If You Suffered A Work Injury In Wilkes-Barre, Contact A Wilkes-Barre Workers’ Comp Lawyer At Munley Law For A Free Consultation
If you have been injured on the job in Wilkes-Barre, PA, you may face roadblocks to getting the compensation you need. A Wilkes-Barre workers’ compensation lawyer at Munley Law can help. Since 1959, injured Pennsylvania workers have trusted Munley Law to protect their livelihood and secure their benefits. Our workers’ compensation attorneys have earned the highest possible peer and client review ratings from Martindale-Hubbell, and have consistently been named among the Best Lawyers in America. In 2016, J. Christopher Munley was named “Workers’ Compensation Lawyer of the Year,” for our region.
At Munley Law, we do not collect a fee unless we get benefits for you. Contact us to get a free case evaluation with a Wilkes-Barre workers’ comp attorney.
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A Wilkes-Barre Workers’ Comp Lawyer Will Ensure That You Receive Your Benefits
Wilkes-Barre has the 4th-largest downtown workforce in the state. When work-related accidents happen, workers’ compensation exists to cover the medical bills and make up for your lost wages while you’re out of work. You may collect workers’ comp if the work you perform results in an injury, illness, or aggravation of an existing condition. However, the claims process can prove more complicated than that. Workers’ compensation may reject your claim and deny that your injury was work-related. Or, you may stop receiving your benefits before you are able to return to work. If this happens, don’t panic. Consult a workers’ compensation attorney at Munley Law.
The most important part of your Wilkes-Barre workers’ compensation claim is that you have medical documentation of your injuries. After you are injured, it’s important you visit a doctor to understand and document how it happened, the severity of the injury, and any treatments that you will need.
We work on a contingent fee basis, so we do not collect a fee unless we obtain your benefits. You will not have to pay anything up front or out of your own pocket. Call today for a free consultation with one of our workers’ compensation attorneys.
Click here to see what our past workman’s compensation clients have to say about Munley Law.
What Not To Say In Workers’ Comp Medical Exam
If you choose to receive treatment and diagnosis from your personal doctor, it’s likely the insurance company will still want to verify these with an “independent” doctor of its choosing. While these doctors are qualified to treat and diagnose you, you want to be prepared before going in for your exam.
Before an Independent Medical Exam, you want to speak to an experienced workers’ comp lawyer. A lawyer at Munley Law can help you understand the process before and after the exam and provide legal advice. They can also give you advice what to do or not do during your exam. For example:
- Be honest. You may be nervous, or assume if you divulge some info they won’t agree with your claim, but you must be honest. If these doctors think you’re telling a lie, even a small one, they can deny your claims.
- Don’t speak poorly of your employer. You may have warranted negative feelings about your workplace, or employment conditions that led to your injury. At this doctor’s appointment is not the time to talk about these things. Leave out personal feelings about work; just stick to the details and facts of this specific injury.
- Don’t exaggerate. Along with telling the truth, don’t embellish your injuries. An experienced workers’ compensation doctor can tell when you’re not being truthful. Even the tiniest of exaggeration can impact your workers’ comp claim.
Many workers’ compensation cases were lost because workers did not talk to workers’ compensation lawyers before hand.
Top Reasons A Wilkes-Barre Workers’ Comp Claim Is Denied
Workers’ compensation may reject your claim and deny that your injury was work-related. Or, you may stop receiving your workers’ compensation benefits before you are able to return to work. If this happens, don’t panic. Consult a workers’ compensation lawyer at Munley Law.
When you’ve been injured on the job, it’s important you are as thorough as possible in both reporting the injury and seeking medical attention. Your employer, particularly if you work for a big corporation, as well as your insurance company, will have lawyers looking for every loophole to prevent them from paying you anything.
Your insurance company does have a variety of reasons they are allowed to deny your claims. This makes it even more important that you make sure you have a good Wilkes-Barre workers’ compensation lawyer to guide you through the appeals process.
The top reasons workers compensation claims are denied:
- Employer contests the validity of the claim, or the severity of the work-related injury
- Inaccurate information in the incident report
- Application filed after the 120-day window
- The injury isn’t covered by the employer’s workers’ comp insurance coverage
- Employer insists your injury happened outside of work
- Employer accuses you of using illegal substances while at work
Third Party Workers’ Comp Lawsuits
If your injury resulted from faulty or defective machinery, you may have cause to bring a suit against a third-party. A Wilkes-Barre workers’ compensation attorney at Munley Law will assess each aspect of your accident to ensure that you are rightfully compensated.
