What to do if you’re injured at Work
You suffered an injury while on the job and now, you aren’t sure what to do or whom you can trust. At Liberty Bell Workers Compensation, we understand what you’re going through and are here to help injured workers get full benefits for the expenses related to a work injury. After being injured in a workplace accident or suffering an illness caused by your work environment, we recommend you:
See a doctor immediately
Get medical attention as soon as possible after sustaining your injury. If you have not had your injury looked at, make an appointment to see your doctor immediately or go to the local emergency room. Your health and potential claim may hinge on your decision to seek medical care.
Tell your employer you were injured
Per law, you have 120 days to tell your employer you got hurt on the job, but the experienced work injury attorneys we work with recommend you report your injury as soon as it happens. Please keep in mind, if you wait to tell your employer about the injury after the 120 days has passed, you may not be allowed to file a work comp claim.
Contact Philadelphia Workers Compensation Lawyers Group now
The workers’ compensation system can be a maze of paperwork and unfamiliar procedures. And, insurance companies looking to pay you as little as possible can be anything but pleasant to work with. Let our joint marketing group connect you with an experienced work injury lawyer. Hiring a competent work injury attorney can mean the difference of getting maximum benefits or not getting any benefits.
Injury Types Covered by Workers Compensation in PA
The right attorney can help you through the most difficult workers comp claims in Pennsylvania. Your rights to financial benefits that covered medical treatment and loss of wages exist for a wide variety of different injuries sustained while on the job. In the end, if the injury or illness was contracted while performing duties for your employer in conjunction with your employment location or practices, Gregory Boles can help you navigate the workers compensation system and improve your chances of getting your dues.
When it comes to employment injuries, some types are more common than others. The Liberty Bell Workers Compensation firm has handled a wide variety of different situations. Some of these injuries include:
- Amputations and other severe bodily trauma
- Broken bones, joint damage, and neck and spine injuries
- Exposure to asbestos, chemicals, infectious material, or radiation
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Work-related vehicular or heavy equipment accidents
- Repeated stress injuries due to over exertion or repeated motions
- PTSD and other mental and emotional injuries
No matter what action precipitated any of these injury types, they can occur in a wide variety of industries and businesses. All work retains some element of risk.
One of the most important things to understand that workers compensation in Pennsylvania exists as a no-fault coverage system. You do not need to prove that anyone caused the injury. All you need is to show that the injury occurred at work or while performing duties associated with it. Workers comp does not provide benefits for injuries that occur if the worker was under the influence of alcohol or drugs or ones purposefully self-inflicted or that were part of a criminal act by another employee.
All types of injuries are covered whether you are a blue-collar or white-collar worker who works full or part-time or is represented by a union or not. After properly informing your employer that the injury occurred in the correct way, and receiving emergency medical attention as needed, your next step should be to contact a reputable attorney who can help you navigate the sometimes tricky waters of the PA workers compensation system.
The Liberty Bell Workers Compensation law firm stands ready to help you with your work injury claims. Also, if the medical problem necessitates a temporary or permanent break from work, we can also help with filing for Social Security disability benefits. If the injury was caused by the actions or inaction of a third-party, we can also discuss the possibility of a civil lawsuit. As every case is different, it makes sense to pick up the phone and call to schedule your initial consultation appointment today.
Types of Work Comp Benefits
What benefits are covered by workers’ compensation? Work comp benefits are usually limited to medical costs and compensation for lost wages (from not being able to work). In cases where an employee has suffered a severe injury like a spinal cord injury, the employee may be given total or partial disability benefits. Lump sum settlements may also be given in cases involving severe, catastrophic injury.
To learn what types of benefits you may be entitled to, speak to an ethical work injury lawyer right away. After hearing your story, they can quickly tell you what benefits you may be able to recover by filing a work comp claim. A professional work injury attorney can also tell you what steps must be taken to get much needed benefits.
Workers Compensation Benefit Types Offered in PA
The Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Act gives you the right to receive medical and lost wage benefits after being injured in any way while working for your employer. Although your dedicated attorney can help determine what type of benefits you are entitled to, it helps to understand the various types allowed by law. In this exceptionally stressful and frustrating time, you must trust the law firm you choose to look out for your best interests.
