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Bethlehem Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

A workplace accident may mean prolonged medical treatment, physical therapy and rehabilitation, and time off work. Workers’ compensation benefits exist to cover these expenses, but obtaining your benefits isn’t always easy. A Bethlehem workers’ compensation lawyer can help you recover the benefits you are owed.

In Pennsylvania, most employees are covered under workers’ comp for medical costs and lost wages stemming from a work-related injury. Under Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation law, injured workers have a right to file a workers’ compensation claim if they have been injured while carrying out their work-related tasks either on-site or off-site. How long these benefits last depends on the severity of your injury and the possibility of disability. However, it’s not uncommon for employers and/or insurance companies to deny workers’ comp claims. That’s where a workers’ comp attorney can help.

If your comp claim was denied, or your benefits are being terminated before you are able to return to work, call a Bethlehem workers’ compensation attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. If you have been injured at work in Bethlehem, PA, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys’s workers’ compensation lawyers can tell you more about your rights. Call us at 844-303-7321 to schedule a free initial consultation.

Steps to Take Immediately After a Workplace Accident in Bethlehem, PA

Some workers tend to shrug off minor injuries in the hopes that the injury will go away or resolve itself. Unfortunately, even minor injuries can worsen with time. For example, a head injury or concussion left unchecked can lead to traumatic brain injury later on.

This is why you need to seek medical attention immediately after a work-related accident. After that, fill out an incident report form at work and report your accident to your supervisor. It is important to formally document the incident as soon as possible. The State of Pennsylvania allows for a 120-day window, but we recommend filing the report within 3 days if you can.
Once you’ve logged the incident report, insurance adjusters are likely to reach out to you to find out more about the incident.

This is why you need to speak with a skilled workers’ comp attorney serving the Lehigh Valley before talking to the insurance company. An experienced workers’ comp attorney in the Lehigh Valley can negotiate with the insurance adjuster on your behalf to protect your interests.

If you need a highly experienced workers’ compensation attorney in the area of the Lehigh Valley, contact Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today. Call 844-303-7321 to speak to a skilled workers’ compensation lawyer for free.

How Many People Are Injured at Work Each Year?

According to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, over 147,000 workers in Pennsylvania suffered injuries at work in 2020. Over 6,000 workers in the LeHigh Valley alone were injured on the job in 2020. Workers in the Education and Health Services industry suffered the most injuries, followed by those in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities.

People working in the healthcare system, such as in hospitals and other care facilities suffered the most injuries in the Education and Health Services industry. In the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities industry, employees working at garden centers, building material stores, food and beverage retail centers, and general merchandise stores, as well as those working in warehouses and as couriers suffered the most injuries.

Workers’ Comp Covers Injuries and Death

Nearly 35% of the injuries suffered by workers in 2020 were either a sprain or strain, with injuries to the shoulders, arms, wrists, hands, and fingers being the most common. Over a quarter of injuries were caused by overexertion as a result of lifting, pulling, pushing, or carrying. Even though these are the most common injuries, they are not the only injuries covered by workers’ comp. All kinds of injuries are covered by workers’ compensation, including:

  • Bone fractures
  • Burns, caused by heat or chemicals
  • Bruising
  • Contusions, lacerations, and crushing
  • Loss of use of a body part
  • Amputation
  • Illnesses contracted on the job or caused by work
  • Falls
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Being struck
  • Electrocution
  • Death

In addition, injuries and diseases made worse by your job are covered under workers’ compensation. Some injuries are referred to as “specific loss” injuries. When an employee suffers a “specific loss,” compensation is provided for the loss or loss of use of an arm, leg, hand, finger, or other extremity. Vision and hearing loss caused by work are also covered by Bethlehem, PA workers’ compensation. Specific loss benefits are paid regardless of whether the employee misses work as a result of the injury.

What to Do If Your Loved One Died On the Job

If your family member died from a work-related injury or illness, death benefits in a workers’ compensation policy can provide compensation to you. Most workers’ comp policies can pay for the funeral and provide financial support to you as a member of the late worker’s family. In Bethlehem, PA, family members may be able to receive weekly death benefits calculated as a percentage of the deceased worker’s salary. There is a weekly maximum limit on death benefits set by the state based on the state’s average salary.

To determine if you are eligible to collect death benefits when your loved one died on the job, contact the experienced workers’ compensation attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. We can advise you of your rights and how to proceed in order to obtain the compensation you deserve.

What to Do If Your Workers’ Compensation Claim is Denied in Bethlehem, PA

According to the Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation Act, workers’ comp benefits should cover medical bills and wage loss if you become ill, injured, or have a previous condition worsened by your job.

