The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Disease Acts makes it mandatory for employers in PA to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ comp insurance exists to provide financial benefits to workers who are injured, acquire an illness, or experience the worsening of a health condition due to their employment.
But getting these benefits after an on-the-job injury can be complicated. After you’re injured at work, you may find yourself asking many questions.
How do I apply for workers’ comp?
Will I have to pay any medical bills out of pocket?
What if I have to go to physical therapy?
Will my wages be repaid if I have to miss work?
What do workers’ compensation benefits cover in Pennsylvania?
At Stapp Law, LLC, we understand the questions that arise after a job-related injury or illness. That’s why we offer free case evaluations at our Williamsport-based office. This gives us the opportunity to review your case and determine your legal options—all at no cost to you. At the same time, this gives you the opportunity to decide if Stapp Law, LLC is the right personal injury law firm to represent you in your case.
Contact our Williamsport office today to set up a free consultation with a qualified workers’ compensation attorney.
What Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Pennsylvania?
Workers’ compensation benefits provide help to Pennsylvania employees who are injured, become sick, or suffer a worsened condition because of their job. From the day you begin work, these benefits should be available to you. That means that even if you are hurt on the very first day of work, you are eligible to receive benefits to compensate you for the losses associated with your injuries.
Employers are obligated by PA law to provide benefits to workers whose injuries are determined to be compensable. These benefits include:
- Payments for medical treatment
- Total disability benefits or partial disability benefits
- Replacement of lost wages
- Scarring or specific loss (such as the loss of a hand, arm, or other body part)
Total disability benefits, which are paid for as long as an employee is unable to return to work, provide roughly two-thirds of the worker’s salary (up to the maximum dollar amount determined by law) if the disability lasts longer than a week. These benefits continue until the injured worker is able to return to their previous pre-injury position without medical restrictions, or is medically able to perform another job available to them for equal or greater pay.
If you were hurt while working in Lycoming County, a workers’ comp lawyer with experience in Pennsylvania law can help make sure you receive the full value of the benefits available to you in your specific case.
Medical Expenses Covered by PA Workers’ Compensation Benefits
What do workers’ compensation benefits cover in terms of medical bills?
Medical expenses are costly. A trip to the hospital is usually just the beginning of the medical bills you’ll be slapped with after a work injury. In many cases, an injured worker will continue to accumulate bills over several weeks or months of treatment.
If you were harmed on the job in the Williamsport area, Pennsylvania workers’ compensation benefits can go to cover:
- Hospital treatment, services, and supplies
- A semi-private or private room in a hospital
- Appointments with doctors and other health care providers, including chiropractors
- Surgery
- Medical services your condition requires
- Prescription medications
- Medical supplies
- Orthopedic devices
The medical care you require will depend heavily on the nature and severity of your injury, illness, or worsened health issue. While some people only require a few weeks of recovery following a minor on-the-job injury, others may be facing years of medical expenses after developing a severe occupational illness.
Having an experienced legal professional in your corner is a great advantage when filing a workers’ compensation claim. Your attorney can make sure the total cost of your past, current, and future medical expenses is accounted for.
You should never worry about running out of the funds you need to treat your health condition. But unfortunately, many people are confronted with this problem after a work injury. A skilled lawyer will make sure this never happens to you.
What Does Workers’ Comp NOT Cover in PA?
The workers’ compensation insurance PA employers must carry provides many benefits to injured employees. But there are some things workers’ comp does not cover or guarantee. The PA Department of Labor & Industry states that Pennsylvania workers’ compensation benefits:
- Do not cover pain and suffering
- Do not guarantee job security after an injury
- Do not guarantee that certain contract benefits covered in a collective bargaining agreement will continue
A good workers’ comp attorney knows their job isn’t finished the minute you file your claim. Filing for and obtaining workers’ compensation benefits can be a long and involved process. If an employer is not being cooperative, is retaliating or engaging in discriminatory practices, or is making deliberate efforts to reduce your benefits, your lawyer may need to step in to ensure your rights are protected.
If you have any reason to believe you are being treated unfairly after a work injury, be sure to voice your concerns when you meet with your attorney. A lawyer from Stapp Law, LLC can assess the circumstances of your situation. We’ll be able to identify any employment law violations and right any wrongs related to your workers’ compensation case.
Can I Get Help Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Williamsport, PA?
At Stapp Law, LLC, protecting the rights of injured workers in Williamsport is a cornerstone of what we do. Hardworking employees need to know that they will not be forced to pay for their work-related health issues out of pocket. When you dedicate your time, effort, and physical abilities to a company, you have the right to know they will protect you if your job adversely affects your health.
We are ready to help you stand up for your rights after you’ve been hurt at work. Contact us via phone or online contact form today. We’ll begin by setting up a free consultation on your schedule. If you believe we are the best law firm to fight on your behalf, we’ll commit our skills and experience to seeing that you get the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve and are entitled to by law.