Contact the Liberty Bell Workers Compensation firm to schedule an appointment with attorney Gregory Boles and learn how he can help you get compensation for medical bills and cover lost wages so you can concentrate on healing and any rehabilitation necessary for you to get back to work.
What Benefits Can Employees Get?
The Pennsylvania rules regarding workers comp payouts offer medical compensation, lost wages, rehabilitation, and death benefits to dependent family members. These are designed to alleviate the extreme financial strain that usually occurs after a work-related injury or illness that destroys your ability to remain at your job.
Medical Benefits
The most common type of workers compensation benefit payouts covers the expenses for physician visits, evaluations and diagnostic tests, treatment and medication, physical or other therapies, and ongoing medical care or equipment needs.
Payment for Lost Wages
Lump sum or ongoing payments that cover a certain percentage or flat rate amount dependent on your former income are included in the workers compensation plan. The amount you get is determined by very specific rules set out by the state.
Special Loss Benefits
In PA, these special loss payouts are given as lump-sum settlements to people who experience a workplace injury that led to amputation, serious disfigurement, or a loss of sensory ability including blindness and deafness.
Vocational Rehabilitation
If you are unable to return to your former position after healing from the workplace injury, benefits exist to pay for vocational or occupational rehabilitation so you can return to work or get a new position according to your abilities.
Permanent or Temporary Disability
If you are unable to work at all forever or for a shorter period of time, you are entitled to total disability payouts. The state also allows for permanent or temporary partial disability payouts if you can work but not in a position or for the hours that got you your former income.
Death Benefits
If an individual dies in a workplace accident or due to an injury, illness, or condition caused by their job, the dependent family members or spouse are entitled to death benefits that will cover medical care and percentage of the family’ lost wages for a particular period of time.
With all of these options available in the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Act, it takes an experienced lawyer to help figure out what type of benefits and settlements are best for you. Sometimes, the choices are simple. However, in order to get you all of the benefits available to you, requires the help of an attorney specializes in PA workers comp law.
Can I Receive Workers Comp Benefits in Pennsylvania?
Every employee of a company in PA is covered by the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Act other than those in the exception list below.
- Federal employees
- Longshoreman and shipyard workers
- Employees of interstate railroads
- Agricultural helpers who work less than 30 days per year
- Some domestic workers
- Independent contractors and the self-employed
The compensation benefits for the above groups are either handled by another entity, such as the case with federal employees, or they are limited due to short employment spans and small income levels. For example, the 30-day agricultural worker time threshold also limits income to $1200. Anything over that allows for workers comp benefits to kick in. People who work for themselves have no employer to pay out the benefits if they are injured while working.
How to Know If You Are Eligible for Benefits
In order to get an accurate assessment of whether you can receive workers compensation benefits or not, your best bet is to contact attorney Gregory Bole to set up an initial consultation. Although every claim is different, you may be interested in learning more about the following subjects at your first appointment.
What about pre-existing conditions? It is still possible to get workers comp if your employment activities made a pre-existing condition worse or made it impossible to heal as expected.
Are occupational illnesses covered? If you are exposed to radiation, chemicals, noxious fumes, or infectious material at work, you can get compensation if you require medical care or miss work because of it.
Can I get compensation for emotional or mental issues? While things like extreme stress are very difficult to prove as an employment injury, workers compensation in PA does cover these types of issues. For example, if a traumatic accident occurred that creates a PTSD diagnosis, the ongoing medical and psychiatric treatment may be covered.
Do I get paid if I lose a limb or sense? Amputations or sensory loss like hearing or vision may result in a lump sum payment as well as workers comp ongoing benefits in the form of temporary or permanent disability.
What happens if a relative dies at work? PA workers comp includes death benefits for dependent family members when an employee loses their life on the job. They cover funeral expenses and lost wages for a period of time.
No Win, No Fee, Guarantee
Nothing is more important than your health and a caring work injury attorney can make sure you receive the best medical care throughout the claims process and beyond. To arrange a free case review with a talented workers comp lawyer, please call 215.399.0089. A friendly staff member at the Liberty Bell Workers Compensation will answer your call promptly and set you up for a same day free consultation. Our initial consultation is free and there is no pressure to hire us. Every case is represented on a no win, no fee guarantee.
