Pennsylvania Worker’s Compensation Covers Any Workplace Injury
Some occupations are notoriously hazardous. Construction work, nursing and commercial trucking are jobs in which many workers suffer injuries sooner or later. Other occupations appear safe and sedate, but injuries still occur. Office jobs and retail jobs do not have a reputation for being dangerous; however, many employees in these lines of work suffer from repetitive use injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Others fall victim to accidents such as slip-and-fall injuries.
If you were injured in the scope of employment, your employer must cover your medical treatment and provide disability benefits under Pennsylvania workers’ compensation. At Belt Law Firm, P.C., you have a certified workers’ compensation specialist* on your side.
Denials And Delays: When A Lawyer’s Help Becomes Important
Injured workers usually qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. However, denials and delays are common. Belt Law Firm, P.C., represents clients throughout northeastern Pennsylvania’s communities. We offer free initial consultations. If we represent you after a workplace injury, we will do so on a contingency basis. This means you will not owe attorneys’ fees until and unless we help you recover benefits.
Also see our Workers’ Comp FAQ.
Third-Party Liability Claims
Under workers’ compensation law, you cannot sue your employer or co-workers for a job injury. However, third parties outside your chain of employment are not immune to lawsuits. You may have a personal injury claim in addition to your workers’ compensation claim if the negligence of a third party contributed to your injury. For example, if an injury involves a piece of equipment that malfunctions, a third-party liability lawsuit against the manufacturer is also a possibility. Belt Law Firm, P.C., maintains a network of law firms that handle third-party liability claims. By the same token, many personal injury lawyers refer clients to Belt Law Firm, P.C., to handle workers’ compensation claims.
Other Common Workplace Injury Scenarios
Stock rooms and warehouses present dangers for workers. Merchandise falls from high shelves and strikes employees, resulting in shoulder injuries or traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Employees trip and fall in aisles where debris has fallen. Freak occurrences such as fires, explosions, glass breakage and equipment malfunction can cause burn injuries and other workplace injuries even in occupations that are not known for hazards.
General contractors at construction job sites often claim that workers are subcontractors, not employees. They insist on the subcontractor classification in an attempt to avoid responsibility for workers’ compensation claims. An attorney can often demonstrate that an injured construction worker did, in fact, meet the definition of an employee to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
Get Legal Help From An Experienced Lawyer
Schedule a consultation to discuss your workplace injury and your workers’ compensation claim with a Pennsylvania attorney by calling 570-714-3343 or using our online contact form.
* Attorney Timothy D. Belt is certified as a specialist in the practice of workers’ compensation law by the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Section on Workers’ Compensation Law as authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.