Aston Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Aston Township is home to distribution hubs, restaurants, schools, and plenty of other businesses where workers might be injured on the job.  If you faced injuries while performing work tasks, Workers’ Compensation may be available to pay for your injuries.

All employers in Pennsylvania need Workers’ Comp insurance to cover injuries to their workers.  This insurance pays for lost wages, medical bills, and specific loss damages, all without the need to prove someone was at fault.  This can help even victims of true accidental injuries get compensation.

Call Cardamone Law at (267) 651-7945 for a free case review with our Certified Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Specialists today.

Who Pays for Injuries After an Accident at Work in Aston Township

When you get hurt at work, your employer is supposed to cover your injuries.  This is the core promise of Workers’ Compensation.

While you may be able to sue outside parties, such as a driver who hit you or the manufacturer of defective safety gear, Workers’ Compensation rules require your employer to cover these damages:

• Lost wage benefits up to 2/3 of your lost earnings
• Medical care costs
• Additional damages for permanent loss, lost function, amputation, facial scarring, and lost sight/hearing.

This does not include pain and suffering damages, which you can pursue in a separate claim.

These Workers’ Comp benefits should be paid regardless of who caused the accident, making them the reliable, go-to way to get your work injuries compensated.

Who Pays for Workers’ Comp?

Employers are required to have Workers’ Compensation insurance to pay for their workers’ injuries.  This means that employers pay for their insurance coverage and, if there are any problems with coverage, pay for the worker’s injuries.

Unlike other employment programs like Social Security disability or state unemployment insurance, workers do not pay into this.  Your employer should never ask you to pay for your own Workers’ Compensation insurance.

Since your employer relies on their Workers’ Compensation insurance carrier for payment, your employer might not be able to control their decision.  As such, even a claim against a friendly employer can turn into a fight primarily against the insurance carrier.

How Much Does Workers’ Comp Cover for Medical Care?

Workers’ Compensation should pay for all medical care costs, including the following and more:

• Emergency room treatment
• Hospital stays
• Ambulance rides
• Surgery
• Casts and splints
• Crutches and wheelchairs
• X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans
• Lab work
• Medication
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Mental health therapy and psychiatry
• Specialist visits
• Follow-up appointments.

Insurance is there to cover as much as you need, but medical costs are often a smaller part of the settlement than wage-loss benefits for many injuries.

How Much Are Wage-Loss Benefits for Injured Workers in Aston, PA?

For a total disability preventing you from working at all, wage-loss benefits equal 2/3 of your average weekly wage (AWW) before the injury.  For partial disabilities where you can still work a bit, the payment is 2/3 of the difference in AWW prior to and after your accident.

These weekly amounts are capped at the statewide AWW.  For 2025 claims, that equals $1,347 per week.  This maxes out weekly payments with incomes of $2,020.50 per week or higher.

Workers making under that amount can calculate 2/3 of their AWW to find their wage-loss payment.  If your wages are under $1,010.26 per week, your wage-loss benefit is instead the lesser of half the statewide AWW ($673.50) or 90% of your AWW.

Here are some examples at various wage points:

• $2,020.50 per week or more gets you $1,347.
• $1,500 per week gets you $1,000.
• $1,000 per week gets you $673.50 (half the state AWW).
• $750 per week also gets you $673.50.
• $500 per week gets you $450 (90% of your AWW).

How Long Can I Be On Workers’ Comp?

For a total disability, Workers’ Compensation can continue as long as you cannot work.  During that time, there is usually no raise for cost of living or inflation.  That means that if you stay on Workers’ Comp for 10 years, you will get the same rate as your starting year.

This can make it difficult to keep a viable wage from Workers’ Comp after a long time, and many workers settle their claims so they have money to invest or grow over a long-term disability.

For partial disabilities, you cannot receive more than 500 weeks of payments.  This counts total weeks where you were on partial disability benefits, not 500 weeks from your injury or 500 weeks from your first partial disability day.

If you return to work with accommodations, it is possible your injury could retrigger or get worse, pushing you back to total disability.  Our Workers’ Comp lawyers can file to have your disability switched back and forth as needed.

Effects of Settling a Workers’ Comp Claim

Instead of getting benefits every week, you can settle for a lump sum payment.  This makes claims easier on the injured worker and the insurance carrier in most cases, making settlements popular.

Benefits of Settling

If you were to stay on disability for a long time, you would eventually have to undergo medical exams every 6 months to confirm your disability status.  The insurance carrier pays for these, but it can be a timely hassle.  If you settle, they give you the money and stop checking in.

Without growing wages, staying on ongoing benefits can be difficult.  With the flexibility to invest your funds and return to partial work, you could potentially have a better income through settlement.

Warnings for Settlement

Money for future medical costs may need to be set aside separately to prove to Medicare that you will use that money instead of applying for Medicare coverage for your work injury.

Additionally, you give up the ability to return to total disability status if your injury gets worse.  You also cannot claim additional medical costs if your injury needs more care.  You are stuck with your settlement amount in most cases.

Call Our Workers’ Compensation Layers in Aston, PA Today

Call (267) 651-7945 for a free case review with the Workers’ Compensation lawyers at Cardamone Law.