Workers Compensation in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
According to The Pennsylvania Department of Labor, falls are the most common workplace injury in the state. Falls account for nearly 20% of workplace injuries. However, the most serious injuries in Pennsylvania happen in the construction industry. Slightly behind this are the transportation, agricultural, forestry, and fish and wildlife industries. Employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses have the right to receive medical and monetary benefits in Pennsylvania.
How Does Workers Comp Work in 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.
The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry states that every business is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Sole proprietors are one of the few exceptions to this statute. Workers’ compensation entitles you to medical benefits, lost wages, and weekly benefits. However, you should note that mental health is not generally covered in Pennsylvania. To qualify for benefits for mental health, you must prove that the physical injury is responsible for the mental health problems.
The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Pennsylvania are critical to file a compensation 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. This could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing time-sensitive deadlines in the workers’ compensation process.
Even if you believe that your injury is minor, get a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occurred. This is the first step in the workers’ compensation claim process. Absent a medical report, your employer cannot file a claim with the insurance carrier.
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.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor lists 3 years as the statute of limitations to file a claim for workers’ compensation.
You should seek medical attention immediately if you have been injured. Then you should report the incident to your employer. If a dispute arises, try and settle it without filing a petition. However, if a resolution can’t be found, you can contact an attorney and they will assist you with filing your petition.
Contents of the Report
The First Report of Injury will provide the workers’ compensation insurance carrier with the necessary details. They must know your physical injuries, the medical treatment you received, and the facilities that provided it.
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.
Permanent Partial Disability in Pennsylvania entitles you to a maximum of 500 weeks of benefits. But, if an independent medical examiner determines that your impairment is 35% or more, you can petition for Total Disability. Weekly benefits in Pennsylvania fall between 67%-90% of the worker’s weekly wage.
Why You Should Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Many people believe that the injury claims process is straightforward. While this may be the case in some instances, it may be more of a hassle.
For instance, your employer may question whether you were hurt on the clock or on your own time. The company may also start to question the extent of your injury.
Don’t question how workers comp works and risk losing your claim. Hire a Pennsylvania workers’ comp lawyer and ensure you have an advocate to fight for your rights.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Pennsylvania
Your health and well-being need to come first. If you are hurt while working or find out an illness you are suffering is the result of your job, you will want to seek compensation.
We can connect you with a local attorney or one across Pennsylvania state lines.
Submit a request online or call us at (866) 345-6784 to find a workers’ compensation lawyer today!
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.
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