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Injuries in the workplace can leave you with daily pain, limited mobility, and mounting financial concerns. Fortunately, there are laws in place to protect you. You may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits that can help you get the medical treatment you need and provide partial wage replacement while you’re out of work. However, receiving those benefits can be a complicated process, particularly when your claim is denied.
The team at Stine & Associates, P.C., is dedicated to helping the hard-working people of Murrysville receive the benefits they deserve when they’re injured on the job. Our attorney at law, Cindy Stine, has over 30 years of experience providing legal guidance, critical support, and tenacious advocacy in workers’ compensation cases throughout Westmoreland County. She will fight to protect your rights. Contact us today to learn more.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance held by employers that is intended to cover a portion of a worker’s lost wages, medical benefits, rehabilitation services, and vocational training for employees who are injured on the job or become ill because of the job. It’s also intended to protect the employer from any personal injury lawsuits.
Under Pennsylvania law, it’s mandatory for most employers to carry workers’ compensation coverage, but that doesn’t mean that every employee who applies for benefits receives them. In fact, it’s not uncommon for employees to face challenges when seeking their benefits, and many have their claims outright denied. That’s why working with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney is critical when pursuing your claim.
Why Should I Hire a Murrysville Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
Seeking workers’ compensation benefits independently can be complicated and challenging, particularly while you’re recovering from a work-related injury or illness. A seasoned workers’ compensation attorney can take on the burdens related to pursuing your claim so you can focus on healing. Your lawyer will help by:
- Reviewing Your Case for Free: Pursuing the workers’ compensation benefits you’re entitled to shouldn’t come with any financial hurdles. We’ll sit down with you to hear your story, review the details of your case, and determine your best legal options free of charge.
- Gathering Evidence: Building a compelling case requires clear and convincing evidence. We’ll gather incident reports, witness statements, medical evidence, financial documents, and potentially expert testimony to prove your claim.
- Negotiating with Insurance: Insurance companies will fight to weaken or outright deny your claim. When they learn you’re represented by an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, they’ll know you’re ready to return the fight to them. We’ll handle all communications with insurers and advocate aggressively for you at the negotiating table.
- Representing You in Court: Sometimes, insurance companies refuse to offer a fair settlement. When that’s the case, we’re fully prepared to take your claim before a Workers’ Compensation Judge, the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board, and the Commonwealth Court, if necessary, to fight for a favorable verdict on your behalf.
Types of Work Injury Cases We Handle
Murrysville is full of manufacturing plants where work-related injuries can happen in various ways. However, you don’t need to work in a warehouse or factory to face injury risk. Whether you’re in retail at a Murrysville Shopping Center store or you’re a delivery driver who spends most of your shift on the road, you may be entitled to benefits when you’re injured on the job.
Even an injury deemed “minor” can significantly impact your daily life, mental health, and finances. Our team has the knowledge and experience to tackle any case and fight for the benefits you deserve.
Steps to Take After a Workplace Injury in Murrysville
Building a strong Murrysville workers’ compensation claim starts with your actions in the moments, days, and weeks after your injury. Your first priority should always be to seek medical attention. After you’ve done that, be sure to do the following:
Report the Injury
Pennsylvania law requires workers to report a workplace injury to their employer within 120 days of the incident. However, reporting as soon as possible is critical if you want to receive workers’ compensation benefits promptly. Reporting the injury also creates an incident report, which can serve as key evidence when building your case.
Call a Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Reaching out to an experienced workers’ comp attorney as soon as possible can provide the legal guidance and support you need to build a compelling case and avoid critical errors. Your lawyer will lead you through the entire legal process, from filing your initial claim to reaching your final settlement or verdict.
Maintain Careful Records
To receive your workers’ compensation benefits, you’ll need to demonstrate the extent and impact of your injuries with evidence. Hold on to all medical records, invoices, bills, receipts, financial records, communications with your employer, and any other relevant documents.
File Your Claim
Pennsylvania law requires employers to file a First Report of Injury with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation within 10 days after an injured employee misses more than seven days of work, which will trigger your workers’ comp benefits. However, you don’t need to wait for your employer to file independently. We recommend you take this initiative, as it can get the process of receiving your benefits (which can take time) started as soon as possible.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Murrysville
If you’ve suffered injuries on the job in Murrysville, you may be entitled to the following workers’ compensation benefits:
- Medical Expenses: Workers’ comp benefits cover reasonable and necessary medical care required to treat your injury, including ambulance rides, ER visits, doctor’s appointments, prescription medications, surgeries, medical devices, physical therapy and rehabilitation, and future medical costs related to your injuries.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): If you’re temporarily unable to earn a living, TTD can cover a portion of your lost wages. That portion will be between two-thirds and 90 percent of your pre-injury average weekly wage, according to the statewide average weekly wage table.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): If your injuries limit your ability to do your job, causing you to earn less, TPD can help make up the difference in your income. Typically, that’s two-thirds of the difference between your current and pre-injury wages.
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): If you’re able to work but your injury resulted in impairment to a portion of your body, you could receive benefits for those losses. Benefits are calculated on the basis of the specific loss.
- Lump Sum for a Settlement
- Death and Dependency Benefits for Spouses and Minor Children Resulting from a Workplace Death
How Long Do I Have to File a Workers Compensation Claim in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania law allows injured workers three years from the date of the injury to file a workers’ compensation claim petition. However, you must also notify your employer of the injury within 120 days of the incident. To receive your benefits promptly and avoid severely limiting your legal options by missing these deadlines, it’s critical to contact a lawyer and get the process started as soon as you can.
Contact a Murrysville Workers’ Comp Lawyer Today
If you’ve suffered injuries on the job, it’s your legal right to seek full and fair workers’ compensation benefits. The team at Stine & Associates, P.C., offers compassionate support and fierce advocacy to all injured Murrysville workers seeking the benefits they deserve. Contact us online or call our office today for your free consultation.