Recent Posts By Bryn Swartz

Work-related injuries can be devastating and not just physically. The costs incurred due to a work-related injury can put a major dent in your financial status, which is why it’s important to consult an attorney and claim compensation when you’ve been injured on the job. Fortunately, Virginia has a Workers’ Compensation Act that provides access to benefits without having to go to court. Employers with at least two employees are required to have Workers’ Comp coverage for their employees. If your employer has you covered under Workers’ Comp insurance, it’s still important to know if your situation qualifies for Workers’ Comp benefits in Vir…

Getting injured on the job can be difficult. It might mean you have to take time off work and lose wages. It can also mean you need to file a worker’s comp claim.  The paperwork for this process can be time-consuming. Sometimes your employer might not be very helpful. Knowing the best tips for filing the claim and doing all the paperwork correctly means faster payouts and an easier time after your injury.  How Does the Claim Process Work? After your injury, there is a limited time to file the claim. You need to start the paperwork and file the claim as soon as possible. Failure to file the claim as soon as possible might mean you…

When you’ve suffered a work-related injury, you need Workers’ Comp benefits that cover all the costs of your injury. But that may not be a simple case. You may have a pre-existing condition that impacts your Workers’ Comp claim. If you’re worried about the ways a previous injury can impact your claim, reach out to a Virginia Workers’ Comp lawyer to calculate your claim’s worth. We’re here to guide you to the max benefits you’re due for your injuries. How a Pre-Existing Condition Can Impact Workers’ Comp When you’re injured in a work accident, you’re due benefits that cover the costs of your recovery. But if you already had an injury or ill…

If you are being listed as an independent contractor for the first time or just started working with a new employer, you might be confused by this term and what it means for your job and taxes. Independent contractors do not have the same status as regular employees and are not covered under most federal employment statuses.  However, an employer can’t just call you an independent contractor to avoid certain requirements at the federal or state levels. If you are performing duties as a regular employee, then you need to be paid and referred to as a regular employee. If you’re unsure whether your position should be contracted out or no…

When you’re hurt in a work-related accident, you may have plenty of questions about your Workers’ Comp claim. You may be struggling to get the answers you need, and you may have trouble getting these answers on your own. Because of this, you may need to speak with a Workers’ Comp lawyer before your claim goes to court. These claims can be confusing, and if you’re struggling to get answers, it can be easy to make mistakes. Luckily, your lawyer is here to help you avoid any problems that can impact your claim. Check out the following questions, and talk to a lawyer if you have more questions about your case. When will I receive my Workers’ C…

A work accident can leave you severely injured, but there can be many steps to getting compensated fairly for your Workers’ Comp claim. You may be expected to make records of your accident, which can work against you if you’re not careful.  When preparing for your deposition, keep the following in mind. Acting now, before your deposition, can help you protect your compensation later. What Is a Deposition? A Workers’ Comp deposition is simply a court session where you’ll be asked questions about yourself, your medical history, and your work accident. This deposition gives the court a recorded statement about the work accident, giving t…

When you’re hurt in an on-the-job accident, you may be confused, overwhelmed, and struggling to determine how you’re supposed to overcome such severe losses. You may even be unsure of how exactly your accident happened. How does something like faulty equipment leave workers so severely injured? Read on to learn more about common ways faulty equipment can leave you injured and what you can do about it under Virginia law. Failure to Protect Your Safety When you’re seriously injured in an accident, it may be because certain safety mechanisms didn’t work like they were supposed to. Let’s say you were working with heavy machinery like a forklif…

When you’ve suffered a serious shoulder injury at work, you may need to dig deeper into the causes. Proving you were hurt on the job can be tough, and your injuries may already be preventing your return to work while bills continue to pile up.  Because of this, you may need to speak with a Workers’ Compensation lawyer about your shoulder injury and what caused it. Your lawyer can discuss your accident and help you prove the connection between your work and the injury. That way, you can get the coverage you need to focus on your recovery with the financial support you need.  Repetitive Motion Injuries When your job requires you to make…

When you’re hurt in a work accident, you may just want to get your Workers’ Comp benefits and focus on your health. But that may not be so easy to do when your employer tries to retaliate against you.  If you believe your employer has retaliated against you for filing a Workers’ Comp claim, you may need to speak with a lawyer about your Workers’ Comp rights. Retaliation is never ok, and you may have grounds for a claim to get the Workers’ Comp benefits you’re due.  Is Employer Retaliation Legal? Many employees worry about reporting a work accident out of fear that their employer will retaliate against them. You may be worried about be…

When you’re hurt in the workplace, it’s not always easy to get the benefits you’re entitled to as a Virginia worker. You may be denied your Workers’ Comp benefits by your employer, which could leave you struggling to overcome your losses following the work accident.  So what are the essential elements of a successful Workers’ Comp claim? If you’re not sure where to start on your claim, make sure you have all the pieces you need for a successful claim. Evidence for Your Claim First, you’ll need to gather evidence of your work-related injury. Employers and insurance companies often try to deny that the injury was serious enough to offer Work…

Automation has sped up the packing process in many Amazon warehouses across the United States. But that doesn’t mean these warehouses are safer for workers. You may be one of many people who have suffered serious injuries because of the robots involved in automation. If you’ve suffered an automated warehouse injury as an Amazon worker, you need to know that you have options to recover benefits. If you’re concerned about getting your Workers’ Comp benefits, or if you’ve already been denied your benefits, reach out to a Virginia Workers’ Comp lawyer to see about getting compensated fairly. How Do Automated Warehouse Injuries Happen? Amazon’s…

One moment, you’re doing your job, without any trouble to worry about. The next, you’ve been seriously injured. Now you’re struggling to get compensated for the injuries you suffered. You may be worried about the right steps to take before a Workers’ Comp hearing.  Recovering from a work injury can be tough, especially if you’re appealing a Workers’ Compensation denial. Luckily, your lawyer can help you take the right steps before your court date arrives. Check out the steps below to help turn your Workers’ Comp hearing into a success.  Gathering Evidence When you’re initially denied Workers’ Comp benefits for your losses, you may nee…

OK, so we’re a law firm, and law firms can’t eat cake. Plus, nobody’s having birthday parties these days anyway—or at least they shouldn’t be. But on this occasion of Pathfinder’s first birthday, we thought it would be cool to share our origin story and reflect on what the past year has brought.  The interesting thing about Pathfinder’s birthday is that it’s also the birthday of our son, James Kenneth Swartz (aka “Spud”). If you read between the lines there, you might ask yourself, “Why would anybody in their right mind start a law firm the same day their first child is born?”  It’s a totally valid question, and the a…