Workers Compensation

WORKERS COMPENSATION

Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation laws were designed to protect employees by providing medical and wage loss benefits for those injured on the job during their recovery time. Workers' Compensation is insurance that your employer is required to carry in case an employee is injured, becomes ill due to their job, or even for a job-related death. Benefits available may include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers' compensation insurance exists both to benefit injured workers and to protect employers. Workers' compensation is no-fault - employee or employer negligence does not affect payable benefits.

Any worker who has sustained an injury during their employment has a potential workers' compensation claim. This includes injuries that occur while traveling on business, performing work-related errands, and attending required business-related functions. Any injury or illness that occurs due to employment is considered a workers' compensation injury, no matter who is at fault.

Compensable injuries can include:
- head injury
- back injury
- hearing loss
- disfigurement
- repetitive motion injury
- occupational illness due to exposure to hazardous materials

If you are injured on the job you should seek emergency medical attention if needed and immediately report your injury to your employer. To be eligible for benefits in Pennsylvania, there are certain time frames within which you must report your injury. You should make sure that you save copies of all correspondence with your employer, its insurance carrier and your doctor concerning your workers' compensation claim.

If you are injured at work you may be entitled to receive all reasonable and necessary medical treatment, benefits for lost wages, benefits for specific injuries resulting in permanent disabilities such as loss of use and/or disfigurement (scars). If the injury causes the death of an injured worker, burial expenses are partially covered and the dependents of the deceased worker are entitled to certain benefits.

If you are temporarily unable to work, you will generally receive a percentage of your average wages. You will become eligible for these wage-loss replacement benefits as soon as you have lost seven days of work because of an injury or illness that is covered by workers' compensation as set by Pennsylvania law.

If you become permanently unable to do the work you were doing prior to the injury, or unable to do any work at all, you may become eligible to receive long-term or lump-sum benefits. The specific amount of payment to which you may be entitled varies greatly based on the nature and extent of your injuries.

You have the right to be represented by an attorney for your work-related injury. An attorney will assist you in properly protecting your benefits. Individuals can sometimes represent themselves in workers' compensation matters, but it is advisable to contact a workers' compensation attorney as soon as possible after an injury or diagnosis of a disease or condition in order to protect your legal rights. An attorney will be able to advise you regarding the constantly changing workers' compensation laws and help you protect your rights.

The Stichler Law Office can guide you through the system so that your Workers' Compensation matter is resolved in a timely and effective manner. Workers' Compensation matters are handled on a contingent fee basis, meaning that attorney fees are payable only if you receive benefits. There is never an out-of-pocket cost to you for attorney fees in Workers' Compensation cases.

Helpful Links:
PA Dept. of Labor & Industry, Workers' Compensation Office of Adjudication