Asked in Douglassville, PA , on Apr 9, 2015

I had a prior work-comp claim 5 years ago. I was injured at my current job and the insurance company denied my claim?

Answered on Apr 12, 2015

It is hard to tell exactly what is going on here without quite a few more details. One of your injuries is in litigation and the mediation notice means you should already have a good idea what the case it worth to you over the long haul if you are at all thinking of settling. If not, you should be prepared to defend yourself from whatever petition has been filed. You definitely need to sit down and talk to an attorney if you have not already, it sounds like this has sat too long. Almost all WC attorneys are willing to do a free consult… you need one. Good luck.

Asked in Wexford, PA , on Jan 19, 2014

My hearing is in 4 weeks and on the notice it lists my company, their lawyer, their insurance company and Sedgwick. Does this mean they are looking to settle my case? I got hurt over 13 months ago and I am still having a lot of problems and taking a lot of medications. I finished therapy about 3 months ago and he told me he didn’t think I would ever get better but I asked to do another therapy but it doesn’t seem to be doing any good. Workmens comp. asked my company 2 times if there was anything I could come and do and they said both times there was nothing and to him on workmens comp. I don’t think I will ever get better or be the same again or be able to hold a job of any kind. If I do settle would I get SSDI and what kind of health insurance would me and my family be able to get

Answered on Jan 20, 2014

Workers compensation is a very settlement driven practice, it is not just about getting the best number possible, as you seem to understand. I always feel like I spend more time working on the settlement details then I do on the case itself (liability, etc). It is hard for a non-WC attorney to deal with these issues, so you should not be doing it on your own at this point. The insurer is always looking to settle, the question is will you make a settlement that is in your best interests now and 10, 20, 30 years from now – that involves considering your potential to continue benefits, your ability to work in your profession or another profession, other potential health providers/insurers, statutory requirements to protect state or federal benefits you have already received or may receive in the future (that could came back to hurt you substantially), and the monetary figures being offered to settle the case. Your considerations related to SSD also depend on how you handle your compensation case. Best thing that you can do is get someone qualified to handle the mediation so you are prepared to deal with all of these many issues.