Carbondale Workers Compensation Lawyer

If you have been injured at work in Carbondale or have become ill with an occupational disease, contact your Carbondale workers’ compensation lawyer at Munley Law today. Your employer is obligated by state law to carry workers’ compensation insurance. If you have suffered an injury or illness while on the job, you may be entitled to recover compensation through financial relief from PA workers’ compensation benefits. To learn more about your legal rights as an injured worker, call our Carbondale personal injury lawyer today or fill out the form, 24 hours a day, for a free case evaluation.

How Does Workers’ Compensation Work in Carbondale, PA?

Workers’ compensation insurance is a financial safety net for Carbondale workers who become injured or sick due to job duties or conditions. The Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Act created it, and the benefits exist to pay for medical expenses and lost wages when you suffer a work-related injury, become ill, or aggravate an existing condition while on the job.

The PA Workers Compensation Act mandates that all PA employers (with very few exceptions) carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Most employees are covered by workers’ compensation regardless of their status as part-time or full-time, temporary or permanent, and regardless of who was at fault for the accident.

If you are an injured worker or have become sick due to a work-related injury or illness, you will want an experienced Carbondale worker’s comp lawyer. You will want to follow the below steps before contacting our attorney:

• Seek medical attention, even if you believe the injury is minor. When filing the claim, you will need documentation from a doctor about your injuries.
• Report to your supervisor or manager as soon as possible. The further you delay telling your employer, the more likely you can jeopardize your claim.
• Fill out an accident report detailing the injury, time and location, how the accident happened, and if there were witnesses. Be as thorough as possible.
• Follow your doctor’s recommendations to avoid complications, and don’t try to minimize your injury.

Remember, even minor injuries can become worse over time. Always seek medical attention and always notify your employer of any injury.

What Does Workers’ Compensation Insurance Cover?

The Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Act mandates these three primary coverages:

Medical Coverage

Medical coverage includes any medical costs relating to your injury. These claims are not limited to a specific dollar amount and should cover all co-pays and deductibles. Medical coverage includes doctor visits, medical tests, emergency room visits, medication, and even appliances and medical equipment (such as wheelchairs and braces) and ongoing physical therapy and other necessary medical treatment.

Lost Wages

If you cannot work after an accident, you will receive a percentage of your wages, known as disability benefits. There are four different types of disability:

• Temporary total disability: If your injury prevents you from working, you may receive a portion of your average weekly wages (typically around two-thirds) while you recover.
• Temporary partial disability: If you can return to work with restrictions or reduced hours, you may receive a portion of your lost wages to compensate for the difference in your paycheck.
• Permanent total disability: In rare cases where your injury renders you unable to work, you may receive ongoing benefits for the rest of your life.
• Permanent partial disability: If your injury leaves you with a permanent impairment, you may receive a lump sum payment or weekly benefits for a set period.

“Specific Loss” Payments

If your work injury resulted in permanent scarring or disfigurement,  the loss of a limb, or impaired use of a body part, you may be eligible for “specific loss” payments.

Unlike regular workers’ compensation, you do not need to miss work for “specific loss” compensation. You may collect specific loss payments even if your injury does not stop you from working.

The earlier you act, the better. Your experienced Carbondale personal injury attorney can answer any questions about specific loss for workplace injuries or any other benefits. We work tirelessly for our injured clients. Our attorneys have won record-setting awards for our Pennsylvania clients. Call us today for a free case review.

Death Benefits

If you lose a loved one because of a workplace accident, the dependents may receive financial benefits to help with the funeral and burial costs as well as any loss of income.

Other benefits include vocational rehabilitation if you cannot return to your previous job, travel costs, and disability retirement benefits.

How Can a Carbondale Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Help?

Your Carbondale workers’ compensation lawyer at Munley Law can help you navigate the claims process and represent you if your workers’ comp claim is delayed or denied. Many steps and deadlines need to be met for your claim to be successful, and an experienced workers comp attorney can ensure you receive your maximum allowed benefits.

If you were injured on the job, the Carbondale workers’ comp attorney can help with the following:

• Help you understand what rights and rewards you have: The rules about workers’ compensation can be hard to understand. A workers’ comp lawyer in Carbondale, PA, can tell you what benefits you are eligible for, like medical care, lost pay, and help getting back to work.
• Talk to the insurance company. Your employer’s insurance company may try to deny your claim or delay payments. You can get the benefits you deserve from your insurance company if you have a lawyer.
• Stand in for you at a hearing: If your claim is turned down, you may need to see a workers’ compensation judge. At the hearing, your lawyer can speak for you and show evidence to back up your claim.
• Applying a claims denial: If your claim is turned down at the hearing, you can ask a higher court to review the decision.

Do Most Worker’s Compensation Claims End in a Settlement?

While it’s true that most workers’ compensation cases end in a settlement, there are occurrences where it could end in court. Usually, the insurance or employer can agree with the injured employee that works best for both sides.

However, if you ask, “Do all workers’ compensation cases in Carbondale end in a settlement?” the answer is no. If, for any reason, there is not an agreed settlement, a workers’ compensation case can be sent to a judge to make a ruling.

To ensure you receive maximum compensation or the best court representation in the case of a trial, you should have an experienced lawyer by your side. The workers’ compensation lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have been representing the hardworking people of Northeastern Pennsylvania for more than 60 years. We have experience as trial lawyers if your case does land in court, and we have the negotiating power to ensure you receive a fair settlement and recover the compensation you deserve. Call us today for your free case evaluation.

