note with restrictions, your employer may offer you light or modified duty work. Light or Modified Duty work means that your employer will place you in a less physically demanding job until you are healed. Alternatively, your employer might alter your existing job to fit within the restrictions set forth by your doctor. However, some employers push their employees beyond the restrictions set forth by the doctor. If this is the case, it is important to tell your doctor and make an incident report with your employer. You want to do everything you can to protect yourself. One pitfall that a lot of injured workers get trapped in is pushing themselves to get back to regular duty too fast and sustaining further injury. If you feel as though the company doctor is only looking out for the companies best interest, ask to be seen by another doctor on the panel list. If there is no panel list, choose a doctor who specializes in the type of injury you sustained. For more information, contact Jason Krasno.
What To Do When My Employer Demands I Come Back To Work And I Am Too Injured To Do My Job
Posted by: Jason Krasno
August 01, 2011
Employers routinely ignore medical reports of your treating doctor when demanding that you return to work. An employer does not have to rely on the treating doctor notes when making a determination whether to bring you back to work.
What Is An Independent Medical Examiner?
Posted by: Jason Krasno
August 01, 2011
An independent medical examiner is a doctor designated by the workers' compensation insurance carrier to perform an examination on you to determine whether your injury is work related and whether disability results from the injury. It is not a doctor that is supposed to treat you for the work injury.
Work-Related Heart Attacks or Myocardial Infarctions
Posted by: Jason Krasno
July 22, 2011
One of the leading killers of people in the United States is a heart attack. Many of us go through our daily lives never considering the possibility that we have heart disease. Some of us are lucky, others suffer the consequence of not addressing this potentially fatal condition. In the realm of workers' compensation, people with blocked arteries put themselves at greater risk when they work in a job that causes over-exertion.
Work Related Electrical Injuries
Posted by: Jason Krasno
July 22, 2011
There are many professions that require workers to maneuver around live power sources. The obvious are electricians and telephone repairmen. However, most employees are required to work around some electrical source such as an outlet, computer etc.
Dangers of Revealing Too Much Information on Facebook While On Workers' Compensation Benefits
Posted by: krasno
May 11, 2011
Everyone is entitled to a social life and a social networking life. However, people collecting workers' compensation benefits are held to a different standard when it comes to postings. Workers' Compensation Insurance Carriers will do anything to discredit your name to gain an advantage in your workers' compensation case. The best recommendation I can give you is to take a break from posting stuff on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace etc if it involves anything that has to do with your daily activities or personal life. Private investigators work around the clock to lure you into saying or doing something your not supposed to. Remember, you can't tell who someone is when they are typing on a keyboard from an undisclosed location. I don't want you to be paranoid, I just want you to be very careful. We have had several client's lose their cases because of stupid comments on Facebook and Twitter.
How Am I Going To Survive Financially If My Case Takes 18 Months To Litigate
Posted by: krasno
May 11, 2011
If your workers' compensation case has been denied and the case has to go before a Judge, it can take a while for a Judge's Decision and Order. What options do you have during the waiting process? If you are able to return to work modified/light duty, you can try to return to work with your employer. If your employer cannot accommodate the modified/light duty restrictions, then you have the option of filing for unemployment compensation benefits. Unemployment Compensation Benefits will count as a credit against your workers' compensation benefits. Some people also apply for Welfare Benefits to help ease the financial burden while waiting for compensation benefits. If you do apply for Welfare Benefits, a lien will be asserted against your workers' compensation case.
I Am In Chronic Pain And It Is Starting To Affect Me Emotionally
Posted by: krasno
May 11, 2011
Many times injured workers' will find themselves depressed or anxious after sustaining a work injury. An injury is painful and if it is not treated properly or your pain is not controlled it can take a heavy toll on your emotional well being. This is not something to be taken lightly. Relationships with family members, co-workers and friends can be affected by this shift in behavior. There is no shame in reaching out to religious person you respect, friend or psychologist or psychiatrist. It is important to treat the mind and body.
What Does Supersedeas Mean
Posted by: krasno
May 11, 2011
I get asked this question a lot. Supersedeas in its easiest terms means quick relief for the Workers' Compensation Insurance Carrier. If Supersedeas is granted it means that your workers' compensation lost wage benefits will be suspended until the final outcome of the case or the workers' compensation insurance carrier will be able to recover money it paid out for medical expenses from a special fund. Always follow up with your lawyer whenever you receive a petition in the mail. Your lawyer will be able to determine if a Supersedeas Request has been made.
