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Knowing what to do after a workplace injury in Murrysville is hard. You have bills piling up, you’re in pain, and you may be worried that you’ll never work again. Your employer is also probably making things more complicated to avoid paying you workers’ comp benefits or trying to bring you back to work before you’re ready. Who can you trust to protect your interests in a time like this?
Stine & Associates, P.C. proudly represents injured workers in Murrysville and elsewhere in Pennsylvania, fighting for their rights while guiding them through the legal process. Attorney Cindy Stine and her team have fought for injured workers for over 30 years, giving us in-depth knowledge and insights we can use for your workers’ compensation claim. Additionally, our experience with personal injury cases makes us well-equipped to investigate to determine whether you can recover additional compensation if someone other than your employer contributed to your injury. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
Why You Need a Workplace Injury Lawyer Serving Murrysville
While you’re trying to focus on healing after a Murrysville workplace injury, you must also wind your way through the maze of Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system, which isn’t always straightforward. Your employer’s insurance company might delay your claim, dispute the severity of your injuries, or deny you benefits altogether. And if someone other than your employer caused your injury—like a subcontractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer—you may also have a personal injury case on your hands, adding even more legal challenges to an already overwhelming situation.
At Stine & Associates, P.C., we’re here to guide you through every step of the process. We’ll handle your workers’ compensation claim to make sure you receive full medical coverage and your rightful wage loss benefits. If your employer denies or undervalues your claim, we’ll fight to set things right.
Our workplace injury lawyers serving Murrysville can also explore whether you have a valid personal injury case. If so, we can take action to pursue additional compensation for losses that workers’ comp doesn’t cover, such as your pain and suffering. With our team by your side, you’ll have strong legal support focused on helping you recover physically, financially, and personally.
Workers’ Comp Claims vs. Personal Injury Claims in Murrysville
Workers’ compensation claims and personal injury cases are related but distinct legal actions to help you recover compensation for a workplace injury. Here’s what you need to know about each case type:
Workers’ Compensation Claims in Murrysville
Almost all Pennsylvania workers who get hurt at work qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Part-time and seasonal workers usually qualify, though independent contractors and workers in certain professions (such as some corporate officers) do not. Employers sometimes misclassify eligible employees as contractors, though, so talk to a lawyer before assuming you don’t qualify for benefits.
Workers’ compensation benefits cover your medical treatments and provide partial wage replacement, regardless of who caused the accident. In other words, you don’t need to prove that your employer or someone else caused your injury. All that matters is whether your injury happened at your workplace or resulted from your job-related activities. However, insurers sometimes delay, underpay, or deny valid claims, which is why it’s crucial to talk to a Pennsylvania workplace injury attorney as soon as possible.
Personal Injury Claims in Murrysville
A personal injury case differs from a workers’ compensation claim in several crucial ways. These claims let you sue a third party—someone other than your employer—if their negligence caused or contributed to your injury. For example, if defective equipment caused your injury or a careless driver hit you while you were doing your job, you may have a personal injury case.
These claims can provide compensation for losses that workers’ comp doesn’t. But unlike a workers’ comp claim, you must prove that the other party caused the accident leading to your injury. This requirement means showing they acted carelessly or recklessly and that their actions directly caused your injury. A lawyer can gather evidence, interview witnesses, and build a robust case so you have the best chance of recovering maximum compensation.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Pennsylvania
Workers’ compensation benefits for a job-related injury in Pennsylvania can include:
- Medical benefits – If your employer accepts your claim, they cover all reasonable and necessary medical care related to your injury. These benefits include coverage of your doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, prescriptions, physical therapy, and medical equipment.
- Total Disability (TD) benefits – TD benefits pay a percentage of your average weekly wage (AWW) if your injury fully prevents you from working. The percentage depends on the amount of your AWW and varies from 90% of wages less than $748.32 to 66 2/3% of the AWW for people earning $1010.26 or more, up to a maximum amount under state law.
- Partial Disability benefits – If you can do limited work while you heal but earn less than before, you may receive partial disability benefits to cover part of the difference between your pre-injury and your current wages.
- Specific loss benefits – If you lose all of or the use of a body part, you may qualify for a lump-sum payment based on the type and extent of your injury. You can also recover specific loss benefits if your injury causes severe scarring or disfigurement.
- Lump sum for a settlement.
- Death and dependency benefits for spouses and minor children resulting from a workplace death.
Compensation in Third-Party Injury Claims for Workplace Injuries
While third-party injury claims can be harder to win because they require you to prove someone else caused an accident, they’re worth pursuing because they can compensate for losses beyond what your workers’ comp benefits cover. Your compensation in a third-party workplace injury claim could include money for:
- The full amount of your lost wages
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Damaged personal property repair or replacement
What To Do After a Workplace Injury in Murrysville
The first thing to do after a workplace injury in Murrysville is notify your employer unless you need emergency medical treatment. You must report your injury within 21 days to avoid complications with your case. If you can’t report the injury yourself, ask a trusted friend, family member, or coworker to do so. In any event, you have only 120 days to report the injury and remain entitled to benefits.
Once you start your medical treatment, follow your doctor’s orders and collect any records documenting your injuries. Don’t discuss your injury publicly, particularly online, as your employer or the person you sue in a third-party injury claim might use your posts against you.
There’s a deadline for filing a third-party injury lawsuit. You must file your lawsuit within two years of your injury, or the courts will dismiss your case regardless of its merits. Talk to a lawyer as soon as possible to preserve your right to compensation, then let them handle the legal process so you can focus on healing.
Contact Our Workplace Injury Lawyers Serving Murrysville
Stine & Associates, P.C., is here to fight for your rights after a workplace injury in Murrysville. Call our workplace injury lawyers now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.