Slip and fall accidents are the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims, according to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI). During the winter, slip and falls may be more common due to the various slippery surfaces created by snow and ice. Workers who slip and fall on ice at work may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits and possibly other forms of compensation from third-parties.
Workers’ Compensation for Slip and Fall Injuries
The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act (the Act) grants workers benefits without regard to fault. However, to remain eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, a worker must have been injured during the course of his or her employment. An employee does not necessarily need to be injured at work; compensation may also be available for injuries sustained while performing a work-related task in furtherance of the employer’s business.
To collect benefits, an employee must give notice to his or her employer within 120 days of the slip and fall accident. It is advisable to give notice in writing and to provide details of the accident and any resulting injuries. Successful claimants may receive several types of workers’ compensation benefits, including:
- Medical expenses – Injured workers may receive compensation for medical expenses related to their workplace injury. This includes payments for medications, surgeries, therapy, travel expenses to and from the doctor, and other reasonable and necessary medical expenses.
- Wage loss benefits – Workers who miss more than seven days of work may receive wage loss benefits. In Pennsylvania, total disability benefits are two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage and partial disability payments are two-thirds of the difference between the worker’s pre- and post-injury average weekly wages.
- Death benefits – The third leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths is falls, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Survivors of workers who were fatally injured in a slip and fall accident at work may be eligible for death benefits under the Act.
Third-Party Claims for Workplace Slip and Fall on Ice Accidents
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that provides employees with compensation for work-related injuries regardless of who caused the accident. Employees are therefore not required to prove fault in order to collect compensation. However, while they may not sue their employers personally for their workplace injuries, they may be able to sue responsible third-parties.
Employees who slip and fall on ice at work may be able to obtain additional compensation for noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering through a third-party claim. If the employee was injured in a parking lot while on their way to work, for example, they may have a claim against the parking lot owner who failed to properly maintain the lot. Workers’ compensation and personal injury laws vary by state, therefore it is advisable that workers contact a qualified attorney in their local area.
Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Larry Pitt & Associates, P.C. Help Workers Collect Compensation for Slip and Fall Injuries
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident at work or while performing work-related duties, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits and possibly other forms of compensation. Contact a Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyer at Larry Pitt & Associates, P.C. at 888-PITT-LAW or complete our online contact form for a free consultation.
Our experienced attorneys have been representing all types of injured workers in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania for over 35 years, including those in Berks County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia County and the communities of 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.
