When an accident at a Hazleton warehouse disrupts an employee’s life, a skilled Hazleton workers’ compensation lawyer becomes your most valuable advocate. At Munley Law, we understand the complex challenges faced by warehouse workers dealing with injuries sustained on the job. The industrial landscape of Hazleton demands physical sacrifice from its workforce, but that sacrifice should never include your health, financial stability, or future.
The warehouse industry forms the backbone of our local economy, yet it consistently ranks among the most dangerous employment sectors. Heavy machinery, repetitive motions, demanding schedules, and pressure to meet quotas create daily risks that can result in life-altering injuries. You don’t need to navigate the aftermath alone.
Our legal team brings decades of experience specifically representing warehouse workers throughout Pennsylvania. We know insurance companies’ tactics to minimize your claim, and we have the expertise to counter them effectively. Your physical and financial recovery remains our primary focus from the first consultation until your case concludes.
Common Warehouse Accidents in Hazleton, PA
Hazleton’s strategic location near Interstates 80 and 81 has transformed the city into a hub for major distribution centers, including Amazon, American Eagle Outfitters, and Cargill operations. With over 10,000 residents employed in warehousing in the city, these facilities drive our economy and present significant workplace hazards.
The repetitive lifting required in Hazleton’s distribution centers often leads to debilitating back and shoulder injuries. Many local warehouse employees work 10-12-hour shifts during peak seasons, when companies like Amazon hire additional temporary workers to handle holiday volume. These extended hours, combined with inadequate training, can increase the rate of warehouse injuries during the holidays.
Other types of warehouse accidents in Hazleton can include:
- Forklift Accidents: Collisions, tip-overs, and incidents where workers are struck by or pinned under forklifts.
- Falls: Slips on wet surfaces, trips over obstacles, falls from elevated platforms, order picking equipment, or ladders.
- Struck by Falling Objects: Injuries caused by improperly stacked merchandise, collapsing shelving units, or items falling during transport.
- Back Injuries: Sprains, strains, and herniated discs from improper lifting techniques or handling excessive weights.
- Loading Dock Accidents: Falls from docks, injuries from trailer separation, or being caught between the dock and a vehicle.
- Machinery Accidents: Crushing injuries, amputations, or entanglements with conveyor belts, balers, or other warehouse equipment.
- Overexertion: Physical fatigue leading to injuries during peak seasons when extended shifts are common.
- Chemical Exposure: Respiratory issues, burns, or irritation from cleaning supplies, battery acid, or industrial chemicals.
- Pallet Jack Injuries: Foot and ankle injuries from manual or powered pallet jacks.
- Collisions: Accidents involving powered industrial trucks, hand trucks, or workers colliding in busy aisles.
- Caught In/Between Injuries: Limbs or body parts caught in machinery, between moving parts, or between stationary objects.
This list covers the most common warehouse accidents without referencing specific locations or facilities in Hazleton.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Hazleton Warehouse Workers
One of the primary purposes of workers’ compensation is to provide coverage for medical needs resulting from an accident or injury. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, these medical benefits can include the following:
- Doctor’s appointments
- Surgery
- Hospital treatment, services, and supplies
- Prescription medicines and supplies
- Orthopedic appliances and supplies
Along with these medical benefits, workers’ compensation makes up for lost wages at a rate based on your pre-accident salary. If you or a loved one is employed in a warehouse and has experienced any kind of injury, contact a Hazelton workers’ compensation lawyer at Munley Law as soon as possible. We’re ready to begin the journey of fighting for both your financial compensation and your legal rights.
Filing for Workers’ Compensation in Hazleton, PA
If you are a warehouse employee and have experienced an injury while working, you are most likely entitled to workers’ compensation. The first step in seeking workers’ compensation (after seeking medical care for your injury) is to alert your boss that you have been hurt. It’s crucial to do so as soon as possible, because waiting to report your injury can hinder or delay your ability to receive workers’ comp benefits.
If you report the injury to your supervisor within 21 days of the incident, your workers’ compensation benefits should begin from the accident date. After 21 days, the benefits begin from the date of the report. After 120 days, you may lose your rights to these benefits altogether.
Once your employer is aware of your injury, they must file a First Report of Injury with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation within three days (or 48 hours if the accident resulted in a death) to begin your benefits process. Your employer will also notify their insurer or insurance company, and it’s then up to the insurance company to examine the accident and injury and determine whether the claim is valid.
