If you are injured on the job in Aston Township, Pennsylvania, you may be eligible to receive Workers’ Compensation, which is also called “Workers’ Compensation” or “Workers’ Compensation.” Under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, wage-loss benefits and disability benefits are generally available to part-time employees, full-time employees, and seasonal workers who suffer job-related injuries or occupational diseases. If a worker is killed in a fatal workplace accident, his or her dependents may also qualify to receive death benefits.
The Aston workman’s comp lawyers of Lerner, Steinberg & Associates have decades of experience represented disabled workers and their loved ones against employers and insurance companies. If your claim was denied, your benefits were suspended, or your benefits were reduced, we can help you fight for the compensation you deserve. We can also help you understand and exercise your rights as an injured employee, such as representing an employee who was fired in retaliation for reporting an accident or filing for benefits. For a free consultation about how our experienced Aston Workers’ Compensation attorneys can assist with your claim, contact Lerner, Steinberg & Associates online, or call our law offices today at (215) 355-6400.
How Do You Get Workers’ Compensation Benefits in PA?
Most employees in the state of Pennsylvania are eligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits, as state laws typically require employers to provide coverage. This coverage provides payments for lost wages, medical treatment, and, in the event of a fatal accident, death benefits for the injury victim’s dependent survivors, such as surviving children.
Most types of injuries, accidents, and occupational illnesses are covered, with some exceptions for injuries that were deliberately self-inflicted or caused by intoxication. Types of work-related injuries and accidents that can lead to a Workers’ Compensation claim in Pennsylvania include:
- Amputation and dismemberment
- Back and spinal cord injuries, including paralysis and herniated discs
- Brain and head injuries, such as concussions
- Burn injuries, such as third degree burns or chemical burns
- Cuts, puncture wounds, and lacerations
- Electrical injuries and electrocution accidents
- Eye injuries and vision loss
- Fires and explosions
- Forklift accidents and crane accidents
- Hearing loss
- Injuries from being caught in or snared on machinery
- Injuries from being crushed beneath heavy objects
- Internal injuries, such as internal bleeding or nerve damage
- Joint injuries
- Scaffolding and construction accidents
- Slip and fall accidents, or accidental falls from heights
- Soft tissue injuries like whiplash or torn ligaments
- Work-related car accident injuries
To get benefits, you must report the injury to your employer as soon as it is safe for you to do so, including when and where the accident took place. This step, though simple, is critically important. If you fail to notify your employer of the accident, your benefits could be seriously delayed, or worse, your claim could be denied altogether. Once you have notified your employer of the injury, he or she should file written documentation reporting the accident to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, after which the claim will either be denied or accepted.
If your claim was denied, ask our attorneys about filing a claim petition for a Workers’ Compensation hearing. Even if you were initially denied benefits, it may be possible to obtain benefits by using medical evidence to prove that you suffered a disabling injury or illness due to your job duties.
How Are Benefits Calculated for Work Injury Claims?
There are four basic types of benefits which may be available, depending on the nature of your injury and its effects on your life. Benefits that could potentially be awarded include:
- Benefits for lost wages and earnings
- Benefits for medical treatment
- Death benefits
- Specific loss benefits
Wage-loss benefits, which are meant to partially replace lost income, are calculated based on your earnings before the injury. This means wage-loss payments are proportional to your wages. Wage-loss benefits are equivalent to approximately two thirds of your pre-accident earnings, so for example, if you were earning $600 per week before the injury, you could potentially receive wage-loss benefits equivalent to a rate of roughly $400 per week. Benefits may be offset by severance pay, Social Security benefits, and other forms of compensation you received for your work.
Medical care benefits, which are meant to help with treatment costs, pay for “reasonable surgical and medical services rendered by a physician or other health care provider,” including the following “for as long as they are needed”:
- Hospitalization and treatment
- Medical supplies
- Medication
- Prosthetic limbs and devices
Specific loss benefits are only available for workers who have:
- Permanently lost the ability to use a finger, thumb, toe, hand, foot, arm, or leg
- Permanently lost vision or hearing, whether the loss is partial or complete
- Sustained permanent, severely disfiguring injuries to the neck, head, or face
Contact Our Aston Workers’ Compensation Attorneys if You Were in a Workplace Accident
At Lerner, Steinberg & Associates, our Aston Workers’ Compensation lawyers are proud to serve the hardworking men and women of Pennsylvania’s workforce. Whether you need assistance appealing a judge’s decision, understanding whether your injuries are covered, fighting against the suspension or reduction of your benefits, dealing with a retaliatory termination by your employer, or handling other legal issues related to Workers’ Compensation benefits in Aston, Pennsylvania, our dedicated team is ready to fight tenaciously in your corner. To talk about how we can help with your claim in a free legal consultation, contact our law offices online, or call Lerner, Steinberg & Associates at (215) 355-6400 today.