A Special Thank You To Our Clients
Posted by: krasno
May 11, 2011
The Law Firm of Krasno Krasno & Onwudinjo would like to thank all of our clients for having the strength and perseverance to withstand the wear and tear of the Workers' Compensation Process. We hope you are successful in your case and recover from your work injuries. It is our goal to help lead the way to a speedy recovery both physically and financially.
The Out of State Doctor Dilema for Injured Workers
Posted by: krasno
April 11, 2011
A number of my clients who get injured in Pennsylvania and live in another state have difficulty finding doctors to treat them. Many out of state doctors are concerned about how the medical bills will get paid. We see a number of clients who work in the Marcellus Shale Industry, Truck Drivers, Pilots and Cable Tower Technicians. This is a very complex issue that the Law Firm of Krasno Krasno & Onwudinjo is accustomed to handling. If you are running into this issue or similar issues, please give Jason Krasno a call so he can walk you through the process.
Marcellus Shale Drilling: How To Find Proper Medical Care When You Get Injured
Posted by: krasno
April 11, 2011
Workers involved in the shale drilling industry in Pennsylvania are finding it increasingly difficult to find appropriate medical care in the states in which they live. The work schedule of two weeks on and two weeks off means that at some point you will probably go back to the state in which you live. Non-Pennsylvania doctors who will treat you may be scared by out of state insurance issues. Jason Krasno has helped a number of injured shale drilling workers get the medical care they need. If you are running into this issue or similar issues, please give Jason Krasno a call so he can walk you through the process.
Degenerative Disc Disease and the Injured Worker
Posted by: krasno
April 11, 2011
How many injured workers get this response from the workers' compensation insurance carrier: "You have degenerative disc disease (DDD) in your spine and we are not responsible for it." Claims Adjusters and Nurse Case Managers follow a certain protocol when dealing with degenerative disc disease and other types of arthritis, DENY DENY DENY. The real fact is that degenerative disc disease is something that occurs overtime or advances with strenuous activity as we get older. 90% of the population has some form of DDD but this condition is not always painful. If you get injured on the job and never had back pain before, then chances are you aggravated that underlying DDD. If you get injured on the job and did have issues with back pain but the job injury made it much worse, then chances are you aggravated the underlying DDD. If you would like a more detailed explanation, please call Jason Krasno. Jason has litigated hundreds of these cases and consulted with some of the leading spine surgeons and physiatrists in Pennsylvania.
Knee Injuries: Meniscus Tears That Happen On The Job:
Posted by: krasno
March 30, 2011
Pop!That is not the sound you want coming from your knee. Unfortunately,meniscal injuries happen very easily on the job. If you bang your kneehard or move your knee awkwardly and feel a pop or burning sensation, you may have atorn meniscus. It is important to see an Orthopedic Surgeon as soonas possible to assess the extent of the damage. The meniscus is part ofthe cushion in your knee. If you tear part of that cushion it could leadto the early onset of arthritis. For more information on Knee Injuries AtWork email Jason Krasno at jkrasno@krasno.comor call Toll Free at 1 800 952 9640.
Notifying Your Employer About A Work Injury:
Posted by: krasno
March 30, 2011
Ifyou get injured on the job, make sure to notify your employer right away. If there is a handbook, follow the guidelines for reporting an injury. Ifthere is no handbook, try to find someone in a management position. Always fill out an incident report. Try to be as descriptive as possibleand list all of the body parts you injured, not just the injury that hurts themost. If your employer fills out the incident report for you, make sureyou get to see a copy. If it is wrong, then write a letter explainingwhat is wrong with the report. For more information on Notifying YourEmployer About A Work Injury email Jason Krasno at jkrasno@krasno.com or call Toll Free to 1800 952 9640.
Repetitive Trauma Injuries: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Posted by: krasno
March 28, 2011
Alot of people have trouble understanding the term repetitive traumainjury. An easy way to remember it is as follows: A certain activity atwork causes or aggravates an injury like carpal tunnel syndrome. Everytime you continue to perform that activity you continue to injure that part ofyour body. Many workers are unaware that they even injure themselvesright away. Symptoms of carpal tunnel may feel like pins and needles inyour fingers or your hands falling asleep during the day. If you havedeveloped these symptoms, please make your employer aware that they are comingfrom your job. For more information on Repetitive Trauma Injuries such asCarpal Tunnel Syndrome email Jason Krasno at jkrasno @krasno.com or call TollFree to 1 800 952 9640.