If the insurance company accepts your claim, you will receive a Notice of Compensation Payable and begin to receive workers’ compensation benefits immediately. In some cases, you will be issued a Notice of Temporary Compensation Payable, which means the insurance company has not yet reached a decision about your claim but is willing to offer you some benefits in the meantime.
If the insurance company lets you know that your claim has been denied, you have three years from the date of the injury to file a workers’ compensation claim. Fighting back against a denied claim can be a complex and exhausting process, and you are much more likely to succeed with the help of an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer. Contact a Hazleton workers’ compensation lawyer today to begin the process of fighting for your rightful benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions in Hazleton Warehouse Workers’ Comp Cases
Should I File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Many warehouse employees are fearful of filing a workers’ comp claim after sustaining an injury or occupational illness. You may be concerned that doing so will damage your professional reputation, or that you will anger your employer and they will resist paying your benefits. But it is absolutely your legal right to file a workers’ compensation claim if you have been injured while working, and you should feel no shame in doing so.
The workers’ compensation system exists for exactly this purpose: to provide financial support via coverage of medical expenses and lost wages to employees who were injured on the job. The Munley workers’ compensation attorneys can guide you through the process from step one and help you overcome any legal challenges that may arise.
What Can I Do If My Workers’ Compensation Claim Was Denied?
If your claim is denied, there’s no need to panic. There are many reasons for a claim to be denied, and in almost all cases, this decision can be petitioned and appealed. Doing so can be a somewhat arduous process, so it’s best to approach it with the assistance of an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer.
Your claim may be denied because your employer claims there is insufficient evidence to prove that the accident and injury were work related. Perhaps the injury was not reported in time, or the claim was filed late. In any case, you may appeal. In fact, many insurance providers rely upon the notion that most people won’t want to take the time or effort required to appeal a decision.
Under Pennsylvania law, you and your lawyer have three years from the date of the injury to file a Claim Petition if your claim is denied. This petition is then assigned to a judge, and a hearing is scheduled. Ultimately, the judge will circulate a decision, and if you and your attorney would like to appeal this decision as well, you have 20 days from the time of the judge’s decision to do so. In this case, you would then file an appeal with the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board.
All of this can sound overwhelming, but it’s extremely possible with the aid of a Hazelton workers’ compensation lawyer. We are experts in workers’ comp litigation and are prepared to navigate this entire process with you.
How Much Compensation Will I Receive?
In regards to compensation for lost wages, workers comp will provide you with weekly payment. This amount does have a weekly cap, which changes each year; for 2025, this weekly maximum is $1,347 in Pennsylvania. Your specific weekly rate will depend on your pre-injury salary.
Why Do I Need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Hazleton?
Some workers’ compensation cases are fairly simple and can be resolved without the assistance of an attorney. Unfortunately, these kinds of cases tend to be few and far between. There are many steps along the way at which a workers’ compensation lawyer can be helpful or even essential as you fight for compensation. The following are just a few examples of situations in which you will need a workers’ compensation attorney:
- Your employer refuses to report your accident, or drags their feet in doing so. A lawyer can step in to ensure that the process continues moving along. Your employer may be attempting to cover up some other transgressions.
- Your claim is denied, and you need to begin the petition and appeals process.
- Your treating doctor tells you to return to work before you feel ready. In workers’ compensation cases, you will most likely initially be treated and reviewed by a doctor that the insurance company provides. Because they work alongside the insurance provider, they may be inclined to rush you back to work when you know you are not fully healed.
- Your permanent disability status is contested. The amount of benefits you receive, and for how long, is impacted by whether you fall into the category of “partial disability status” or “total disability status”. The insurance provider may try to rule you as “partial” in order to avoid paying you more. If you need to contest this categorization, you’ll need a workers’ compensation lawyer.
How Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help
We here at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys are so deeply sorry that you or a loved one has experienced an injury in your workplace, but we can assure you there is hope. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is here to help you find a way through by providing excellent legal support and services.
The lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys are experts in all things workers’ comp and personal injury; our team consists of ten excellent, highly experienced lawyers and dozens of excellent legal support staff. Each of our lawyers has over a decade of experience, as well as hands-on trial and courtroom experience. We do not get paid unless we win your case, and we will be by your side as you fight to make things right.
If you are in the process of seeking workers’ compensation, or if you have questions about your rights to these benefits, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. We are available 24/7 so contact us for a free consultation.
