Getting hurt on the job can cause workers serious problems in the future. Besides the immediate medical injury and bills they have to deal with, a workplace injury can also affect the amount or type of work they can perform. In some cases, employers try to relieve themselves from having to deal with these cases by filing appeals. One airport employee recently retained her workers’ compensation benefits after her case was appealed in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
The employee was injured when the luggage transporter she was driving at the Pittsburgh International Airport overturned on her way to meet her mother. She had forgotten her wallet and asked her mother to bring feminine products to her. When the vehicle overturned, the woman sustained a severe injury to her leg, which later had to be partially amputated.
Though the board granted the woman workers’ compensation benefits, her employer did not agree and attempted to appeal the decision. Her employer claimed that the actions that led to her injury were not within the scope of her employment. However, the court determined that without the feminine products, her menstrual cycle would have affected her job performance. The court upheld the prior ruling and allowed the woman to keep her benefits.
Those who file for workers’ compensation could potentially receive significant monetary damages to help pay for medical bills and other expenses related to their injuries. Whether a Pennsylvania employee is filing for workers’ compensation for the first time or fighting an appeal, an attorney could be extremely beneficial. Besides providing valuable information and assisting with the filing process, an attorney could offer support and guidance to help relieve some of the stresses clients face.
Source: pennrecord.com, “Commonwealth Court sides with amputee making Workers’ Comp claim“, Carrie Salls, March 21, 2017