Know Your Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Rights

It is always a tragedy when someone is injured onbe eligible for temporary total disability benefits during
the job and can't work, but after all the sympathyyour recovery period and these will continue until you
cards and get well wished have faded, there is stillreach maximum medical improvement. If your injuries
the reality of bills to be paid and a family to support.are verified to be permanent, you should be entitled
There are laws in Pennsylvania protecting your rightsto a lump sum settlement. All this can be
as an employee injured on the job, but they alsooverwhelming, especially as you deal with the
require you to follow a specific procedure in order toemotional shock of short term or permanent
qualify for workers compensation benefits. Becausedisability, so we recommend that a Pennsylvania
of this specific and sometimes confusing requiredworkers compensation attorney represent you to
course of action, it is recommended that you consultkeep you informed through all of these stages.
a Pennsylvania workers compensation attorney asThe last requirement for qualifying for Pennsylvania
soon as possible after your injury.workers compensation is of course, that the injury
Employers in Pennsylvania, with few exceptions, aremust be work-related. Some employers, along with
required by law to offer workers compensation totheir workers compensation insurance carriers, will try
their employees in the event of work caused orto dispute whether your injuries were work-related,
related accidents. Many state legislatures haveor they may contest your claim of temporary or
enacted what is called the exclusive remedy rule;permanent disability, or both. Regardless, you have
meaning it doesn't matter, in most cases, whetherrights as an employee to be compensated for any
you or your employer did anything wrong, you areinjury sustained on the job, which you must ascertain
still entitled to Pennsylvania workers compensation.assertively. Pennsylvania workers compensation
However, there are exceptions to this rule and not allattorneys will help you effectively prosecute your
states participated in this piece of legislation, so youclaim should that become necessary.
need to consult a Pennsylvania workersPennsylvania workers compensation attorneys
compensation attorney to determine whether yourtypically work closely with your physicians to establish
circumstances qualify.the extent of your injury and resulting potential
As with all legal processes, there are noticedisabilities. If your injuries are permanent, your long
requirements and paperwork that must be properlyterm ability to work and support yourself and your
filled out in order to claim workers compensation. Thefamily will be affected. You have the right to be
sooner you fill these papers out the better, as claimscompensated for your injuries, and not punished for
are easier to dispute if too much time has passed.them.
When all documentation has been filled out, you may