What To Do If You Can't Return To Work

Our experienced attorneys can help you move forward

Some workplace injuries prevent people from being able to work for a short time. After a few weeks or months, they may be cleared by a doctor to return to work. But for other injured workers, the damage is permanent. They may be physically unable to return to their original job and need to find a way to move forward.

If you or a loved one is dealing with such a difficult situation, the workers' compensation team at O'Malley & Langan can help. We have worked with hundreds of injured workers throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania who cannot return to work due to a serious, on-the-job injury. Here's what you need to know.

• Total disability benefits are temporary - but there is no time limit. Pennsylvania law does not allow for permanent total disability benefits. Rather, the law assumes that you will be able to return to work eventually. However, temporary total disability (TTD) benefits have no time limit - it is up to the workers' compensation insurance company to show that you have recovered and can return to some type of gainful employment. And until the insurance company does so, they need to keep paying your wage loss benefits.

• You may be able to take on a "light duty" position. Perhaps you cannot return to your original job role because it involved heavy lifting, but you could take an administrative position at the same company. If your pre-injury employer doesn't have a light duty position available, then the workers' compensation insurance company will most likely send a vocational expert (VE) to interview you and possibly set up interviews with other companies.

• You need a comprehensive rehabilitation plan. One of the biggest challenges for injured workers in Pennsylvania is that the law assumes that they will be able to return to work, yet does not provide for rehabilitation benefits. While there are resources available to help you find a position that accommodates your medical restrictions, such as the State Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, it's your job to create a rehabilitation plan. That's why it's important to work with an experienced workers' compensation lawyer.

If you're unable to return to work because of an on-the-job injury, we strongly encourage you to contact our law firm as soon as possible. We have the resources and experience you need to create a comprehensive rehabilitation plan - and settle your workers' compensation claim for an amount that meets your needs. Call (866) 326-0100 and schedule your free consultation.