Lancaster Workplace Injury Lawyers
Every year thousands of workers get injured on the job. Some of these injuries prove fatal while others are often grievous enough to require an extended period of recovery and healing. Even when the injury or illness is not severe, the added strain of loss of income, medical expenses, and worry about the future can take a huge toll on the person’s life and mental wellbeing.
While most employers faithfully comply with safety protocols in the workplace, accidents still happen. To protect yourself or a loved one in case of a workplace injury, it’s important to talk to an expert Lancaster workplace injury lawyer to determine your next course of action.
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What Are Common Workplace Injuries?
Almost all injuries or illnesses sustained during the course of the employment are covered under the PA Workers’ Compensation Act. These include:
Slips, trips, and Falls
Falling Objects
Toxic Exposure
Lifting Injuries
Crashes and Collisions
Cuts and Abrasions
Strains and Pulls
Vehicle-related Accidents
Exposure to loud Noise
Workplace Violence
How Do I Know If My Injury Is Work-Related?
Your injury or illness will be considered a work-related accident if it happened during the course of your employment. In typical cases, it refers to the time you spend at work, actively involved in work-related tasks, and not during a lunch break, per se.
Yet, in specific cases, if the cause of the injury happened during the course of employment even if the actual injury didn’t, it may still count as a work-related injury. A Lancaster workers compensation lawyer will help clarify the rules further.
How Do I Know If I’m Covered By PA Workers’ Comp Law?
By law, all Pennsylvania workers are covered under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act — a comprehensive law that gives injured employees access to a wide range of compensatory benefits till they are able to rejoin the workforce. This coverage extends to nonprofits and unincorporated businesses, too. If you have questions about your coverage, talking to a Lancaster injury attorney can help you with the latest information.
How Long Will My Case Take?
It varies. Most work-injury claims are short lived as workers return to the job after the injury is healed. In serious injury cases, the claims may take several months or years to fully play out. However, when litigation is involved, a workers’ compensation judge can take up to a year to come to a decision on a particular petition. The good news is that our firm is able to reach a settlement for our clients rather than letting a Judge decide your fate in the vast majority of cases.
Since each case is different, your Lancaster workers’ compensation attorney can better guide you with the specifics.
When Should I File A Work Injury Claim?
The best lawyers in Lancaster, PA all agree that you should file your work injury claim as soon as possible. The first order of the business is to seek medical attention right away. Immediately afterward, however, it’s best to explore your legal options and try to initiate a workers compensation claim. If 120 days pass without you notifying your employer of your workplace accident, you may not be allowed to file a compensation claim then.
Yet, these rules can be contested and depend on various factors. Therefore, it’s ideal if you talk to a specialist injury lawyer at our law firm in Lancaster PA to determine your chances of success.
What Compensation Benefits Can I Get?
There are four kinds of major compensation benefits you are entitled to in case of a workplace injury or illness. These include:
Medical Expenses
Your employer's workers' compensation insurance pays for reasonable, necessary, and causally related medical treatment for the legally accepted injuries including ER visits, office visits, PT, surgery, medications, etc.
Lost Wages
Most will receive 66.66% of their pre-injury average weekly wage, in weekly or b-weekly checks. Some will receive 90% of their pre-injury average weekly wage if they are low wage earners, and there is a maximize weekly amount for each year.
Specific loss Benefits
These are additional benefits awarded to the injured worker for things like amputations, the loss of use of a body part for all practical intents and purposes, or disfigurement of the head, face, or neck.
Death Benefits
If the injury results in a fatal accident, the deceased worker’s dependents are entitled to receive one-time lump sum death benefits.
Depending on the injury and its severity, your Lancaster workers compensation attorneys will try to maximize your benefits to ensure you have access to all the resources you need to get better and back on your feet.
Call Cardamone Law and Ask About Your Options