Every year hundreds of Berks County residents struggle to pay their bills after a workplace injury. Unfortunately, we hear from people every day who were injured on the job and now are struggling to afford to pay their bills and even provide for their families. At Lerner, Steinberg & Associates we know that this stress can not only take a toll on you but also on the ones nearest to you.
The experienced Workers’ Compensation lawyers at the law firm of Lerner, Steinberg & Associates know the complexities of Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation law. We know the questions that must get answered and the medical documentation that must be gathered to proceed with your claim for the benefits to which you are entitled.
Workers’ Compensation System in Berks County
The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation system is a complex set of laws that dictate when a worker can receive Workers’ Compensation benefits. From the first day you begin your job, most workers in Berks County are covered under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, even if they are full-time or part-time, even seasonal workers. The Workers’ Compensation system was designed to cover almost every single employee in the state, even if an employer only has one. The only people who may be excluded from the benefits of the Workers’ Compensation system are those who are self-employed.
The Workers’ Compensation system is often the only means a worker has to recover for any injury they sustain while they are working because in most instance an injured worker cannot sue either their employer or their co-worker for causing an injury or illness.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Cases
As explained above, an employee who is injured while on the job is entitled to receive Workers’ Compensation benefits. An injury that will entitle an employee to Workers’ Compensation benefits must be sustained while the employee is carrying or performing their normal assigned work. Some of the most common types of Workers’ Compensation cases that attorneys at Lerner, Steinberg & Associates include:
- Loss of a body part due to machinery
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Head, Back, and Neck Injuries
- Occupational disease
- Scarring
- Eye injuries
- Knee injuries
If you have suffered any of these injuries or others as a result of an unsafe working condition, or an act of negligence by your employer then you may be entitled to receive Workers’ Compensation payments.
What is the Timeline to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
If you have suffered an injury while at work you know just how disruptive they can be to your entire life. If you have been injured while working then you do not have to wait to file for Workers’ Compensation, however, there is an amount of time in which you must report an injury if you would like to receive Workers’ Compensation benefits.
In Pennsylvania, an injured worker is required to report a work injury to their employer within 21 days after the date of the injury. It is crucial that anyone who is considering filing a Workers’ Compensation claim be aware of this time limit because if a worker does not file their claim within the time frame they may not be entitled to receive immediate Workers’ Compensation payments. Filing after 21 days does not instantly preclude a worker from receiving Workers’ Compensation payments but it can greatly delay payments. However, an employee is required to provide notice to their employer of a work injury within 120 days after the injury. This time period is incredibly crucial because if a worker does not file their claim in this time then they may be wholly precluded from receiving Workers’ Compensation of any kind.
However, while this time frame may seem rather harsh they are certain exceptions to the 120-day rule. If the injury is an occupational disease such as cancer, then the 120-day time limit is extended and can even extend past employment. In these cases, an employee who becomes injured or disabled due to an occupational disease within 300 weeks of the date of last employment of the job that caused the occupational disease or illness may be entitled to file a claim.
The attorneys at Lerner, Steinberg & Associates are experienced, dedicated, and local attorneys who have been representing injured workers throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. Our attorneys know how important it is to file a Workers’ Compensation claim before the deadlines have passed, and are ready to answer any of your questions before you file a claim.
Types of Benefits you May Receive
The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act provides for several types of Workers’ Compensation benefits including the following:
- Lost wages/missed work – these payments are for a portion of the wages a worker will lose due to their injury.
- Medical expenses – Workers compensation payments can cover for all medical care that is related and reasonable to treat the injury or illness sustained at work including medicine, surgery, hospitalization, orthopedic appliances.
- Benefits to cover a specific loss – These Workers’ Compensation payments are provided to those workers who lost a part of their bodies such as an arm or a foot as a result of a workplace injury. In addition, these benefits are also available to those who have suffered such losses as hearing or vision loss, or those who have suffered a permanent and serious disfigurement.
- Payment for severe disfigurement or scars – The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act also provides for those who have suffered a severe disfigurement or scarring.
If you have been injured during your work and scope of your employment you may be eligible for any of these benefits. Contact one of the experienced attorneys at Lerner, Steinberg & Associates to help you through the process.
Our Berks County Workers’ Compensation Attorneys are Here to Help
The Workers’ Compensation attorneys at Lerner, Steinberg & Associates bring decades of experience to your work-related injury claim. Please contact us immediately upon sustaining an injury from a work-related accident. Contact us online or call us at (215) 355-6400 for a free consultation with one of our Workers’ Compensation lawyers about your rights and the value of your work-related injury claim.
