Philadelphia Work Injuries Attorney

Pennsylvania employers have a duty to maintain a safe workplace so that employees are not subjected to risks that cause injuries and occupational illnesses. Unfortunately, statistics from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation reveal that the work environment is still quite dangerous. Every year, there are around 161,600 reports of on-the-job injuries or ailments. Up to 60 percent of these workers are forced to take days off, work with a job restriction, or deal with a job transfer because of their injuries. Entire households are affected by mounting medical bills, lost income, and other consequences.

The state workers’ compensation system was established to provide essential financial support to employees who suffer workplace medical conditions. You may qualify for benefits, though there may be other options to consider depending on the circumstances. Because the legal process is complex, rely on our team at Quinn Injury Lawyers to support your needs. We have extensive experience fighting for victims of job-related accidents, so please contact us to set up a free consultation. A Philadelphia work injuries attorney can provide personalized advice, and some background is informative.

Overview of Pennsylvania Workers’ Comp Laws

The system was established to help injured employees recover from their medical condition and get back to work as quickly as possible. To meet this objective, the laws do not require workers to prove the employer’s fault. Instead, a qualifying employee must file a claim with the employer’s workers’ compensation insurer. It is mandatory for most companies to carry such a policy.

To be eligible for workers’ comp benefits, you must meet certain criteria:

1. You are a covered employee, as opposed to an independent contractor.
2. You were injured in a workplace accident or sustained an occupational disease because of on-the-job hazards.
3. You were engaged in work-related tasks when you were hurt.

In most cases, filing a workers’ compensation claim is your sole remedy. You cannot sue your employer in court for monetary damages.

Benefits for Qualifying Employees

Depending on the nature of your workplace injuries, you may be eligible for a wide range of benefits:

• You can obtain amounts for medical care that are reasonably necessary to treat your medical condition, now and in the future. Examples include costs for emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, lab screenings, and pain medications.
• It is possible to get wage replacement as a partial disability for the time you missed work if you are out for at least 7 days. The amount is two-thirds of your average weekly wage at the pre-injury rate, up to a statutory maximum.
• Total disability benefits are available for those who cannot return to work.
• Surviving family members may be eligible for death benefits when a covered employee died from work injuries or an occupational disease.

Civil Cases for Work Injuries

Though filing a Pennsylvania workers’ compensation claim is the sole remedy in most cases, there are some exceptions that might apply to your situation. Workers’ comp is not the only option if:

• Your employer does not carry workers’ comp insurance as required by law.
• Intentional acts by your employer were the reason for your work injuries or work-related illness.
• Negligence by a third party, unrelated to your employer, caused the accident in which you were injured. Transportation accidents are one common exception to the rule on workers’ comp being the sole remedy, as you could be involved in a crash when driving to a meeting or other work-related event.

If your claim does fall into one of these scenarios, you may have grounds to file a civil claim in court. The advantage is that you can recover monetary damages for pain and suffering, which amounts are not available through workers’ compensation.

How a Lawyer Can Assist with the Legal Process

The Quinn Injury Lawyers will support you at all stages of the claims process, so you can count on a Pennsylvania work injuries attorney to handle:

1. Gathering evidence and reviewing medical records.
2. Completing all forms and submitting them with supporting documentation.
3. Discussing settlement with the insurance company.
4. Taking the next steps with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation as necessary to ensure you receive the full benefits you are entitled to by law.

Trust a Philadelphia Work Injuries Lawyer to Assist with Your Claim

If you were hurt in an on-the-job accident or suffer from an occupational disease, please contact the Quinn Injury Lawyers right away at (215) 709-8923 or via our website. We can schedule a no-cost case evaluation with a skilled Philadelphia workplace injuries attorney. After learning more about your circumstances, we can explain how the legal process works.

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