Scranton Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Most employment positions throughout Scranton and elsewhere have certain risks. For example, a construction worker may be at risk of being involved in an accident involving heavy machinery; an office worker may be at risk of a repetitive stress injury, such as carpal tunnel; a warehouse worker may be at risk of a fall injury; and more.
Workers in all industries may face different levels of risk, and many may be involved in accidents and sustain injuries over the course of their employment. When an accident and injury occurs, workers’ compensation insurance is designed to provide the injured party with certain coverage types.
If you have been involved in a workplace accident, you likely maintain the right to seek benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. For assistance in navigating this process and recovering the compensation award you deserve, please call our Scranton workers’ compensation lawyers today.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a type of mandatory, no-fault insurance coverage that employers provide for their employees. The system protects both employers and employees: employees can recoup benefits after a workplace accident without having to prove fault and negligence, and employers are protected from liability.
Most employers in the state are required to carry workers’ compensation coverage, although there are a few exceptions. Employers who have other forms of workplace accident coverage (i.e. those covered under the Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA) do not need to provide workers’ compensation coverage. Certain agricultural workers are also not covered.
What Types of Workplace Injuries Qualify for Workers’ Compensation?
In order for a worker to be eligible for workers’ compensation coverage after an on-the-job accident, they must prove that their injuries occurred while they were doing something within the course and scope of their employment. If your workers’ compensation claim is denied, it may be because your employer or their insurer claims that you were notdoing something within the course of employment or were not “on the job” at the time of your accident.
If you were injured during the course of employment, you maintain the right to seek compensation. In addition to compensation for acute injuries, the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act also allows employees to recoup compensation for “occupational diseases” – conditions that arise as a direct result of their employment and employment-related tasks.
Benefits Available Via Workers’ Compensation Insurance
If you are injured on the job and bring forth a workers’ compensation claim, benefits that may be available to you include:
- Medical expenses. Regardless of the extent of your injury, you have the right to compensation for the full extent of your medical expenses, including all reasonable and necessary hospital stays, medications, surgeries, and other treatments.
- Wage replacement benefits. In some cases, you may also be entitled to wage replacement benefits. Types of wage replacement benefits include partial disability payments, total disability payments, and permanent injury payments.
- Death benefits. In the event that a workplace injury results in death, the beneficiaries of the injured worker maintain the right to death benefits.
Steps to Take if You’ve Been Injured in a Scranton Workplace Accident
If you’ve been injured in a Scranton workplace accident, it’s important that you take steps immediately to preserve your right to workers’ compensation benefits. These steps include:
- Notifying your employer of the incident. Notifying your employer of your work-related accident and injuries is arguably the most important thing that you must do after being injured on the job. If you fail to give your employer notice of your injury, you may be denied workers’ compensation benefits that you otherwise would be entitled to.
- Seek medical care. If you require emergency medical services following your workplace injury, you have the right to seek emergency care. If you do not require emergency care, you should still see a doctor in order to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. It is very important that you see a doctor who is approved by your workers’ compensation insurance provider; otherwise, you may have to pay for these costs out of pocket.
- Document your workplace accident and injuries. As soon as you can after the accident, write down as many details about the accident as you can remember, including where the accident happened, what you were doing at the time of accident, who witnessed the accident, when you reported the accident to your employer, what your doctor’s recommendations were, etc. This documentation may prove critical at a later date.
- Follow your doctor’s orders. If you fail to follow your doctor’s orders and prescribed treatment, your claim for workers’ compensation may be denied.
- Hire a Scranton workers’ compensation lawyer. In the event that you have a complex workers’ compensation claim, your injuries are serious, or your claim has been denied, hire a Scranton workers’ compensation lawyer for representation as soon as possible.
We Represent Workers Throughout Scranton
Our Scranton workers’ compensation lawyers have experience representing workers from a variety of industries who have suffered multiple different injury types. We can help you after a workplace back injury, neck injury, repetitive trauma injury, or another serious injury type. Our lawyers are also skilled at negotiating workers’ compensation settlements and ensuring that our clients recover a fair benefit amount. If your claim is denied, we handle the appeals process on your behalf, always advocating aggressively for you.
Call Our Scranton Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Today
Being injured on the job can be a terrifying experience. In addition to the pain and trauma of the injury itself, you may be facing lost wages, disability costs, and even fear about retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim. When you are unsure of your rights and legal options, our Scranton workers’ compensation attorneys at the law office of Haggerty Hinton & Cosgrove LLP will be available to answer your questions and provide you with competent legal representation. We work on a contingency fee basis, and never charge clients for initial consultations. Please call us today or send us a message to schedule your free case review today.
