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Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. It is caused by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma has no known cure and a very poor prognosis. The Centers for Disease Control reports 2400 to 2800 mesothelioma diagnoses in the United States each year. It has an Read More
Don’t Sign Blank Medical Authorizations
In Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation, once your claim has been accepted by the insurance company, the defendant’s insurance company is entitled to have you examined two times per year. These exams are called Independent Medical Evaluations. Occasionally, the workers’ compensation claims adjuster will send medical authorizations to you at your home. They want to check on Read More
Retaliatory Discharge for Filing Workers’ Compensation Claim
If you file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits and your employer fires you, you may have a claim for retaliatory discharge. To do so you must establish a “prima facie” case of retaliation. This means you must prove the following: You were engaged in a protected activity (you were properly performing your job); your Read More
We’re proud to announce a major award for one of our partners
Everyone at Abes Baumann congratulates Ed Abes on being inducted as a Fellow of The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at their twelfth annual induction dinner on March 3, 2018 in Nashville. Ed joins his partner Tom Baumann as a fellow, an honor which has been established to recognize attorneys who have distinguished themselves in Read More
Sleepy Drivers and Truck Accidents
The job driving a large truck over long distances is exhausting. A good driver must be on high alert at all times because of the complexity of the task and the great harm tractor trailer accidents can cause. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations exist to protect the public from harm that these enormous, heavily Read More
FIGHTING TO PROTECT YOUR MEDICAL CARE
In a shocking revelation, CNN recently reported that a medical director for Aetna Insurance made decisions on patient care without reviewing medical records. The story claims that, per a deposition given by the doctor in a lawsuit, decisions are made based on medical reviews and recommendations of nurses. This is why Abes Baumann is committed Read More
Major changes are coming to PA’s workers’ comp system – unless you act now!
SB 936, sponsored by Chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee Senator Don White (R-Indiana) and championed in the House by Representative Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh), calls for a dramatic change to the state’s workers’ compensation law and is now pending before the House Labor & Industry Committee, This bill will establish a pre-approved list of prescription Read More
Is VA RAMP Right for Me?
In August 2017, the President signed into law a bill that changes the VA appeal process. The new process does not take effect until February 2019, at the earliest. However, the VA is now conducting a project to see how this new process may work. The VA has selected cases of certain veterans and is Read More
VAMC Altoona Refused to Face Its Problems
Nearly everyone has heard about the problems at VA Hospitals. For the past ten years, it seems as if there is a new story about wait times, fraudulent record keeping, malpractice, or covering for bad doctors. We should be immune to it by now. But, as a veteran and an attorney representing veterans, some of Read More
Liens and Subrogation in Auto Accident Cases
Medical liens and subrogation. These obscure misunderstood words can have a dramatic impact on the victim of automobile negligence. These concepts come into play when the victim’s auto insurance is insufficient to pay all of the medical expenses arising from an accident. After the auto coverage has been exhausted, the victim’s health plan will step Read More