Lancaster workers’ comp lawyers are not necessary to report a work injury and seek workers’ compensation benefits, but they can be useful when things go wrong. You will especially want to hire a Lancaster workers’ compensation lawyer if:
- Your wage loss benefits checks are late.
- You are being offered less than you believe you should receive for specific loss benefits, death benefits or disfigurement benefits.
- You believe you may be getting less than you should for wage loss benefits.
- Your workers’ compensation claim is denied.
- Your employer does not cover you, even though they should.
- You are asked to co-pay on medical costs needed for your injury.
- You are told some of your medical costs are not covered.
- Your benefits are stopped or modified.
- You are asked to submit to impairment rating evaluations (IREs), independent medical examinations (IMEs) or other evaluations.
- You are fired.
- You are asked to go back to your job before your doctor agrees you are clear to return.
If you have any concerns or anything seems wrong, it’s important to contact a Lancaster, PA, workers’ compensation claims lawyer immediately. An attorney can review your medical condition, ensure your employer is following Pennsylvania laws, hire independent experts to strengthen your case, file appeals, litigate or seek a settlement. An attorney will work with you to determine the best way to proceed in your specific case.
Who Qualifies for Workers’ Compensation in Lancaster, PA?
By law, most employers in Pennsylvania must hold workers’ compensation insurance. There are a few exceptions, such as federal employers and employers in industries with their own unique protections. Most employees in Pennsylvania will be entitled to workers’ compensation if they suffer a qualifying injury or illness as a result of their work.
Common incidents that can result in a worker receiving workers’ comp include:
Road accidents: Getting into an accident while driving a work vehicle can result in various qualifying injuries.
Slipping: If you slip and hurt your back at work, it can restrict your movement for months.
Repetitive tasks: Over time, tasks like typing can cause injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Contracting diseases: Some professionals, like those in the medical field, can receive workers’ comp if they contract certain diseases as a result of their work.
Determining which injuries will qualify for workers’ comp isn’t straightforward. Qualifying injuries and illnesses will depend on your job role, as well as how you obtained them.
What Workers’ Comp Benefits Are Available in Lancaster, PA?
If you suffer an injury that qualifies for workers’ compensation, you can be entitled to several types of benefits, depending on the nature and severity of your injury. These include:
Health care expenses: Workers’ compensation will cover reasonable medical expenses, such as doctor’s visits or surgeries.
Rehabilitation expenses: Workers’ compensation will cover physical therapy or any other ongoing treatments.
Total disability payments: Workers’ compensation will cover disability payments for employees who can’t return to work in any capacity.
Partial disability payments: Workers’ compensation will cover disability payments for employees who can’t return to work at full capacity.
Special loss benefits: Workers’ compensation will cover compensation payments for irreversible injuries, such as the loss of a body part.
Death benefits: Workers’ compensation will cover death payments to the family if the worker dies from a work-related injury.
What Happens to My Workers’ Comp if I Quit My Job?
If you experience a work-related injury, you’ll be entitled to workers’ comp benefits for as long as you’re an employee at that business, or even longer if you are fired for no fault of yours. If you quit your job, making a claim for those benefits could be more challenging.
If you make a claim and quit your job, you should still receive medical benefits, but your wage loss benfits may be limited depending on why you quit. For example, if you quit because your Employer refuses to comply with you doctor’s restrictions, you may be entitled to wage loss benefits for possibly 500 weeks. This is as long as you can prove your injury has affected your ability to work or earn the same wage you were earning before your injury. If your employer can prove that your injury is not holding you back from employment, they can request that the benefits be stopped or reduced.
If you feel your injury has given you no choice but to quit your job, either because you’re no longer fit for your old role or your new role is unsuitable, you may want to quit your job. You may even feel forced to quit because you feel unsafe at work. If you can prove that your workplace is unsafe, you’ll likely keep your wage-loss benefits, too.
If you feel you’re being forced out by your employer as a result of your workers’ compensation claim, you may have grounds for a legal case against them.
Why Hire a Local Lancaster, PA Workers Compensation Attorney?
If you need a Lancaster, PA, workers’ compensation lawyer, there are a few reasons you’ll want to consider local attorneys. You will likely need to visit your attorney a few times, which is easier if you’re local. You will not have to pay expensive travel costs, drive long distances or consider time differences when you need to contact your lawyer regarding your claim.
Local attorneys also know local insurance companies, employers and resources. They can help you find the resources you need, and you can be sure they’re recognized by insurance companies and employers in your area. If you have a regional attorney known to insurers and employers for securing benefits and litigating successfully, you may even find that employers and insurance companies quickly become more cooperative.
Questions to Ask Your Lancaster Workers’ Attorney
If you decide you’d like an attorney to represent you, it’s important to choose one who will give you the best chance of getting the workers’ comp you deserve. To make sure you find one of the top workers’ comp lawyers in Lancaster, PA, ask them these questions:
Do you handle many workers’ compensation cases?
How often have you represented workers who have suffered injuries similar to mine?
What is your success rate?
How much do you charge?
While there are plenty of other questions you should ask your workers’ compensation lawyer, these four will be the most important.
Contact Us Today for Help
It’s difficult to find a Lancaster work injury lawyer who ticks every box, but Frommer D’Amico does. Our attorneys are certified experts in this area who only represent injured workers in compensation cases, which is why we consider ourselves to be among the best workers’ comp lawyers in Lancaster, PA. This specialized focus means that each attorney at our firm has extensive expertise in handling every stage of a workers’ compensation claim.
Frommer D’Amico offers free consultations and free case management, which can save you money since our no-fee services include tasks such as review of injury description petitions, prosecuting late check penalty petitions and more. Working out of Harrisburg, we’ll travel to you so your claim is that much easier to make.
To speak to a workers’ compensation lawyer in Lancaster, PA, reach out to Frommer D’Amico or call 717-400-1000 for a free consultation.
