Each day thousands of workers across the country are injured in a workplace accident. Even right here in Philadelphia County workers are at constant risk of sustaining an injury that can leave them with thousands of dollars in medical bills. While the statistics on workplace injuries may seem bleak, fortunately, Pennsylvania workers who are injured while on the job are largely covered by a series of Workers’ Compensation laws and are entitled to payments for injuries sustained while working.
While Workers’ Compensation can provide financial security for you and your family, it’s often difficult for injury victims to get benefits – even when they are qualified. Workers’ Compensation laws are very complex, and unfortunately, it is not uncommon for injured workers to face obstacles like improper claim denials, inaccurate medical diagnoses, employer retaliation, and delays in receiving benefits. Equipped with decades of combined experience handling work injury claims in Philadelphia and its suburbs, the aggressive Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation lawyers of Lerner, Steinberg & Associates can make sure that your claim is filed properly, that your employer does not violate your legal rights, and that you receive robust representation at any Workers’ Compensation hearing you are required to attend.
Our law firm handles Workers’ Compensation claims on behalf of injured workers throughout Philadelphia, including South Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, Center City, and Philadelphia’s suburbs. For a free consultation about how we can help with your claim, contact our law offices right away at (215) 355-6400.
What Types of Job Accidents and Injuries Are Covered in Philadelphia?
It’s a common misconception that only certain types of injuries or accidents will entitle an employee to Workers’ Compensation. In reality, a wide array of accidents and injuries are covered under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, which applies to virtually all Philadelphia-based employers with a few narrow exceptions. Generally speaking, a work-related injury is covered as long as the following facts are true:
- The injury occurred while the employee was working, whether on-site or off-site.
- The injury was not intentionally self-inflicted.
- The injury did not result from the worker’s own intoxication.
- The worker is covered by the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, which is true of most employees in Pennsylvania.
- The worker promptly reported the injury to his or her employer. Failure to report an injury to the employer may result in the denial of the Workers’ Compensation claim.
Otherwise, it generally does not matter exactly how an injury occurred or who is at fault for the injury. However, it must be an injury that occurred at work or was caused by the conditions experienced at work. Common workplace accidents that may be covered under Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation laws include:
- Accidents at Work Functions and Events
- Airport Accidents
- Building Collapse Accidents
- Chemical Exposure Accidents
- Company Car Accidents
- Construction Accidents
- Factory Accidents
- Falls from Heights
- Fires and Explosions
- Industrial Spill Accidents
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Warehouse and Manufacturing Accidents
- Workplace Assault and Violence
These and other work-related accidents can produce hundreds of different injuries, or result in the death of the victim. Examples of workplace injuries that may entitle the victim to benefits include:
- Amputation Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Bone Fractures
- Burn Injuries
- Cancer and Other Occupational Diseases
- Chemical Exposure Injuries
- Cuts and Lacerations
- Dislocated Joints
- Elbow Injuries
- Electrical Shocks
- Foot and Ankle Injuries
- Hand and Wrist Injuries
- Hearing Loss (Deafness)
- Heart Attack
- Hip Injuries
- Knee Injuries
- Nerve Damage
- Scarring and Disfigurement
- Shoulder Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Torn Ligaments
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Vision Loss (Blindness)
Workers’ Comp Payments Available in Philadelphia
If you are injured on the job there is a significant chance that you will incur medical expenses and suffer from not being able to work while you recover. Fortunately, Workers’ Compensation benefits are designed to pay for or reimburse medical expenses as well as provide for lost wages as a result of a work-related injury, illness, or aggravated existing condition. Under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act you may be entitled to several types of benefits such as:
Medical Care
Employers are responsible for advising workers of their rights and duties under Section 306(f.1)(1)(i) of the Act. The written notice of these rights and duties is to be provided to the employee at the time of injury or as soon after the injury as is practicable.
Specific Loss Benefits
If you have lost the permanent use of all or part of your thumb, finger, hand, arm, leg, foot, toe, sight, hearing or have a serious and permanent disfigurement on your head, face or neck, you may be entitled to a specific loss award.
Payments for Lost Wages
Wage-loss benefits are available if it is determined that you are totally disabled and unable to work or partially disabled and receiving wages less than your pre-injury earnings.
Death Benefits
If the injury results in death, surviving dependents may be entitled to benefits.
If you have been injured in the workplace or have sustained an injury because of work-related activities, you may be entitled to Workers’ Compensation payments. The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation system is designed to help workers who have been injured on the job to recover for their injuries, however, through a series of complex laws it can be easy for an injured worker to lose their right to benefits and payments.
Our Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Can Help
The experienced Workers’ Compensation benefits lawyers of Lerner, Steinberg & Associates are dedicated to assisting Philadelphians who have suffered workplace injuries. Whether your injury was caused by a vehicular accident, exposure to volatile chemicals, or another workplace condition or event, you may qualify for Workers’ Compensation benefits.
The work injury attorneys of Lerner, Steinberg & Associates can help you assess your injury and your likelihood of securing compensation. To schedule a free consultation, call our law offices at (215) 355-6400 or contact us online.
