Workers in construction fields are more likely to suffer workplace injuries than in other industries.
A job site injury can lead to expensive medical treatment, lengthy physical therapy, costly rehabilitation, and time away from work without pay. On a construction site, workplace injuries can be serious and even result in death. In fact, construction workers are more likely than workers in other industries to suffer a workplace injury or be killed on the job.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5,333 workers died on the job in 2019. That's more than 3 workers who die for every 100,000 people who work! On average, over 100 workers die each week from workplace injuries, or about 15 deaths every day. About 20% of those deaths are in the construction industry.
Workers' compensation benefits exist to compensate families of construction workers who are killed on the job and to cover medical expenses and lost wages suffered by injured workers.
A Wilkes-Barre workers' comp lawyer can help you recover the workers' comp benefits you deserve. If you have been injured at work anywhere in Luzerne County, PA, our Wilkes-Barre workers' compensation attorneys can help you understand your rights. Call us or email us to schedule a free initial consultation.
Workers' Comp for Construction Workers Covers Injuries and Death
In Luzerne County, most employers are required to provide workers' comp coverage for medical costs and lost wages caused by work-related injuries. Under Pennsylvania law, injured workers can file a Wilkes-Barre workers' compensation claim if they were hurt while doing their work-related tasks either on-site or off-site. The amount of time an injured worker can receive benefits depends on how severe the injury is and if the worker will be permanently disabled.
Almost 35% of the 8,000 injuries suffered by construction workers in 2020 were sprain or strain to the shoulders, arms, wrists, hands, or fingers. Over a quarter of injuries were a result of workers lifting, pulling, pushing, or carrying items that were too heavy for the worker. These common injuries are covered by a personal injury claim. Many other kinds of workers' compensation construction injuries are also covered, including:
- Amputation
- Being struck by an object or machinery
- Bone fractures
- Bruising
- Burns, caused by heat or chemicals
- Contusions, lacerations, and crushing
- Death
- Electrocution
- Falls
- Illnesses contracted on the job or caused by work
- Loss of use of a body part
- Motor vehicle accidents
“Specific loss” injuries are covered by Wilkes Barre workers' compensation in Luzerne County. A “specific loss” refers to the loss of a body part or the loss of its use. For example, if your arm, leg, hand, finger, or other extremity had to be amputated, or if you are no longer able to use your arm, leg, hand, or finger, that would be a specific loss. Vision and hearing loss caused by work are also covered by Pennsylvania workers' compensation. Specific loss benefits are paid whether or not you miss work as a result of your injury.
How a Wilkes Barre Workers' Compensation Lawyer Can Help You
In Wilkes-Barre, PA, the workers' compensation claims procedure can be complicated. It is a tough process for people who are unfamiliar with filing workers' compensation claims. One small mistake could cause your entire work comp claim to be denied. And, even if you are receiving the benefits you deserve, your employer's insurance can try to stop your payments before they are allowed to stop them. That's why you need a highly qualified attorney to help you secure the compensation you deserve for as long as you need it.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys experienced Wilkes-Barre comp attorneys are committed to getting the best outcome possible for you. Our skilled workers' comp claim lawyers accept all kinds of workers' compensation cases, large and small, and have obtained many top settlements and verdicts for clients. Every workers' compensation lawyer in our law firm is professional, aggressive, and skilled at helping hurt employees in Wilkes-Barre get the compensation they deserve. We work hard to protect your interests and ensure you are satisfied with your case's outcome. Contact us online or call us to speak to our experienced workers' compensation lawyers for a free initial consultation.
A Wilkes-Barre Comp Attorney Can Help If Your Claim Is Denied
Workers' compensation benefits are meant to cover medical bills and wage loss if you are injured on the job. It also provides compensation if you have an existing condition that is made worse by your job.
Unfortunately, many workers' compensation insurance firms deny claims that should not be denied. Here are some of the reasons your claim could be denied:
- You put inaccurate information in your incident report
- You filed the application later than 120 days after the accident
- Your employer challenges whether you were injured
- Your employer says that your injury is not severe
- Your employer argues that you were not injured at work or in a work-related accident
- Your employer accuses you of using illegal substances while at work
- The insurance company says that you or your injury isn't covered by the employer's insurance policy
If your claim is denied for any of these reasons, or for any reason at all, you can appeal. The appeals process can be challenging and take a long time. While you are dealing with an injury and trying to get well, you don't want to deal with the appeals process. That's why it is important to have a skilled workers' compensation lawyer fighting for your rights and handling the appeals procedure for you.
If you need to appeal a work comp claim denial in Luzerne County, discuss your options with a qualified lawyer today. Call to schedule a FREE initial consultation and speak to an experienced Wilkes-Barre personal injury attorney.
