Understanding Workers’ Compensation
Getting injured in a workplace accident can leave employees unable to work and unsure of how they’re going to pay for their medical care and daily essentials.
The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation act provides certain benefits to employees who get hurt while on the job. Workers’ compensation can alleviate financial burdens and help the injured pay for necessary medical care.
The Foley Law Firm helps injured employees with workers’ compensation claims in Scranton, PA, Stroudsburg, PA, Wilkes-Barre, PA, and is ready to help you if you’ve been injured in a workplace accident.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Most employees in Pennsylvania can receive workers’ compensation benefits if they have been injured on the job or suffered a work-related illness.
Workers’ compensation helps pay for medical expenses and lost wages until the injured employee is able to return to work.
Who Is Covered By Workers’ Compensation?
Most employees in Pennsylvania are covered by the Workers’ Compensation Act, making them entitled to compensation when injured on the job with coverage beginning on the date they were hired.
There are some exceptions to who is covered. Casual employees, agricultural laborers, and volunteer workers are some types of workers who are usually not covered.
Workers’ compensation also will not cover injuries or deaths that were intentionally self-inflicted or caused by a violation of the law, for example, being under the influence of illegal drugs.
Recovering Benefits
In order to receive workers’ compensation benefits, an injury or work-related illness must be reported to a supervisor or employer as soon as possible. The employer is then required to report the injury to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation once the employee has missed work due to the injury or illness.
Injured employees must be unable to work due to their injuries or work-related illness for a full week, including weekends, before they are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
With that said, it’s important to know that an employer can choose to deny a workers’ compensation claim. In such cases, the employee has the right to file a claim petition to be heard by a workers’ compensation judge.
What Benefits May Be Received?
If a claim is approved or upheld by a judge, injured employees may receive the following benefits:
- Payment for lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Specific loss award for permanent damage to the body like permanent loss of use of an arm, leg, or finger
- Death benefits in the event of a work-related death
A Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help
It’s important to consult a workers’ compensation attorney when faced with an uncooperative employer or denied claim. An attorney can help injured employees file a claims petition or negotiate settlements to help injured parties get the compensation they deserve and need.
Contact the Foley Law Firm
Consulting an attorney after a workplace injury can help you get the maximum workers’ compensation benefits. If you have been injured in a job-related accident, call the Foley Law Firm at (570) 424-1757 to schedule a consultation with one of our workers’ compensation attorneys.
