Workers Compensation in Allentown, PA
You aren’t alone if you wonder how workers’ compensation works.
Workers’ compensation is insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work. How far this coverage goes depends on Pennsylvania state law.
If your injury or illness is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the financial burden.
Learn some of the basic principles of Pennsylvania workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
The Center for Workforce Information & Analysis reports 152,400 work injuries in Pennsylvania in 2019. As of March 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 434,200 full-time employees in the Allentown area. Summary tables for incident rates report an average of 3.2 per 100 who got hurt or sick during their occupational duties. So if the numbers remain consistent, around 4,300 diligent workers in Lehigh County may need workers’ compensation each year.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
There is a standard practice to follow when going through the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation process.
The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to the injury are crucial. The injury had to occur during your regular work duties.
After approval, an Allentown resident hurt on the job receives benefits for lost wages and medical bills. Vocational rehabilitation services are also available if you cannot return to your job after the incident. Most employers must carry policies, but the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act allows exemptions. Federal employees, railroad workers, and agricultural workers that earn less than $1,200 a year may have exclusions.
For example, say your supervisor asked you to drop something off on your lunch break. While running this errand you then get in a car accident on your way to the destination. Any resulting injury is eligible for workers’ compensation. However, if you are on your lunch break, performing no such task when you get in an accident, it does not qualify for a claim.
The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Pennsylvania are critical for filing a claim. Follow the following steps to preserve your rights and learn how workers comp works.
Get Medical Attention
After you get injured or feel ill, the first step is to see a doctor. Don’t delay receiving help from a Pennsylvania healthcare professional. Taking too long could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing deadlines.
Even if you believe your injury is minor, get a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occurred. This step is the top priority in the workers’ compensation claim process. Otherwise, your employer cannot file a claim with the insurance carrier.
You may have regular checkups and testing for weeks or months before a doctor finally connects your illness with your job. Your medical records will become the foundation from which the workers’ comp carrier will launch its investigation.
Generally, your doctor determines if the illness happened because of your work conditions or became aggravated by them. Once they do, see your human resources representative to file a workers’ compensation claim.
File a First Report of Injury
Once you have a medical diagnosis relating your illness or injury to your job, you must file a claim with your employer.
To give yourself the best opportunity, submit a First Report of Injury immediately. In turn, your employer has up to 7 days to file their report with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. Allentown residents have a total of 3 years to obtain workers’ compensation benefits after a qualifying incident.
Timeline and Other Information
Pennsylvania Rules and regulations state that carriers have to reply within 30 days. Then, a 7-day waiting period applies before beneficiaries in Allentown can receive reimbursement. Should your injuries keep you away from work longer than a week, you can obtain payments for the time you spent without benefits. The State of Pennsylvania plans for around 11 and a half years of coverage. As a result, if your injury or illness is permanent, you may wish to speak to an attorney about obtaining permanent disability.
Your employer should furnish you with information about the claims process. The adjuster or insurance carrier representative may want to speak to you at some point about the incident and any witnesses. In the meantime, the workers’ comp insurer may begin paying medical benefits while the investigation continues.
Why You Should Hire an Allentown, Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While workers’ compensation claims may be straightforward for some cases in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in others, it may be more difficult. For example, your employer may decide to question whether your injury happened on the clock or on your own time. It’s also common for a company to question the full extent of your injury. Hiring an Allentownworkers’ comp lawyer ensures that you have an advocate to fight for your rights as a victim.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Allentown, Pennsylvania
If you are hurt or contract an illness as a result of your job in Allentown, Pennsylvania you need to find the right people to help. Since the workers’ compensation claims process can have pitfalls, you should consider getting a local attorney.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