Unfortunately, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance firm can deny your claim on the following grounds:

● Your employer contests the validity of your claim or severity of your work-related injury
● You entered inaccurate information in the incident report
● You filed the application after the 120-day window
● You or your injury isn’t covered by the employer’s workers’ comp insurance coverage
● Your employer insists your injury happened outside of work
● Your employer accuses you of using illegal substances while at work

What’s the solution to your denial notice? The good news is that you can make an appeal. The bad news is that appeals can be very difficult, time-consuming, and frustrating. This is not what you want to deal with when you’re trying to get back on your feet. Thus, it’s best to have a workers’ compensation lawyer well-acquainted with the law start the appeal process on your behalf.

Do you need to appeal a work comp benefits denial in Bethlehem, PA? Discuss your options with a qualified Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys workers’ comp lawyer today. Call 844-303-7321 or contact us here to schedule a FREE initial consultation and speak to an experienced Lehigh Valley attorney.

Frequently Asked Workers’ Comp Questions

Q: What is Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation Coverage?

A: The Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system is designed to protect both employees and employers. Through the framework, hurt employees receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and disability caused by work-related injuries and disease. Employers pay to cover their workers. In exchange, they are protected from lawsuits by their employees. For most employers, workers’ comp coverage is required. If employers do not cover their workers, they may be sued by their employees and may be criminally prosecuted.

Q: How do I know if I am covered by Workers’ Comp?

A: The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act requires most Pennsylvania employers to protect their employees with workers’ comp insurance, no matter how large or small the business. Employees are covered by Pennsylvania’s workers’ comp system for the entire time they work, beginning on the first day of the job. Full-time, part-time, and most seasonal workers are covered.

Because workers’ comp policies ensure injured employees are compensated for their on-the-job injuries, your work injury claim will proceed through a special process within the workers’ compensation system and could be decided by a workers’ comp administrative judge, by negotiation and settlement, or through alternative dispute resolution processes like mediation.

While most businesses are required to provide workers’ comp coverage to their employees, some are not required to do so. Some situations where a worker might not be covered by Pennsylvania’s workers’ comp include:page4image51871744

  • People covered by specific workers’ compensation laws, such as regulations that apply to railroad workers and federal employees,
  • Agricultural workers who work less than 30 days in a year for one employer,
  • Farm workers who earn less than $1,200 annually from one job,
  • Independent contractors who are not employees,
  • Volunteer workers, and
  • Workers who provide domestic services such as house cleaning and lawn care.

Q: How long do I have to report my injury or file a claim?

A: Under Pennsylvania law, you must report your injury to your employer within 120 days of the injury and you must file your claim within 3 years of the date of your injury. These time limits make it very important for you to speak with an experienced Bethlehem worker’s compensation lawyer as soon as possible. If you fail to timely report your injury or file your claim, you will not be able to receive compensation for your injuries and your claim will be denied.

Q: How much money will I receive for my injuries?

A: The amount of money you can receive for your injuries depends upon the severity of your injuries, whether you are totally or partially disabled, and the amount of time you are unable to work. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, workers in Pennsylvania received over $2.8 million in 2019 from the workers’ compensation system.

Q: What is a “third-party” claim in workers’ comp cases?

A: When a person is injured on the job, sometimes another person could be held responsible and required to pay for losses and damages if that person acted negligently or recklessly. This other person is referred to as a “third-party.” Claims against third-parties are not part of the Bethlehem, PA workers’ compensation system.

Q: What makes Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys different from other personal injury law firms?

A: At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, you don’t just get a lawyer, you get a law firm. Our attorneys work together as a team to give you the benefit of having the insight, experience, and combined efforts of our entire team. Our attorneys are highly-skilled and have earned a reputation for working harder than other attorneys to protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve in your worker’s comp case. Our mission is to help injured victims — so call us today for a FREE case evaluation.

Q: How can I afford the workers’ comp attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys?

A: You don’t pay any fees to Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys unless we collect compensation for you. This is called a contingency fee basis, and it means there are no charges to you until we obtain money for you for your losses.

When to Hire a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Bethlehem, PA

Entrance to Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys officeIn Bethlehem, PA, the workers’ compensation benefits claims procedure can be tedious. It is a difficult, frustrating process for people who are unfamiliar with filing workers’ compensation claims. One simple mistake could put your whole work comp claim in jeopardy. Worse still, even if you’re already receiving your benefits, the insurance company can decide to stop your payments.

You need a highly qualified attorney to help you secure the compensation you deserve for as long as is necessary. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys’s experienced work injury lawyers are both dedicated and committed to winning you a favorable outcome. The skilled personal injury attorneys of Munley accept all kinds of cases, large and small, and have obtained many top settlements and verdicts for clients.

Every workers’ comp lawyer in our law firm is professional, aggressive, and very skilled at helping hurt employees in Bethlehem get their due. We work hard to protect your interests and ensure you are satisfied with your case’s outcome.

Call Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys toll-free at 844-303-7321 today to speak to a qualified personal injury lawyer. Or contact us using our online form. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay us for our services if and when you get your benefits.

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