We work on a contingent fee basis, so we do not collect a fee unless we obtain your workers’ compensation benefits. You will not have to pay anything up front or out of your own pocket. If you were injured at work, call today for a free consultation.
Click here to see what our past workman’s compensation clients have to say about Munley Law.
“Without Caroline Munley, I’m not sure where I would be. After cutting off the tip of my finger at my construction job, I was worried that my career would be at risk. But Ms. Munley reassured me that filing a workers comp claim doesn’t mean I would lose my job. She was with me every step of the way and helped me get back on my feet again. Now I’m back on the job and it’s all thanks to her help!”
-Maggie, a Workers Compensation Client
Workers’ Comp Questions And Answers:
Q: What Should I Do After A Work Accident In Wilkes-Barre?
A: Immediately after the accident, report it to your supervisor and complete an incident report. Even if your injury seems minor, it may cause complications later on. After you report your injury, workers’ compensation representatives may contact you for details. Do not feel pressured to sign away your workers’ compensation rights. Never sign any insurance document until a Wilkes-Barre workers’ compensation law firm has reviewed it first.
Q: How Long Do I Have To File A Workers’ Comp Claim In Luzerne County?
A: Under Pennsylvania law, you must notify your supervisor at your place of employment within 120 days of the date of injury. A workers’ compensation case must be filed no later than three years from the date of the incident. However, if you or a family member contract an illness due to your employment (such as “black lung” from working in a coal mine, or mesothelioma from asbestos exposure), different laws apply. According to Pennsylvania law, the disease and inability to work must occur within 300 weeks from the date you were last employed in the job where you contracted the disease.
Q: Am I Covered By Workers’ Comp?
A: Almost every PA employee has coverage under the Workers’ Compensation Act. This includes all full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers. Nearly all businesses must have workers’ compensation insurance. We represent workers in all types of industries, including healthcare, construction, law enforcement, correctional facilities, manufacturing, warehousing and more. Workers in certain industries may be covered under different compensation laws specific to that particular industry, such as railroad or shipyard workers. Volunteers and independent contractors may not be considered an employee and therefore may not be covered. Contact Munley Law to learn more about your legal rights as a Wilkes-Barre employee.
Q: Can I Choose My Own Doctor?
A: For the first 90 days, you are required to treat with a doctor from a list your employer provides. Your employer must give you at least six doctors to choose from, and your employer cannot choose for you. If your employer does not provide a list of options, you may choose your own. You may also choose another doctor from the list if the first doctor selected is unsatisfactory. After 90 days of treatment, you then have the option to choose your own doctor. If you do decide to choose a doctor that is not on your employer’s list, you must notify your employer within five days after your first visit or you risk not receiving your workers’ compensation benefits.
Q: How Much Will I Receive In Compensation?
A: Your compensation will depend on whether you have a total or partial disability. If you are totally disabled by your work injury and cannot work at all, you are entitled to weekly benefits equal to about two-thirds of your weekly pay, or a maximum of $995, for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2017. This number changes yearly. For more information on how much you will be compensated, click here and talk to our workers’ compensation lawyers.
Q: When Will I Receive Workers’ Compensation Payments?
A: You should begin receiving benefits approximately 21 days after you reported your injury to your employer.
Q: What Should I Do If My Workers’ Comp Claim Is Denied?
A: Don’t panic. It is not uncommon for an insurance company to deny a workers’ compensation claim. Once denied, you have three years from the date of your injury to file a claim with the state’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. In this case, it is best to have an experienced, knowledgeable workman’s compensation attorney on your side. The right Wilkes-Barre workers’ comp lawyer will be instrumental in ensuring that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Q: Can A Corrections Officer Receive Workers Comp Benefits?
Workers’ compensation for corrections officers, or any category of jail or prison worker, should be easy to obtain, following a proven on-the-job injury. Managing inmates with records of violence is one of the riskiest professions, according to statistics. Luzerne County corrections officers, prison guards, and other correctional facility employees have the right to seek workers’ comp if they get hurt on the job. If your benefits were denied, a Wilkes-Barre workers’ comp attorney can help.
