Bethlehem, PA Workers' Compensation Lawyer
You may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if you were recently injured on the job in Pennsylvania. To maximize your financial recovery for medical expenses and lost wages, contact an experienced Bethlehem workers’ compensation lawyer at Cordisco & Saile LLC for assistance.
This page has been written and edited by a team of experienced legal writers . This page was approved by Managing Partner, Michael Saile who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
This page has been written and edited by a team of experienced legal writers . This page was approved by Managing Partner, Michael Saile who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
- Last Modified:
- April 8, 2024
- What is workers’ compensation?
- Do I qualify for workers’ compensation benefits?
- What is a work-related injury or illness?
- What benefits can I get under Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system?
- Why should I hire Cordisco & Saile LLC if I’m filing a claim for workers’ compensation?
- When do I have to file a workers’ compensation claim in Pennsylvania?
What is workers’ compensation?
In Pennsylvania, workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that allows employees to receive monetary benefits if they suffer a work-related injury or illness. No fault means that you are generally entitled to benefits regardless of what caused your accident or who is at fault.
A work-related injury can cause a lot of financial stress, so workers’ compensation is intended to be a quick path to financial recovery. Think of it as an accelerated path to compensation after an accident.
However, in exchange for these benefits, workers typically waive the right to sue their employers for job-related injuries. The system helps workers get the money they need after an accident, while also protecting employers against an onslaught of litigation when workers get hurt on the job.
Do I qualify for workers’ compensation benefits?
You may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if you:
- Work for an employer with at least one employee
- Are classified as an employee, not an independent contractor
- Suffer a work-related injury, illness, or disease
All private employers in the state of Pennsylvania with at least one employee, full- or part-time, are required to carry workers’ compensation coverage. So, if you are an employee who gets hurt on the job, you have a good chance of being covered.
We’re ready to fight for you. Take the first step towards getting the compensation you deserve.
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What is a work-related injury or illness?
Ultimately, any injury or illness that is related to your course of employment and sustained on the job will count.
You don’t necessarily have to be at work or on your employer’s premises when you get hurt for your injury to be classified as job related. You could be involved in a job-related car accident or truck accident in Bethlehem, and you would still be covered. So, if your boss asks you to run an errand or if your job involves driving, accidents—and resulting injuries—that happen when you are on the clock can qualify.
Whether you were in a slip-and-fall accident, fell from scaffolding on a construction site, were injured while using defective work equipment, or contracted an illness in your workplace, Cordisco & Saile LLC is here to help.
Our Bethlehem workers’ compensation attorneys are ready to help you seek benefits for job-related:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burn injuries
- Nerve damage
- Crushing injuries
- Chest injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Repetitive-motion injuries
- Soft tissue damage, including sprains, strains, and bruising
- Lacerations and punctures
- Cancer, respiratory illness, and other occupational diseases
Our team can also help if you have experienced the wrongful death of a family member in a fatal workplace accident. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our compassionate team to discuss your case and learn about your rights today.
What benefits can I get under Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system?
Workers’ compensation claims are different from other types of personal injury cases in a lot of ways. One difference involves the compensation that can be awarded. The workers’ compensation system in Pennsylvania only provides injured workers with the right to secure certain benefits. These are strictly regulated and closely monitored.
- Medical benefits: Your employer will cover reasonable and necessary costs of medical treatment for your job-related injury or illness. Examples include hospitalization, surgery, prescription medication, rehabilitation, and doctor’s visits. Note, you will have to seek treatment from a doctor who has been pre-approved by your employer.
- Temporary total disability benefits (TTD): If you are unable to work for more than seven days, you qualify for TTD. These equal two-thirds of your average weekly wage prior to your accident. The state sets a maximum on the average weekly wage that can be used to calculate lost wage benefits. For 2022, the cap is $1205.
- Partial disability benefits: Once you have an impairment rating evaluation (IRE) of less than 50 percent or can return to light work duty, you can qualify for partial disability benefits. These equal two-thirds of the difference between your pre-injury wage and what you are capable of earning now.
- Specific loss benefits: If you suffer a partial or complete amputation, become permanently disfigured, or lose your vision or hearing, then you may qualify for specific loss benefits. These equal two-thirds of your average weekly wage for a specified number of weeks, as set by Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law. For instance, you will qualify for two-thirds of your average weekly wage for up to 335 weeks. Payment for the loss of a leg can extend for up to 410 weeks.
- Death benefits: Family members may qualify for death benefits to compensate for funeral costs and lost wages.
Calculating benefits can be difficult. You can be certain that your employer and the insurance company will work to drive down the value of your claim. It is in your best interest to work with a workers’ compensation attorney in Bethlehem who has extensive experience handling these types of challenging situations.
Why should I hire Cordisco & Saile LLC if I’m filing a claim for workers’ compensation?
Hiring an attorney is the best way to set yourself up for a successful result. Your employer and their insurance company have teams of attorneys and adjusters ready to fight you every step of the way. They have more resources than you. You can level the playing field by putting an experienced Bethlehem personal injury lawyer in your corner.
However, keep in mind that your choice of attorney matters. You deserve to work with a law firm that not only has experience and a demonstrated track record of success but that also genuinely cares about you and your future.
Make Cordisco & Saile LLC your first call. We are nationally recognized trial attorneys with a level of client satisfaction that is second to none. We will handle your workers’ compensation claim from start to finish so you have the opportunity to focus on what is most important: getting better.
Our team will:
- Thoroughly investigate your work-related accident or the circumstances that caused you to become sick on the job
- Compile critical pieces of evidence that can be used to support your case and, if necessary, an appeal if your claim is denied
- Identify potential opportunities to bring a personal injury lawsuit against a third party to seek additional damages (including those for pain and suffering)
- Negotiate with the workers’ compensation insurance carrier
- File an appeal and advocate for you at hearings, if necessary
Reach out to our law office in Bethlehem to learn more about how we can help you maximize your workers’ compensation claim for benefits. Our team is available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
When do I have to file a workers’ compensation claim in Pennsylvania?
Before you file a claim, you are legally required to notify your employer. You have to provide written notice within 21 days of your injury or the date you are diagnosed with a work-related disease.
If you have notified your employer, you will have 120 days from the date of your injury (or diagnosis) to file a formal claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
If your claim is approved, you should begin receiving benefits within 21 days of the first day you missed work.
If your claim is denied, you have three years from the date of your injury to file an appeal with the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board.
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