Nothing is more painful than receiving the news that a loved one has been killed in a fatal workplace accident. In the aftermath of a spouse or family member’s accidental death, not only are the survivors left to cope with grief and emotional anguish, but also the financial hardship resulting from the sudden loss of income. Coupled with funeral and burial expenses, the loss of a loved one can plunge an entire family into dire financial straits, all a time when the survivors simply wish to mourn.
You don’t have to struggle alone with the financial repercussions of a loved one’s death. If you lost your spouse in a fatal job-related accident, you and your family may be entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits, which can help to restore financial security. The Workers’ Compensation attorneys of Lerner, Steinberg & Associates have decades of combined experience representing the surviving loved ones of fatal work accident victims in Philadelphia, and can maximize your recovery while providing a shoulder to lean on. For a free legal consultation about Pennsylvania death benefits after a fatal accident at work, contact our law offices online, or call (215) 355-6400.
PA Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Family Members of Employees Killed on the Job
Under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, Workers’ Compensation benefits may be available to the immediate family members of employees who were killed on the job while working in Philadelphia or other areas of Pennsylvania. Death benefits may be paid to dependent survivors, such as the worker’s surviving children, through a private insurance company or the State Workers’ Insurance Fund.
Nearly all workers in Pennsylvania are covered by state workers’ comp laws, including full-time workers, part-time workers, and seasonal workers. If you find out that your family member’s employer does not carry Workers’ Compensation coverage, you should notify an attorney from Lerner, Steinberg & Associates, as the employer may have violated the law by failing to provide coverage.
Spouses and children of fatal accident victims may be entitled to a percentage of the victim’s lost wages. Depending on the circumstances, spouses may potentially continue to receive benefits for life, while benefits are generally available to surviving children throughout the college years. The rate at which benefits are paid depends on factors like the number of survivors.
Unfortunately, there are many types of accidents and injuries which can lead to fatalities in the workplace. Fatal accidents have a higher likelihood of happening in certain industries, such as construction and manufacturing. At Lerner, Steinberg & Associates, our skilled and knowledgeable workers’ comp attorneys have handled a wide array of fatal accident claims, and are prepared to assist your family with any work-related death related to:
- Auto Accidents
- Blood Loss
- Brain and Head Injuries
- Broken Neck Injuries
- Construction Accidents
- Crane Accidents
- Electrocution Accidents
- Falls from Heights
- Fires and Explosions
- Forklift Accidents
- Mechanical Failures
- Occupational Illness and Disease
- Organ Failure
- Property Hazards
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Third Degree Burns
Claimants do not need to prove that someone was at fault for the accident in order to receive compensation. As a result of this rule, Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation laws generally prevent claimants from suing the employer. However, it may be possible to pursue a third party claim against a party other than the accident victim’s employer, such as the maker of a product that caused a fatal work injury, depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident. Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate all potential paths toward obtaining financial compensation, so that your family is not deprived of any benefits, awards, or settlements to which you may be entitled.
Get Legal Help from Our Philadelphia Fatal Workplace Accident Attorneys
If you lost a loved one in a deadly work-related accident in Philadelphia or the surrounding counties, your family may be entitled to financial benefits, which can help to pay for funeral expenses, provide a source of income, and help to put your children through college. Unfortunately, getting the benefits you deserve can be challenging under Pennsylvania’s complex Workers’ Compensation laws, especially when you are trying to cope with the devastating emotional aftermath of a death in the family.
Allow the compassionate and experienced workers’ comp lawyers of Lerner, Steinberg & Associates fight on your family’s behalf. For a free consultation about claiming death benefits in Philadelphia after a fatal on-the-job accident, contact our law firm for workers online, or call (215) 355-6400 for assistance.