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, you may be entitled to collect workers' compensation benefits. Contact a workers' compensation lawyer at Munley Law today. We will answer all of your questions, we can help you file your claim, and more. We have been fighting for the rights of injured workers in Pennsylvania for more than 60 years.

What Work-Related Medical Conditions Are Covered Under Workers' Comp?

Although some job conditions in Pennsylvania, such as construction sites, are more inherently dangerous than other work sites, every job has its own risks.

Any employee in Pennsylvania suffering from any work-related injury or disease resulting from workplace exposure to unsafe environmental conditions may be entitled to receive workers' compensation benefits to recover financial compensation for their injury.

Some examples of these injuries include:

• Injuries such as acute on the job injury caused by a workplace sudden accident or incident
• A pre-existing condition aggravated by job site duties such as arthritis that has worsened as a direct result of daily job duties
• Any injury or disease employees develop from repetitive stress such as carpal tunnel syndrome

According to the annual report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021 there were 2.6 million reported non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses. There were nearly 5200 workplace fatalities; a nearly 9 percent increase from the previous year.

Not only do these work-related injuries and diseases cause incredible physical stress on the affected worker, but they also cause untold emotional pain as workers struggle with coping with recovery, financial losses from missed work, doctor's visits and hospital stays, and ever-rising medical expenses.

What Are Some of the Most Common Workplace Injuries?

Worker's compensation covers many types of injuries and occupational diseases. According to the National Safety Council, some of the most common are:

• Muscle sprains, muscle tears, and strains
• Broken bones
• Repetitive strain or stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and chronic back pain
• Cuts, lacerations, and punctures
• Slips, trips, and falls

Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs), also called cumulative trauma or cumulative injuries can happen in any workplace. Any job-related duty that requires you to repeat the same or similar motion over and over again can lead to a repetitive stress injury such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and chronic back, neck and shoulder, and wrist, finger, hand, or joint pain.

Common RSIs include:

• Tendinitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tennis elbow
• Trigger finger
• Back strains and sprains
• Shin splints
• Bursitis

Occupational exposure can cause work injuries and disease

Sometimes, your work environment can be linked to your injury, loss of use of a body part, or occupational disease. Examples include:

• Hearing loss due to equipment noise
• Loss of vision, such as the loss of vision developed after exposure to the bright visible light of welding equipment
• Breathing problems such as asthma and lung disease including black lung disease
• Cancers such as mesothelioma developed from exposure to toxic substances including gases, fluids, particles, and mold

If workplace exposure caused your occupational illness or injury call Munley Law today. We have been fighting for PA workers for more than six decades. Your consultation is free. We will charge you nothing until you get the workers' compensation coverage you deserve.

What Types of Injuries Are Not Covered by Workers' Compensation?

Not every injury is covered by PA workers' compensation insurance. For instance, if your injury occurred in an accident outside of the scope of your work duties.

Some of these injuries which are not eligible for a workers' compensation claim include:

• When a worker who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol caused an incident or accident
• An injury that is self-inflicted, such as a worker starting a fistfight with a co-worker
• The injury occurred while the worker was not on company time
• The employee knowingly or willfully ignored safety rules or procedures or company policy
• The worker was engaged in unlawful activities at the time of the incident

Why Do I Need a Workers' Compensation Attorney?

When 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, workers' comp benefits cover most employees. However, these benefits may not be as straightforward as they seem. You will need a skilled workers' compensation lawyer to help you with your workers' comp claim.

For more than 60 years, our workers' comp attorneys have been helping Pennsylvania injured workers file workers' comp claims and get the benefits they are owed.

Our peers and legal organizations throughout the country have recognized us for our work. We are consistently named to the Best Lawyers in America lists. Workers' comp lawyer Caroline Munley is certified as a specialist in the practice of workers' compensation law by the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Section on Workers' Compensation Law as authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Let us review your claim for free. Chat live, fill out our contact form, or call today. We do not collect a fee for our services unless we succeed in recovering your benefits. Se habla Espanol.