What is My Carbondale Workers’ Compensation Case Worth?

There are a few considerations when estimating the full compensation benefits for your work injury claim.

• Medical costs: In the state of Pennsylvania, in fact, regardless of whether or not your claim is approved, employers are obligated to pay for your medical care, if you are injured in a workplace accident. Your medical treatment costs include doctors’ visits, surgery, prescriptions, medical devices such as canes, braces, and wheelchairs, and other rehab, and sometimes even the travel costs associated with getting to medical visits.

• Lost wages: Because many workplace injuries prevent you from immediately returning to work, the second component of workers’ compensation benefits is the recovery of your lost wages. This will come in the form of a weekly payment that is a portion of your pre-injury earnings.

Many people, while recovering, will file for total disability or partial disability. As the name suggests, total disability means that your injury renders you completely unable to work for a period of time.

Examples of these types of injuries include brain, neck, and spinal injuries. Under total disability, you will receive compensation for 100% of the hours you miss.

Filing for partial disability, on the other hand, will only protect a portion of your wages, as those who qualify for partial disability are still able to work, but maybe not at 100 percent of their pre-injury capacity.

If you have questions about what you might be entitled to for your work injury or illness call Munley Law for a free consultation today.

How Much Is My Workers’ Compensation Claim Worth?

Because all work injuries are unique, there is no one-size-fits-all payout value. However, to get a rough estimate of how much your claim is worth, start by calculating the cost of your medical care. Remember to be over-inclusive, and count everything like prescription medication and physical therapy in your estimation.

Next, you’ll want to determine whether you will be filing for partial or total disability.

Then you’ll want to determine how many weeks your injury will prevent you from working. A doctor’s evaluation will help you determine the extent of your recovery.

Finally, you’ll want to add the cost of your medical care to your wage compensation.

• For those filing for total disability and who make less than the statewide weekly average, multiply how much you make each week by 66%. Then, multiply this value by the number of weeks you expect to be unable to work.
• For those filing for total disability and who make more than the statewide weekly average, first begin by looking up the statewide weekly average in the year your injury occurred. Then multiply that number by the weeks you expect to be unable to work.
• For those filing for partial disability and who make less than the statewide weekly average, first begin by determining how much your injury will limit your ability to work. This value should be a percentage. Then, multiply that percentage by two-thirds of your pre-injury wages. Multiply that product by the number of weeks you expect to have a reduced earning capacity.
• For those filing for partial disability who make more than the statewide weekly average, figure out the statewide average in the year your injury occurred. Then multiply that number by how much your injury reduces your earning capacity. Then multiply that number by the number of weeks you cannot work.

Why Should I Choose Your Carbondale Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to Represent Me?

Carbondale, PA, has been a city of “firsts” for two centuries. Tucked away in the mountains of NEPA, Carbondale is home to the country’s first Deep Underground Coalmine, the spark that launched the Industrial Revolution; we were the home of the United States’ first Saint Patrick’s Day festivities and one of the earliest and most important hubs to the nation’s first steam locomotive. Today, the oldest city in Lackawanna County is home to nearly 9,000 residents, a vibrant and versatile group of people who are vital to keeping the industries and businesses of NEPA alive.

The workers’ comp lawyers at Munley Law are a family with deep roots in Northeast Pennsylvania. We have known and fought for the residents of Lackawanna County for more than six decades. Our experience and expertise in workers’ compensation law have been recognized by our peers nationally.

If you suffer from workplace injuries or an occupational illness from your job in Carbondale, you need the Carbondale workers’ compensation lawyers at Munley Law. We can help you recover the maximum benefits from your workers’ compensation claim to cover your medical bills and lost wages. We will help you get your life back together.

Your employer will have their insurance company working hard to protect them in your workers’ compensation claim case. You need an experienced lawyer on your side, too.

What Are Common Workplace Accidents in Carbondale?

Historically, NEPA and Carbondale are busy hubs of industry and manufacturing. Job industries in Carbondale include:

• Manufacturing
• Warehousing and Transportation
• Health Care and Social Assistance
• Accommodation (hotels) and Food Service
• Construction
• Hospitality
• Retail
• Agriculture

Work accidents can happen anywhere. From repetitive stress injuries which can happen from typing or manufacturing to fall accidents in an office environment or construction site, there are some common work accidents across all industries. Common work accidents include:

• Fall accidents such as from a ladder, scaffolding, or even a trip and fall over cords or wires in an office or retail environment
• Tendon, ligament, and muscle strains, sprains, and tears from dragging heavy machinery or lifting heavy objects
• Lacerations and bruising
• Broken bones
• Tendon and muscle strains and tears
• Herniated discs
• Repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel
• Neck and back injuries

If you or a loved one is struggling with the stress of medical bills and lost wages after a work accident, you might have questions. Call the experienced Carbondale workers’ compensation lawyers for your free case review.

Our Carbondale Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Are Here to Help

If you or a loved one has been injured or has become ill due to a workplace injury or workplace conditions, call the Carbondale workers’ compensation lawyers at Munley Law today for your free consultation. Your case evaluation is free. We will charge you nothing until we win the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

41 N. Main St.,
Carbondale, PA 18407
(570) 280-2502