When Complex Regional Pain Syndrome develops from an on-the-job injury, Pennsylvania law may give you more than one way to recover. Understanding both is the difference between a settlement that runs out and one that actually covers a lifetime of pain management. A Pennsylvania CRPS lawyer can map out every avenue.
Claim #1: Workers' Compensation
If your CRPS developed from an injury in the course and scope of your employment, workers' comp applies regardless of who was at fault. It covers:
- Reasonable and necessary medical treatment for the CRPS — including pain management, nerve blocks, medications, and therapy
- A portion of your lost wages while you cannot work
- Specific-loss benefits in cases involving permanent loss of use of a limb
What workers' comp does not pay is compensation for pain and suffering — and with a condition defined by relentless pain, that gap is enormous. That is where a second claim can matter.
Claim #2: A Third-Party Claim
If someone other than your employer caused the underlying injury — another driver in a work-related crash, a negligent contractor, or a property owner — you may bring a third-party personal injury claim. This is where the full value of CRPS is usually captured: pain and suffering, loss of life's enjoyment, and future medical and wage losses. See what a CRPS case is worth.
How the Two Claims Work Together
The claims run in parallel and interact — for instance, the workers' comp insurer may have a right to be repaid (a subrogation lien) out of a third-party recovery. Handled well, the combination maximizes what reaches you. See how dual claims work.
How Our Firm Handles It
Attorney Michael Cardamone is a Certified Workers' Compensation Specialist who handles your comp claim directly and has handled hundreds of CRPS and RSD cases. When a third party is at fault, we coordinate that case with our heavyweight Personal Injury colleagues so both claims are pursued together to maximize your total recovery. You should never have to guess which claim to file — that is our job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get pain and suffering for CRPS through workers' comp?
No. Pennsylvania workers' comp does not pay for pain and suffering. Those damages are only available through a third-party personal injury claim against an at-fault party other than your employer.
What if my employer says my CRPS isn't work-related?
That is a common dispute. With the right medical evidence and diagnosis, work-related CRPS is compensable. A Certified Workers' Compensation Specialist can fight a denial and, if needed, litigate the claim.
Not Sure Which Claim You Have?
Speak with a Certified Workers' Compensation Specialist who has handled hundreds of CRPS and RSD cases. Free, confidential consultation. No fee unless we win.
(215) 206-9068