Philadelphia Hospital Workers’ Comp Attorneys

Doctors, nurses, orderlies, techs, and even maintenance and facilities staff are all important parts of making a hospital work and allowing it to treat patients day in and day out.  When these workers are injured, they deserve proper treatment and compensation for their injuries.  Often, Workers’ Comp is the way to get these benefits paid.

Our attorneys can help hospital workers injured on the job with their Workers’ Comp claims, helping them get the treatment they need paid for by their employer’s insurance carrier, and getting them lost-wage benefits during their time away from work or time facing reduced earning capacity.  There are many risks in hospitals, and many injuries are deemed work-related, allowing them to be covered.

For help with your case, contact Cardamone Law’s Certified Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Specialists today at (267) 651-7945.

How Workers’ Comp Covers Injured Hospital Workers in Philadelphia

When you get hurt at work, your injuries should be covered under your employer’s Workers’ Compensation insurance.  This insurance is required for any employer who has employees who could be injured while doing their jobs in Pennsylvania.  There may be some hospital workers who are in private practice or are otherwise self-employed and work as a hospital as contractors, and they might not be covered.  Otherwise, our lawyers can help any employees seek compensation for injuries while working at a hospital.

Filing

A case typically starts with notifying your employer of the injury and allowing them to file a claim with their insurance carrier.  Often, these claims will be denied or a settlement will be offered that does not cover your benefits in full, so you will need to talk to our hospital Workers’ Comp attorneys about filing a petition with a Workers’ Comp Judge to get you the benefits you deserve.

Hearings

Workers’ Comp hearings are held to establish that your injury was work-related and that you are entitled to the benefits you are claiming.  These hearings often require proof from medical exams and other evidence and testimony (usually taken ahead of time through depositions) to show the Judge that the injury qualifies for benefits.

During or before a hearing, you may be approached to settle your case, but never settle before having our lawyers review the case to ensure that there is enough money to cover all damages you could be entitled to, including wage-loss benefits, medical care costs, and other potential benefits.

Treating

Getting treatment for your injuries often requires you to use a doctor your employer chooses within the first 90 days of treatment.  Ironically, even if you work at a hospital, you might have to go seek treatment from a different care provider, as it could be a serious conflict for your employer to use one of their other employees to treat your condition.  Workers’ Comp carriers also often choose specific Workers’ Comp doctors affiliated with “coordinated care organizations” rather than hospitals.

After the first 90 days, you can usually choose your doctor.  Even during the first 90 days, you can get a second opinion on surgeries and see specialists if the employer’s list does not list the kinds of specialists you need to see.

Receiving Benefits

Benefits for lost earnings are typically paid weekly or bi-weekly according to your schedule from before the injury.  They can cover 2/3 of your average wage before the accident (more in some cases), or 2/3 of the difference in wages if you are able to work to some extent while recovering.  You may also be able to settle for one lump-sum payment.

Getting Back to Work

Your employer has no requirement to keep your job open while you recover, but if you are only going to be out for a short period, it is likely your job will still be there.  Even so, our primary concern is that you are truly healed and that no one is rushing you back to work too early.  If your employer petitions a judge to terminate your benefits early, we can fight that petition and work to keep your benefits coming, even after the employer gains additional tools for medical reviews after 2 years of benefits.

Even so, it is often better to return to work when you are able, as your ongoing weekly wage-loss benefits are locked in at their original value and do not increase for inflation or cost of living.  As such, it might be better to ultimately settle your case so that you can invest the lump-sum settlement and return to work when you decide you are ready.

Injuries and Accidents in Hospitals Covered by Workers’ Comp in Philly

Workers’ Compensation should cover all “work-related” accidents.  What is and is not “work-related” sometimes has a difficult line to draw, but it is commonly accepted that many things that are not directly part of surgery or patient interactions are still “work-related” tasks for hospital workers.  The following are some examples of common injuries and accidents that could lead to Workers’ Comp benefits for an injured hospital worker:

Assault by a Patient

Assault from patients is a surprisingly common cause of injury for hospital workers.  Workers’ Comp is essentially a “no-fault” system, and your employer is required to cover your work-related injuries even if they were caused by something someone else did to you at work.  For this reason, serious injuries from a patient assault should get your medical care and lost earnings covered.

Lifting Injuries

Lifting and moving patients can be difficult, and if you strain your back or otherwise injure yourself lifting or moving a patient, that should entitle you to Workers’ Comp payments.

“Popped Glove” Injuries and Patient-Acquired Illness

Having a “popped glove” or other form of PPE failure that exposes you to a patient’s blood or otherwise allows you to contract an illness from a patient could lead to serious consequences, including many possible diseases.  Treatment for this injury or illness should be considered work-related, but there are additional rules with illnesses as compared to physical injuries.

Facilities Injuries

Falls on slippery floors, falls down stairs, and other injuries from the general facilities you work in are also usually considered work-related.

Call Our Workers’ Comp Lawyers for Injuries in Hospitals in Philadelphia

Call (267) 651-7945 for a free case review with Cardamone Law’s hospital Workers’ Comp lawyers today.