If you are injured at work in Philadelphia, you may be entitled to financial benefits called “Workers’ Compensation” or “Workers’ Compensation.” The purpose of Workers’ Compensation is to provide disabled workers with a financial security net while they are recovering from job-related injuries. If you are seriously hurt in a job-related accident, Workers’ Compensation insurance can help to pay for your medical bills, while replacing part of your wages and covering other injury-related expenses. If an employee is killed on the job, his or her dependents may also qualify for benefits.
While Workers’ Compensation provides a crucial safety net, getting the benefits you need can be a difficult and confusing process, especially if you are unfamiliar with the complex laws regulating Workers’ Compensation insurance in Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation lawyers of Lerner, Steinberg & Associates have prepared this short guide to help provide you with a basic overview of Workers’ Compensation claims in Pennsylvania, including eligibility standards, the process of filing a Workers’ Compensation claim, and the deadline for filing a Workers’ Compensation claim. For help filing a claim, appealing a denied claim, or fighting an employer’s petition to suspend, reduce, or terminate your benefits, contact our law offices online, or call us at (215) 355-6400 today.
Who is Eligible for Workers’ Compensation in PA?
You are generally eligible to receive Workers’ Compensation benefits if you sustained an injury in the course and scope of your employment, meaning you were injured in an accident related to your job. It does not matter who was at fault for the accident, because it is not necessary to prove that negligence caused your injury. In Philadelphia and other parts of Pennsylvania, Workers’ Compensation benefits are available for full-time workers, part-time workers, and even seasonal workers who are only employed for part of the year.
What is the Workers’ Compensation Claim Process in Philadelphia, PA?
If you are injured in a job-related accident, the first and most important action is to seek prompt medical care. Even if you believe the injury to be minor, it is crucial to rule out the possibility of unseen or internal injuries. Seeking medical treatment will also help to ensure that you are properly diagnosed. There are complex rules for selecting a physician after a work-related injury – for example, there is a 90-day period during which you must see a doctor from a list supplied by your employer – so it is crucial to consult with an experienced Workers’ Compensation lawyer in Philadelphia if you have any doubts or concerns about the treatment process and resulting diagnosis, which can have a major impact on your claim.
Once you have taken care of any immediate medical emergencies, and it is safe to proceed, you should notify your employer of the injury right away. The earlier you can provide notice, the earlier you may start seeing benefits. Be prepared to provide information about how, where, and when you were injured. The more detail you can provide, the better. However, you should not invent, exaggerate, or downplay any facts, which could have a negative impact on your claim. Simply state what you remember, with as much accuracy and detail as possible.
Once your employer has been notified of the injury, he or she is required to inform the company’s insurance carrier, which will then review your claim to determine whether your request for benefits should be approved or denied. In order to make this determination, the insurance company will review information such as your work history, your medical records, and your post-injury capabilities.
If your Workers’ Compensation claim is approved, you will begin to receive benefits, including wage-loss benefits and payments for medical care. No benefits are paid out until the eighth day of your disability. Retroactive payments for the first seven days will be paid once you have been disabled for a period of 14 days (two weeks). If your Workers’ Compensation claim is denied, you should ask an attorney about the Workers’ Compensation appeal process, which gives disabled workers the opportunity to challenge an initial denial by the employer or insurance company.
What is the Workers’ Compensation Claim Deadline?
Time limits play a key role in the Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation process. Some examples of important Workers’ Compensation deadlines in Pennsylvania are listed below.
- You cannot receive compensation until you notify your employer of the injury. You must give your employer notice within 120 days of the date of injury. The sooner you give notice, the sooner you may be able to start receiving benefits.
- Your employer’s insurance company has 21 days, beginning with the day you give notice to your employer, to deny or accept your claim, unless you are receiving temporary benefits, which may last for up to 90 days.
Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers for Injury Victims
The Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation attorneys of Lerner, Steinberg & Associates handle a wide array of work injury claims, including claims involving bone fractures, head and brain injuries, back and spinal injuries, facial injuries, hand and wrist injuries, foot and ankle injuries, occupational diseases, nerve damage, lacerations, amputation injuries, organ damage, joint injuries, vision loss, hearing loss, and burn injuries. We serve workers across a wide array of occupations and industries, including construction, healthcare, aviation, manufacturing, food service, sanitation, municipal work, and more. To set up a free legal consultation about your job-related injury in the Philadelphia area, call us today at (215) 355-6400.