When an injury on the job requires surgery or therapy to correct, you are entitled to file a workers’ compensation claim. After the initial insult has been reported, your employer and their workers’ compensation insurance agency follow a complex chain of events to investigate your accident and determine your eligibility for compensation.

Insurance agencies are responsible for paperwork too

After you file a claim, a workers’ compensation insurer is required to notify you if your claim has been accepted within 21 days of either the initial report or the date you became disabled, whichever is later. There are four main types of notifications that you may receive:

• Notice of Compensation Payable, which details both wage payments and medical benefits.
• Temporary Notice of Compensation Payable, which details wage payments and medical benefits, but may be revoked after 90 days (in cases where the insurer or employer are still investigating the circumstances of an incident).
• Medical Only Notice of Compensation Payable, which provides for medical benefits but does not offer wage compensation.
• Notice of Denial, in which an insurer denies acceptance of an injury or illness.

If you have been injured on the job, it may seem that these notifications are in order from best-case to worst-case scenario. In fact, even a Notice of Compensation Payable may be challenged if the compensation offered is not sufficient for your needs. By and large, the system works, but when facing the complications of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s Workers’ Compensation Program, it is always advisable to have experienced legal counsel on your side.

You have rights

If you have received any of these notifications following an injury and have questions, the knowledgeable and experienced Philadelphia workers’ compensation attorneys at Larry Pitt & Associates can help you understand your rights. While you are entitled to file a petition that disputes the findings of an insurance company, navigating the legal system can be complicated and confusing. We are here to help.

When you or a loved one suffers an injury or illness at work, you are entitled to compensation for your medical treatment and lost wages. Contact the experienced Philadelphia workers’ compensation attorneys of Larry Pitt & Associates today for a free consultation, or call 888.PITT.LAW. We serve clients in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.