Chester County Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Workers’ Compensation claims can help injured workers who might have no other recourse to sue or file an insurance claim get benefits for their injuries.  These benefits replace their lost wages at a rate of 2/3 and pay for their medical care related to their injury.  Workers’ Comp may even be available if you caused your own accident and no lawsuit would have ever been successful.

For help filing your case and getting the benefits you deserve, you should always work with an attorney.  There are many procedural issues and complicated rules surrounding Workers’ Comp claims, plus insurance carriers often work to muscle out injured workers who cannot pay for depositions, outside medical opinions, and other evidence needs without a lawyer.

For a free case evaluation, contact our Certified Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Lawyers today at Cardamone Law by calling (267) 651-7945.

Types of Injuries Workers’ Compensation Can Cover in Chester County, PA

“Work injury” is such a broad category because nearly any kind of accident and injury can happen at work, it just depends on what kinds of tasks you perform and the responsibilities you have in your job.  Some jobs are obviously more dangerous than others, and the risks in each specific industry and position will vary.  As such, Workers’ Comp broadly covers all kinds of work-related accidental injuries and health conditions, including the ones listed below:

Back Injuries

Pulling something in your back while you are lifting or carrying something might be one of the single most common work injuries.  Even merely sitting can have long-term effects on your back, and any time you can link the injuries you face to work tasks, you can potentially get Workers’ Comp for those injuries.  Many serious back injuries require rehabilitative care and even surgery, as well as the potential for weeks or months away from work to recover from serious pulled muscles, herniated discs, spinal misalignment, or broken bones.

Spinal Injuries

More serious than mere muscular and soft tissue injuries are those that actually damage the spinal cord and vertebrae in your back.  A broken back or neck can lay you up for years, and damage to the spinal cord can potentially paralyze you.  This could lead to years away from work while you get total disability benefits or an eventual return to work at a reduced earning capacity, which can be offset with benefits by paying you 2/3 of the difference between your pre- and post-injury wages.

Broken Bones

Breaking a bone at work often means at least 6 weeks out for recovery.  More serious breaks or breaks to weight-bearing bones or joints can lead to even more recovery time and lost ability.

Burns

Mild burns at work should have all treatment needs covered by your employer, but more serious burns can require skin grafts, cause nerve damage, and perhaps even blind you or cause substantial facial scarring.  These burns often need intensive medical care and can result in additional “specific loss” benefits for your lost function, facial scarring, and lost vision.

Electrocution

Electrocution and electrification injuries can cause nerve damage, serious burns, and other injuries that could potentially keep you from working for a prolonged period.

Amputation

When you lose a digit or limb in a work-related accident, there are two potential routes: the lost body part could be reattached, leading to an eventual return of function, or the injury could result in a permanent loss.  When other severe injuries lead to surgical amputation, the loss is typically permanent.  Medical care and a reasonable healing period can be covered regardless of whether the injury was permanent so long as it still affects your ability to work.  Moreover, permanent loss injuries can also result in additional “specific loss” damages.

Lost Senses and Feeling

Loss of hearing and sight can result in specific loss benefits, but injuries can also cause permanent numbness and loss of function in various body parts.  For example, severe nerve damage might not require amputation of a finger, but total loss of function in that finger is treated the same way, resulting in specific loss benefits.  These injuries also often require time away from work to heal and a potential return to work at limited capacity.

What Benefits Does Workers’ Comp Pay in Chester County?

If you were hurt in an accident and filed a lawsuit, you might be able to claim damages for your medical care, lost earnings, and pain and suffering, but you would have to prove who was at fault and take them to court to get your damages paid.  In a Workers’ Comp claim, you can get all medical care covered and 2/3 of your lost earnings, but no pain and suffering damages.

The trade-off is that you do not need to prove who was responsible before getting benefits.  This even allows benefits in “freak accidents” where no one was at fault or in accidents where you were yourself at fault.  You also cannot file a lawsuit against your employer, but you can file a Workers’ comp claim when your employer is responsible, expanding coverage beyond what lawsuits can cover.

The medical bills that you get covered under Workers’ Comp are typically paid in the first 90 days only if you use a care provider off a list of providers your employer chose.  However, there are exceptions for unlisted specialists, second opinions on surgical needs, and any care you receive after the first 90 days.

Wage-loss benefits can cover 2/3 of a worker’s average wage from before the accident or, if they still work at a reduced capacity, 2/3 of the old wages minus the new wages.  If you were a particularly low-wage earner, you may be able to get a max of 90% rather than 2/3.

Specific loss benefits, as mentioned above, can also be paid for permanent loss, permanent loss of function, lost hearing, lost vision, and substantial facial scarring.  These benefits are in addition to other wages, but they are calculated as 2/3 of average wages for a set amount of weeks.

Call Our Workers’ Comp Lawyers in Chester County, PA

For help, call Cardamone Law’s Workers’ Comp attorneys at (267) 651-7945.