Workers’ Compensation Benefits Timeline: Your Guide to Specific Loss Benefits

When a workplace accident results in the permanent impairment or loss of a body part or function, time becomes critical. After the initial shock wears off, reality sets in, leaving pressing questions: How can I cover these medical costs? Can I still keep my job? Who is responsible for my accident expenses?

Understanding the timeline for specific loss benefits provides clarity and assurance for Pennsylvania employees facing life-changing harm. Knowing each step in the process is crucial for both financial security and emotional stability. The path from injury to financial recovery typically follows a structured order, yet it’s seldom clearly explained to those affected.

You don’t have to face this challenging journey alone. At Munley Law, our seasoned workers comp lawyers have supported numerous individuals through these specialized claims, ensuring they obtain full and timely benefits for the injuries they sustained on the job. […]

Workers’ Compensation Third-Party Claims in Pennsylvania

When workers get hurt at work or become sick due to working conditions, Pennsylvania has a legal safety net that ensures they are financially protected while recovering from their injuries. This safety net usually comes in the form of workers’ compensation insurance, which almost all employers are legally required to carry for their employees, starting on their first day of employment. Most people are familiar with this concept of filing a claim when injured on the job. However, what happens when someone other than your employer is responsible for your injury?

A third-party claim is a personal injury claim you can file if you were hurt on the job, but an outside party is responsible for your injury. This claim allows injured workers to sue the at-fault party for pain and suffering. Learn more about a third-party claim and how to file one after a workplace accident.

Third-Party Workers’ […]

What to Do If You Suffer Heat Stroke in the Workplace

As the temperatures continue to arise throughout the United States, so does the increase in heat related illnesses among workers that work outside for a living. Heat stroke is a severe heat-related illness that can occur when the body’s temperature regulation fails and body temperature rises to critical levels. It’s a condition that can strike swiftly, leading to devastating health consequences. Workers, particularly those in high-heat environments, need to be aware of the risks and symptoms of heat stroke to protect their health and well-being.

Understanding workers’ compensation after suffering a heat stroke while on the job is important, especially for those in Pennsylvania. If you suffer from a heat illness while on the job, you may be entitled to benefits under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act. This law provides medical expenses and wage loss compensation to employees who become injured or ill as a result of their work. […]

Emergency Guide: Your Pennsylvania Employer Won’t Report Workplace Accident – What to Do Right Now

If your Pennsylvania employer is refusing to report your workplace accident, you’re probably feeling panicked and confused about what happens next. The good news is that you still have rights even if your employer won’t cooperate, and Pennsylvania law is specifically designed to protect workers in exactly your situation. Time is critical because Pennsylvania law gives you limited windows to act, but workers who take immediate action recover 85% more in benefits than those who wait.

Your employer’s refusal to report your workplace accident is not just unfair – it’s illegal under Pennsylvania law. Every day that passes without proper reporting can cost you money and delay the medical treatment you need. The most important thing to understand right now is that you don’t need your employer’s permission or cooperation to file a workers’ compensation claim in Pennsylvania.

At Munley Law, […]

Is Workers’ Compensation for Independent Contractors Available?

When you are an independent contractor you have more flexibility and the potential to earn more than workers who make a straight salary working for a single employer. And while there are obvious benefits, you know from experience that with the flexibility and extra earning capacity that comes with working for yourself, there are added anxieties and responsibilities.

When you work for yourself, you have a lot of freedom but also a lot to think about, prepare for and worry about.

When you work for yourself and you sustain a work-related injury or illness, you may wonder how you can afford your medical bills or how you’ll get paid for missed time from work. Fortunately, if you have Pennsylvania workers’ compensation insurance, those benefits can provide necessary financial support while you recover.

Independent contractors work in every US business sector

According to an article by Business New Daily, […]

What Should I Do After Getting Injured While on the Job?

Pennsylvania Workplace Injury Lawyers

If you’ve been injured on the job, you’re likely wondering what to do next. If you are considering filing a workers’ compensation claim in Pennsylvania, call the workers’ compensation lawyers at Munley Law today to schedule a free consultation. Our experienced team of professionals can help guide you through the workers’ compensation process. With Munley Law, you can rest assured that your case is in good hands.

What Should I Do After Being Injured on the Job?

If you’ve been injured in the workplace and don’t know what to do next, you should take the following five steps in recovering from your injury, recovering compensation, and protecting your rights:

Step 1: Report Your Injury and Seek Medical Care

Reporting your injury to your employer is the first step in a successful workers’ compensation claim. […]

When Should I Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

Do I Need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

When you have suffered a work injury, you might be wondering if you need a workers’ compensation lawyer and if so, where in the workers’ compensation process you should think about hiring a Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyer.

When you are injured at work or if you are suffering from an occupational illness, you are dealing with the anxiety of lost wages, mounting medical bills, and navigating the unfamiliar PA workers’ compensation system. After a work injury or diagnosis of an occupational disease, millions of injured workers wonder when is a good time to call a workers’ comp attorney. The short answer? Call for help as soon as you get hurt on the job or as soon as you have a diagnosis of your work-related illness.

