Bethlehem Workers’ Comp/Work Injury Lawyer
Suffering a work injury can be a highly disruptive experience. You may incur a large amount of medical bills for treatments that are necessary for your injury to heal properly. Furthermore, the limitations caused by your injury may severely inhibit your earning capacity at work.
Fortunately, you may seek payment for these losses by filing a Workers’ Compensation claim. Most employers are required to provide this type of insurance to cover on-the-job injuries suffered by their employees. Our legal team is ready to review your case and guide you through the process for filing a claim. We can help ensure that you recover the full range of benefits you are owed.
Get help from our Certified Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Specialists at Cardamone Law today by calling (267) 651-7945.
What Types of Injuries Are Covered by Workers’ Compensation in Bethlehem, PA?
In general, any type of on-the-job injury or illness should be covered by Workers’ Compensation insurance. As long as your injury or illness occurred during the course of your job performance, then it will likely be covered.
Still, there are certain situations where determining whether an injury is covered may be a complicated task. For instance, a car accident injury may not be covered if it was incurred on your way to work. Meanwhile, that same type of injury may be covered if it was sustained while running errands for your boss while on the clock.
Assistance from our Workers’ Compensation lawyers can be highly valuable when pursuing your claim. We will help determine if your injury is work related. Further, if your employer’s insurer mistakenly asserts that your injury did not occur at work, then we will gather evidence to defeat their argument and support your case.
Proving that an Injury is Work-Related in Bethlehem, PA
Proving that an injury is work-related can be difficult without legal support. There is a wide array of evidence that may be required to prove that a particular injury occurred at work.
Witness Statements
Witness statements can play a crucial role in proving that an injury is work-related. For example, co-workers who witnessed a workplace accident may provide valuable insight into how the accident occurred and the damage it caused. Accordingly, if you were hurt at work, then you should attempt to retrieve contact information from anyone who witnessed your injury.
Surveillance Footage
Like witness statements, surveillance footage can help demonstrate the events that occurred before, during, and after workplace accidents. Such footage may be very valuable when proving that workers were hurt while performing their job duties.
However, recovering this evidence can be a difficult. The parties in control of surveillance footage may be unwilling to cooperate with injured workers. Thankfully, after reviewing your case, our lawyers can help locate and recover any relevant footage that may exist.
Expert Witness Statements
Expert witnesses are considered experts because they have the necessary training, education, and experience in their specific fields. These types of witnesses may be called to help evaluate medical records and other evidence to determine whether an injury is work-related.
For example, if got sick because you were exposed to dangerous chemicals in the workplace, then a specialized physician may be called to explain that your illness is directly related to occupational hazards.
Workplace Accident Reports
After many workplace accidents, reports will be created by employees on the scene. These reports outline various details surrounding accidents such as times, dates, and locations. Furthermore, some accident reports will provide a description of what happened and point to likely causes.
The details provided in an accident report may be crucial to proving that your injury is work-related. Our team can help recover and review a copy of the accident report in your case.
Reporting Your Work-Related Injury in Bethlehem, PA
Under § 311 of the Workers’ Comp Act, you are required to report your work-related injury within 120 days. Missing this deadline can block you from recovering crucial Workers’ Compensation benefits.
Still, despite potentially having up to 120 days to report your workplace injury, you should attempt to inform your employer as soon as you can. By reporting early, you may allow your boss to fix issues and reduce future chances for injury by tending to the safety hazards that contributed to your accident.
Additionally, as time goes by, the evidence that needed to prove that your injury is work-related can deteriorate or be misplaced. The sooner your report your injury and begin the process for pursuing your claim, the more efficient the process of evidence collection will be.
Finally, prompt reporting of your injury allows your employer to create documentation of the injury. This documentation may be very useful when seeking to strengthen your potential claim.
Can Lost Wage Benefits Be Terminated in Bethlehem, PA?
Lost wage benefits are crucial to injured employees. They offer payment for a portion of the income that claimants miss out on as a result of their on-the-job injuries.
However, there are several scenarios in which your lost wage benefits may be terminated. For instance, these benefits may be discontinued if your employer finds out that you have resumed employment – though part-time employment might reduce your benefits instead of terminating them entirely. Moreover, they may be cancelled after a Workers’ Compensation judge steps in and halts benefits during a hearing. Finally, your lost wage benefits may cease if your 500-week maximum period for partial disability status runs out.
Importance of Legal Representation in Bethlehem Workers’ Compensation Cases
Legal representation can be crucial to injured workers when seeking the benefits they deserve.
First, our attorneys can help potential claimants navigate intricate legal procedures and fill out complicated paperwork. We will offer thorough guidance during each step of the process for pursuing a claim.
Additionally, we will handle all communications with employers and insurance companies to ensure that our clients rights and interests are protected. We will work diligently to negotiate for the maximum amount of payment available in each claim.
Contact Our Attorneys for Help with Your Workers’ Compensation Case in Bethlehem, PA
Get assistance from our Certified Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Specialists by calling Cardamone Law at (267) 651-7945.