Disfigurement and Specific Loss Benefits
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury at work resulting in permanent disfigurement, scarring, or loss of the use of a limb or body part, you need to know that you may be entitled to compensation.
The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act mandates employers carry workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation benefits cover medical treatment costs incurred due to a work-related injury. Workers’ compensation insurance also provides some financial relief in the form of wage loss benefits for work that is missed due to the injury and recovery.
Specific loss benefits are less common but just as important. If you are a worker in Pittsburgh and you have lost a limb, or another body part, amputation, loss of most of or all of the use of a body part including permanent vision and hearing loss you may be entitled to specific loss payments.
Call the Pittsburgh workers’ compensation attorneys at Munley Law today for your free case evaluation. We will answer all of your questions and we will walk you through the next steps necessary to ensure injured workers in PA receive the maximum allowed disfigurement benefits.
What Are Specific Loss Benefits?
Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation law allows for the payment of compensation benefits when the injured person suffers serious and permanent disfigurement or loss of or loss of the use of a body part including:
- Loss of a limb including leg or arm
- Loss of another body part or organ such as a hand, finger, eye or ear or more
- Loss of the ability, even partially (usually 50% or more) of any body part or function
- Permanent disfigurement of the face, head, or neck
Do I Need a Pittsburgh Workers’ Compensation Attorney for My Specific Loss Case?
Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer knows that a specific loss award can be significant. The insurance company is in the business to make money, not spending it. They have a team of attorneys whose job will be to fight to deny your claim or lower your payment or payments.
You will need an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer on your side. Munley Law has dedicated more than 60 years fighting for the rights of PA workers. We know the law and will won’t stop until you get the compensation you deserve.
How Much Are Specific Loss Payments?
Specific loss benefits are based on two-thirds of your average weekly wage multiplied by a given number of weeks, depending on the type of injury. When claiming specific loss benefits for your injury, there are guidelines set by Pennsylvania law for compensation:
- Loss of a hand: 335 weeks of payments
- Loss of a thumb: 100 weeks
- Loss of an eye: 275 weeks
- Loss of a foot: 250 weeks
- Loss of a leg: 410 weeks
- Permanent loss of hearing in both ears: 260 weeks
This is only a partial list. Your workers’ comp attorney can explain what you are entitled to based on the type and severity of your injury.
Can I Receive My Specific Loss Benefits in a Lump Sum Payment?
Specific loss payments can be made in a single lump sum payment. These payments can have benefits but also some compromises. These compromises include potentially lower settlement amount vs the total you would have received in a structured (ie payments over time) settlement or monthly or bi-weekly payments. You may also be giving up your rights to collect more payments in the future.
Your workers’ compensation attorney can discuss all of these considerations with you and more.
If you are an injured worker suffering from permanent injuries call the Pittsburgh workers’ comp attorneys at Munley Law today. Your consultation is always free. We collect nothing until we win your case.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
510 Third Avenue
2nd Floor,
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
+14125345133