The process for filing your workers’ comp claim may seem straightforward, […]

What is an Impairment Rating Evaluation?

If you or your loved one have been injured at work and are seeking workers’ compensation, you may be required to undergo an impairment rating evaluation to determine the extent of whole-body impairment caused by the workplace injury.

When an employer or insurance company requests an Impairment Rating Evaluation (IRE), it is to evaluate the total or partial disability of the injured worker so as to ensure the appropriate amount of disability pay is provided. Currently, Pennsylvania law requires an employer to pay total disability benefits for any employee at or above 35 percent disabled.

Unfortunately, many times an employer requesting an IRE is looking to reduce the number of benefits they are paying out by getting an evaluation that reports less than 35 percent disabled.

It is important that you or your loved one consult with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer if you receive a notice for an impairment rating evaluation. […]

Can You Be Fired After Filing for Workers’ Compensation?

Could You Be Fired After a Workplace Injury?

The short answer is “no”. It is illegal for an employer in Pennsylvania to fire an employee for filing a workers comp claim. PA workers’ compensation law prohibits employers from terminating an injured worker for:

• Reporting a work-related injury or disease
• Filing a workers’ compensation claim
• Having a workers comp claim approved
• Receiving workers comp benefits

If you have recently opened a PA workers comp claim or if you have recently reported a work-related injury or illness to your employer and you believe you are experiencing punitive actions such as unfair treatment or if you have been fired, you need to contact an experienced and skillful Wilkes-Barre workers’ compensation attorney at Munley Law to help you prove your employer’s actions were unlawful.

How Does Workers’ […]

What Injuries, Diseases and Illnesses are Covered by Workers’ Compensation?

Can I Receive Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation is an insurance program that provides a financial safety net for Pennsylvania workers who have suffered a work-related injury or occupational disease during the course of their employment. If you suffered an injury or have become sick from workplace conditions in PA, you have the right to receive workers’ compensation from your place of employment to cover your medical expenses and lost wages for your injury or illness.

The Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Act of 1915 mandated that all employers in PA provide workers’ compensation insurance for all employees. All Pennsylvania workers are covered for the entire period of their employment. Coverage begins on the first day on the job. Injuries or diseases caused or aggravated by workplace duties are covered under workers’ compensation, regardless of the employee’s previous physical condition.

If you are suffering from a work-related injury or disease, […]

Can I Work While On Workers’ Compensation in Stroudsburg?

Can I Work While Receiving Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Stroudsburg?

The Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system is meant to provide support to workers after they’ve been injured on the job. It will pay all their medical costs and provide wages while the worker recovers from their injuries. In the majority of workplace injury cases, the employee will receive workers’ comp benefits until they are ready to return to work. But not all workers’ comp cases are that straightforward. In some cases, an injured worker who has not fully recovered may go back to work to perform light duty assignments. This individual will continue to have medical bills, so workers’ compensation benefits will still be available to them.

However, is it possible to collect workers’ compensation benefits and work your normal job at the same time? The answer is, yes, under certain circumstances you can work and collect workers’ comp benefits. […]

Does Filing A Workers’ Compensation Claim Affect Employment?

If you’ve been injured at work and are considering filing a workers’ compensation claim, you’re probably worried about how it might affect your ability to find employment in the future. This fear is completely understandable, but the short answer is no – filing a workers’ compensation claim should not hurt your future job prospects in Pennsylvania, and the law is specifically designed to protect you from this type of discrimination.

At Munley Law, we’ve helped hundreds of Pennsylvania workers protect their employment rights after workplace injuries. Our experience shows that understanding your legal protections and knowing how to navigate the job search process can make all the difference in maintaining your career trajectory after a work-related injury.

Your Complete Legal Protection Guide: Pennsylvania Employment Rights After Workers’ Compensation

Pennsylvania workers enjoy some of the strongest employment protections in the nation when it comes to workers’ […]

Amazon Work Injuries on the Rise

Amazon Employees are Injured More Often than Other Workers

There’s no denying that today, Amazon is one of the most popular marketplaces in the world. There are 200 million Amazon Prime members spread across the globe, more than half of which are in the US. And as of July 2021, Amazon employs more than one million people. These million employees cover a vast range of roles, from managers to delivery drivers and everything in between. Perhaps one of the most challenging job titles at Amazon, and unfortunately one of the most dangerous is warehouse worker. In the US alone, there are over 100 Amazon fulfillment centers, all full of warehouse workers that are often pushed to their limits, or past them.

In the past year, the pandemic has caused even more people to switch to primarily online shopping, and expectations for what constitutes a reasonable delivery window have grown shorter and shorter. […]

Occupational Illness & Injury in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, about 122,000 workers suffered occupational illnesses or injuries in 2019. Each year, more than 100,000 Pennsylvania employees experience an occupational injury on the job or in accidents related to their work. Unfortunately, 71 workers were killed on the job in Pennsylvania.

