Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Allentown, PA

Injured Workers Are Entitled to Lost Wages and Medical Bills After a Workplace Accident or Illness: Our Workers’ Comp Lawyer in Allentown, PA Explains

Pennsylvania law allows workers to recover compensation when they suffer an injury in a workplace accident, suffer an illness related to work or have an injury caused by their job, such as a repetitive stress injury. These workers’ compensation benefits are intended to replace two-thirds (2/3s) of lost wages and medical bills and offer various other benefits in certain situations. Nearly all employers are required to carry workers’ compensation. While many injured workers seamlessly navigate the WC process, unfortunately, our workers’ comp lawyers in Allentown, PA, know that is not always the case.

Rather, some injured workers may have claims that are unduly delayed, undervalued, and even wrongfully denied. Sometimes, this is because of an employer’s actions, such as not submitting a claim, failing to carry workers’ compensation insurance, or refuting the connection between work and the alleged injuries. Other times an overreaching and aggressive WC adjuster will undervalue or undermine a claim, forcing an injured worker to return to work before they are ready. Larry Pitt & Associates can help protect your rights to WC benefits if this happens to you.

Important Points of Workers’ Compensation

Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation insurance is a no-fault benefits program. That means that fault for the injury or accident does not need to be proven. Rather, all that must be proven is that the illness or injury is work-related. That could be due to a workplace accident or linked to a workplace condition causing an illness or injury.

Injured workers must give notice to a supervisor within 21 days of an accident. A WC claim must be formally filed within 120 days of the accident. Injured workers must actively participate, answering questions and agreeing to be examined by an independent medical examiner.

Payments for workers’ compensation are usually two-thirds (2/3s) of lost wages and medical bills. A family may be entitled to recover death benefits if a loved one was killed. Permanently disabled workers may be entitled to recover a disability percentage for any injuries that will not improve. Some workers may be entitled to re-training as well.

Why Do Workers’ Compensation Benefits Get Denied?

There are several reasons why workers’ compensation benefits can be denied. Some of the most common reasons include the following:

• Untimely notice to an employer
• Untimely submission of a claim to the WC carrier
• Failure to appear at medical examination
• Not cooperating with a medical examiner or claims adjusters (i.e., not responding to requests for information)
• Injury did not happen within the scope of employment/claimed not to be related to employment
• Illness not related to employment
• Injury was intentionally caused and not within scope of employment (i.e., assault)
• Too far outside of employment during ingress and egress (i.e., going to work or leaving work)
• Intentional act to harm yourself or to fake a claim for money
• Pre-existing injuries not linked to work, and
• Other common errors that could affect a WC claim.

If You Were Hurt at Work, Call Our WC Law Firm For Help

Injured workers and their families have trusted Larry Pitt & Associates for over 40 years with their workplace accident cases. Our compassionate and experienced workers’ compensation lawyers in Allentown, PA, have a proven track record of success handling cases involving various injuries and illnesses, including those that are catastrophic and life-changing. Learn how we can help you during a FREE consultation by calling (888)-PITT-LAW or (877) 748-8529, or by sending us a message through our easy-to-use contact us box available here.