Despite all the health and safety protocols put in place in Hazleton, work-related fatalities happen. Dealing with the death of a family member after a work-related injury in Hazleton without any financial support can worsen an already dire situation. The Hazleton workers’ compensation attorneys at Munley Law understand that picking up the broken pieces to rebuild your life without funds can be a daunting, if not impossible, task. As the family of the deceased, you are entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits to alleviate this financial burden. When you lose a loved one or family member, contact Munley Law for a free, confidential consultation about workers’ comp and death benefits.
What are Death Benefits in a Hazleton Workers’ Comp Claim?
If your family member dies by way of a fatal injury or accident while performing their duties at work, you are entitled to compensation known as death benefits.
Death benefits act as compensation to the deceased’s family for the financial loss they’ll suffer after the death of the loved one who was actively earning and supporting them financially.
Unfortunately, bills and other costs won’t allow you to grieve in peace, and unless handled, they’ll continue to pile up. The good news is that death benefits can help settle immediate and long-term bills. So, what do you receive as death benefits in Hazleton?
- $3,000 for burial preparations
- Weekly payments, a certain percentage of your loved one’s remuneration, depending on the number of children, if any, that depend on you. As a spouse without any children, you’ll receive 51%. If you have one dependent child, you’ll receive 60%, and up to 67% if you have two or more dependent children.
Who Can Receive Workers’ Comp Death Benefits in Hazleton, PA?
Hazleton workers’ compensation attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys strive and fight for your dignity and your family’s after you’ve tragically lost your loved one through a work injury. We’ll ensure you get the compensation you need to bury your loved one with respect and offset any bills they may have left. However, you can only receive death benefits if you are;
- A spouse
- The deceased’s child who is mentally or physically challenged, under 18 years old,
- A parent
- A sibling who is under 18 years, or 23 years if you are a student
As long as you fall in any of these categories, you can rest assured that Hazleton workers’ compensation attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys will see that you receive compensation for your loved one’s death. If you are on this qualification list and need legal help, don’t hesitate to contact our experts today.
My Loved One Was an Independent Contractor. Can I Still Receive Benefits?
Under Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law, any employee on payroll has the right to death benefits regardless of the status of an independent contractor or seasonal worker. Your loved one might be contracted due to a shortage of workers at the construction site to the plumbing section. Unfortunately, while laying the heavy pipes, one of them falls on them, ending their life on the spot. Since they were carrying out their employer’s designated duties at the workplace, they have the right to be compensated.
If your loved one was an independent contractor or seasonal worker and they sustained a fatal work injury, a Hazleton workers’ compensation attorney will help you get compensated. Hazleton workers’ compensation attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have the experience and expertise to maneuver such a case and ensure you get death benefits, even if your loved one was not a permanent employee.
Why Choose Munley Law to Help With Your Hazleton Workers’ Comp Death Benefits?
Losing a loved one to a work-related injury is a devastating experience that leaves families not only emotionally shattered but often financially vulnerable. In Hazleton, Pennsylvania, families facing this unimaginable situation need strong legal representation to secure the workers’ compensation death benefits they deserve. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is a premier choice for these sensitive and complex cases.
- Decades of Specialized Experience: With over 65 years protecting the rights of injured workers throughout Pennsylvania, Munley Law brings unparalleled experience to workers’ compensation death benefit cases in Hazleton. Their attorneys have successfully handled numerous fatality cases, developing the specialized knowledge to navigate these sensitive claims effectively.
- Compassionate Representation: The attorneys at Munley Law understand that legal proceedings are the last thing grieving families want to focus on. They prioritize compassion and empathy throughout every process step, from the initial free consultation to resolution. Their approach acknowledges families’ emotional burden while protecting their legal rights.
- Fighting Against Benefit Denials: Unfortunately, many employers and insurance companies aggressively deny valid death benefit claims, compounding a family’s financial hardship. Munley Law’s attorneys are known for fighting “tooth and nail” to ensure families receive justice and the full compensation they deserve rather than facing callous denials during their time of grief.
- Maximizing Your Benefit Entitlements: Our attorneys know about Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation death benefit structure. They ensure eligible family members receive the appropriate percentage of weekly wages based on their specific situation—whether that’s 51% for a spouse without children or up to 67% for those with dependent children. Their expertise helps families secure both immediate burial expenses and long-term financial support.
- No Financial Risk: Munley Law offers a risk-free consultation to discuss your workers’ compensation death benefit claim. More importantly, they operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless they successfully secure your benefits. This arrangement allows grieving families to access top-tier legal representation without financial concern.For families in Hazleton confronting the aftermath of a workplace fatality, the choice of legal representation can significantly impact both emotional recovery and financial security. Munley Law’s combination of specialized experience, compassionate approach, and proven results makes them an ideal advocate during this challenging time.
Why Would Death Benefits Be Denied?
While it’s devastating to receive news that your loved one has succumbed to a fatal work injury, it can be even heartbreaking for death benefits are denied. Often, employers and insurance companies deny death benefits; after all, they are in business. Your claim can be rejected if;
- You Delayed Filing the Claim: PA law requires you to report any job-related fatality to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation within 48 hours of the occurrence. For proper documentation, carry all the documents and evidence related to the death within this period; failure to which, your claim will be denied.
- Material Misrepresentation: It happens when you leave out important information when filing work-related forms, such as insurance at work. The employer and insurance might find a way of pinning the death on the undisclosed information, such as pre-existing medical conditions.
- Acts of Bad Faith: The employer and the insurance company are in business, and paying out money as death benefits isn’t in their purview. They will find sneaky ways to deny your death benefit claim.
- Lack of Proper Evidence and Documentation: Yes, the fatal accident happened, but did anybody witness it? Are there any witness accounts on how your loved one accidentally fell down the ladder? Was the accident caught on video? After the fatal injury, where is the necessary documentation, such as reports and death certificates?
Other reasons why death benefits may have been denied include:
- Working under the influence of substances such as alcohol or drugs
- Suicide, unless you can prove your loved one committed suicide as a result of a work-related challenge
- The insurer might dispute the relationship between you, your children, and the deceased family member
- Death due to a pre-existing medical condition or outside of your loved one’s work scope
If your death benefits claim is denied, don’t fret. Contact a Hazleton workers’ compensation attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. Our experts don’t accept no for an answer; they’ll fight till you receive your death benefits.
Our Hazleton Workers’ Compensation Attorneys will Advocate for You
Losing a loved one as a result of a work-related injury or accident is devastating and life-altering. Even after recovering from the shock and grief through the help of loving family and friends, the reality is that your life will never be the same. Worst case scenario, you don’t have any financial net to fall back on, and you have heaps of bills staring down at you. Hazleton workers’ compensation attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys will represent you every step of the way and fight for your death claim to ease your financial status.
If you are in such a difficult situation and in need of a Hazelton personal injury attorney to help win a death benefits claim, contact Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys via a toll-free call, email, live chat, or pop into one of our offices for a free, compassionate consultation.