All of these workers are covered by the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act. Under this workers’ comp law, all work injuries and illnesses resulting in death, permanent impairment, or loss of time beyond a day or shift are covered. This means that any employee who suffers a work-related illness or injury may be eligible to receive compensation for his losses, including money to pay for lost wages, medical expenses, or disability. In addition, family members of workers who suffer a fatal injury and die may receive compensation to help them get back on their feet after the death of their loved ones. 

If you or a loved one suffered a workplace injury, […]

Light Duty and Workers’ Compensation

A workers’ comp lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys explains “light duty” assignment after a work injury

If you get injured at work, your employer may offer you “light duty” as an alternative to being out of work completely. But this can present a host of questions: What is considered light duty? Will accepting an offer of light duty work prevent me from collecting workers’ compensation? Will I be paid the same salary for light duty work?

Often, people have many valid questions concerning their workers’ compensation claim and precisely what it means if a doctor clears them for light duty. If you have questions about how light-duty work will affect your workers’ comp claim in Pennsylvania, you may want to consult with an experienced workers’ comp lawyer.

What is Light Duty Work?

Typically, when an employee is hurt in a work-related accident, […]

Is workers’ comp taxable?

Ask a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer: Are Workers’ Comp Payments Taxable in Pennsylvania?

If you are receiving workers’ comp benefits, or if benefits are pending for you or a family member, you may be wondering, “Is workers’ comp taxable?” You are wise to be concerned about the taxable status of workers’ compensation payments that replace earned income while you are unable to work due to job-related illness or injury.

Is income taxable no matter what the source? What procedures must be followed when you file your tax return while receiving workers’ comp? Here, we will address these basic concerns.

If you have further questions, a Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Pennsylvania workers’ comp lawyer can address your queries concerning the taxable status of unemployment benefits.

Our skilled, knowledgeable attorneys can also assist you if you are experiencing difficulty in obtaining workers’ […]

What is malingering?

What is “malingering” and how can it affect your workers’ comp case?

Malingering comes up often in the context of workers’ compensation. Malingering is a term used to describe the action of exaggerating or falsifying one’s illness or injury to gain some benefit (such as workers’ comp payments).

Workers’ compensation program administrators and officials of the employing company often accuse employees who receive workers’ comp payments of “malingering” as a way to extend benefits. These accusations, which happen on a fairly regular basis, are unfair to dedicated employees who continue to suffer effects from injuries or illness contracted on the job. Such workers are rightfully owed benefits.

A Medical Definition of Malingering:

WebMD defines malingering as:

“‌. . . pretending to have an illness in order to get a benefit. The feigned illness can be mental or physical. […]

What Is the Coming and Going Rule in Workers’ Comp?

Workers’ Comp Coming and Going Rule: How it Affects Your Claim

Workers’ compensation is insurance that provides financial aid to employees to cover the medical expenses and lost wages due to work-related illnesses, diseases, and injuries. The Pennsylvania Workmen’s (Workers’) Compensation Act was enacted in 1915 and is mandatory for most employers across the state. The insurance is meant to benefit both the employee and the employer, protecting the employee in cases of illness and injury on the job, and the employer from being sued for such cases. Compensation is roughly 66% of the employee’s average weekly wage.

There is an exception, however, to workers’ comp. It’s called the Going and Coming Rule. 

What is the Going and Coming Rule?

According to DMV.ORG, the Going and Coming Rule is when an employee gets into an accident and/or is injured commuting either to or from work. […]

Amazon workers’ attempt at unionization

The workers’ comp lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys examine the attempt at unionization made by Amazon workers

From the summer of 2020, Amazon has been in the middle of a spirited unionization effort from some of the workers at its Bessemer, Alabama warehouse. Through the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) the employees staged protests that have been largely online and through the phone because of the pandemic. 

The organizers were hoping these protests would yield the same results that pushed for the unionization of employees in high-profile companies in the U.S. and were hoping for similar results for Amazon’s Alabama warehouse.

As Amazon, Chewy, and other warehouses continue to crop up across the Lehigh Valley and throughout our region, it is worth understanding how unionization efforts unfold for Amazon workers.

The push for unionization: how it all began 

The push for unionization started after a small group of workers at the company’s Bessemer Alabama warehouse went to the local branch of the retail workers’ […]

Does Workers’ Compensation Cover Seasonal Workers?

Does Workers’ Compensation Cover Seasonal Workers?

Businesses supplement their staff in peak seasons like summertime and winter holidays by hiring seasonal employees. As the workforce grows, coverage requirements evolve, including workers’ comp seasonal employees’ demands.

The Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act doesn’t give a clear distinction between full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary employees. Some employers provide more benefits to full-time staff than other workers.

So, what happens if you are a short-term employee and you sustain a work-related injury or illness? This post explains how the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act protects seasonal workers.

Workers’ Compensation Coverage for Seasonal Employees

Pennsylvania worker’s compensation covers nearly all workers, including part-time, temporary, and seasonal employees. Employers like corporations, nonprofits, unincorporated businesses, and even entities with just one employee must provide workers’ compensation coverage.

However, […]