Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in Philadelphia County

Pennsylvania workers are generally covered by the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act (the Act), which is a no-fault insurance system designed to provide injured workers with medical and wage loss compensation for injuries they sustain at work. Most employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees, with some exceptions including railroad workers, longshoremen, and federal employees.

Those who do not comply with the Act will not only be required to reimburse the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry for payments made in relation to workers’ claims, but also may also be subject to liability for personal injury and criminal lawsuits related to those claims. The Chester County workers’ compensation lawyers at Larry Pitt & Associates, P.C. have been representing the rights of injured workers for more than 35 years.

Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation

The Act entitles qualified workers to workers’ compensation benefits via their employers’ insurance for injuries or illnesses they sustained or that developed on-the-job. To begin receiving benefits, an injured worker must give notice to his or her employer within 120 days of the accident. The notice should be in writing and should contain information such as the date of the accident, where the accident took place, the identities of any witnesses, and a description of the resulting injuries.

Certain injuries and illnesses are exempt from the 120-day requirement, such as hearing loss; repetitive motion; and progressive, long-latency diseases. However, it is still imperative that injured workers report these injuries and illnesses to their employers as soon as possible and inform their doctor that it is a work-related injury or illness. At Larry Pitt & Associates, P.C., our legal team is knowledgeable about all deadlines and requirements workers must meet in order to have the best chances of prevailing on their claims.

Employer Liability

Employers are required to file a First Report of Injury with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation within seven days if a worker misses more than a day, shift, or turn of work due to his or her injury; or within three days if a worker dies from his or her injuries.

Employers may extend the investigation of a claim for 90 days, during which time the employee may be entitled to temporary benefits.

If the employer accepts liability, an injured worker will begin receiving workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expenses and lost wages, based on the worker’s average weekly pre-injury wages. However, if the employer denies liability, the worker will receive a Notice of Workers’ Compensation Denial. Employers may choose to deny liability for a number of reasons.

Reasons may include if they believe a worker’s injury did not happen at work, was not as serious as described, or if the injury was not reported within the 120-day deadline.

Appealing a Denied Workers’ Compensation Claim

Our legal team is experienced in handling workers’ compensation appeals. Claims that are initially denied may be appealed to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation within three years from the date of the worker’s injury.

If that claim is denied, it may then be appealed to the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board, the Commonwealth Court and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, respectively.

Philadelphia County Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Larry Pitt & Associates, P.C. Represent the Rights of Injured Pennsylvania Workers

If you sustained a workplace injury or contracted a work-related illness, contact a Philadelphia County workers’ compensation lawyer at Larry Pitt & Associates, P.C. We can help you through all stages of the process, from initial filing to appeal. We proudly serve clients throughout Pennsylvania, including Berks County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County or Philadelphia County. Call us at 888-PITT-LAW or complete our online contact form for a free consultation.

Our legal team provides skilled representation to those residing in and around Abington, Ambler, Ardmore, Bala Cynwyd, Bensalem, Clifton Heights, Crum Lynne, Darby, Downingtown, Doylestown, Drexel Hill, Essington, Folcroft, Glenolden, Haverford, Havertown, Holmes, Kutztown, Lansdowne, Media, Merion Station, Morton, Narberth, Norristown, Norwood, Philadelphia, Prospect Park, Quakertown, Reading, Roxborough, Sharon Hill, Upper Darby, West Chester and Wynnewood.