What A Construction Worker Needs to Do When Injured on the Job
Some might not go to the doctor for minor injuries in the hopes that the injury will get better on its own. This can be the case for back injuries suffered by those on a construction site who routinely lift, move, and carry heavy items. In 2020, over 11% of workplace accidents in Pennsylvania caused injured workers' back injuries, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry's annual report.
Unfortunately, even minor injuries, especially injuries to the back, can get worse as time passes. This is why injured workers need to go to the doctor or medical clinic immediately after a work-related accident.
After you receive medical attention, fill out an incident report form at work and report your accident in writing to your supervisor as soon as possible. The workers' compensation law of Pennsylvania provides that you have 120 days from the accident to file this report with a workers' compensation lawyer. In our experience, it is best to not wait and to file your workers' compensation report within 3 days of the incident if you can.
After you file your report, your employer's workers' compensation insurance company will likely contact you to find out more about your accident and injury. You need to speak with an experienced workers' compensation attorney in Luzerne County before talking to anyone. A skilled workers' comp attorney in Wilkes-Barre can talk directly to the insurance company for you to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Workers' compensation benefits policies make sure that injured employees receive money for their on-the-job injuries so all workers' compensation benefits claims go through a special process within the workers' compensation system. Decisions on your claim can be made by a Pennsylvania workers' compensation law administrative judge, by negotiation and settlement, or through alternative dispute resolution processes like mediation.
Contact the work injury lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today to learn about your legal rights and how a workers' compensation attorney can protect them. Call for your free initial consultation.
Workers' Compensation Pays When a Construction Worker Dies on the Job
If your family member died from a work-related construction injury or illness, you may be able to receive compensation for your loss. Workers' compensation policies often pay for funeral expenses. They may also provide money to you as a member of the late worker's family to cover lost wages and emotional distress. In Wilkes-Barre, family members may be able to receive a percentage of the deceased worker's salary as compensation. There is a weekly maximum limit on these payments based on the state's average salary for similar work.
The experienced workers' compensation attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys will help you determine if you are eligible to collect death benefits when your loved one died on the job. We can tell you how to proceed so that you can obtain the compensation you deserve.
FAQs for Work Injury Lawyers in Wilkes-Barre
Q: What is Pennsylvania's Workers' Comp for Construction Workers?
The Pennsylvania workers' compensation system requires employers to pay for insurance coverage so that employees hurt on the job receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and disability caused by work-related accidents. For most employers, workers' comp coverage is required. If employers do not provide insurance coverage, they may be sued by their employees and may be prosecuted for a crime.
Q: How do I know if I am covered by Workers' Comp?
The Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act requires most Pennsylvania employers to protect their employees with workers' comp insurance, no matter how large or small the business. Full-time and part-time workers are covered. Employees are covered from the first day on the job and for the entire time they work.
Most companies are required to provide workers' comp coverage to their workers. But not all workers are covered. These workers might not be covered by Pennsylvania's workers' comp insurance:
- Railroad workers, federal employees, and employees covered by other workers' compensation laws
- Agricultural workers who work for one employer for less than 30 days in a year,
- Farm workers who earn less than $1,200 a year from one job,
- Workers who are independent contractors rather than employees,
- Volunteer workers, and
- Workers who provide domestic services such as house cleaning and lawn care.
Q: How long do I have to report my injury and file my claim?
Under Pennsylvania law, you must report your injury to your employer within 120 days of the injury. You must file your claim within 3 years of the date of your injury. These time limits are strictly enforced so it is important for an injured worker to speak with an experienced Wilkes-Barre worker's compensation lawyer as soon as possible. If you do not report your injury or file your claim in time, you will not be able to receive money for your injuries and your claim will be denied.
Q: How much money will I receive for my injuries?
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, workers and their families in Pennsylvania received over $2.8 million in 2019 from the workers' compensation system. The amount of money you can receive for your injuries varies based upon:
- How severe your injuries are,
- Whether you are totally or partially disabled, and
- The amount of time you are unable to work.
Q: What makes Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys different from other work injury lawyers?
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, you get more than a lawyer. You get a law firm. Our attorneys work together as a team to give you the insight, experience, and combined efforts of our entire law firm. Our work injury lawyers are highly-skilled and have a reputation for working harder than other lawyers. We protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve in your worker's comp case. Our mission is to help injured victims — so call us today for a FREE case evaluation.
6. Are the work injury lawyers of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys expensive?
The attorneys of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you don't pay any legal fees to Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys unless we collect money for you on your workers' comp claim.
Talk to Workers' Compensation Attorneys in Luzerne County
Call Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys toll-free today to speak to a qualified personal injury lawyer and workers' compensation attorney. We will review your case, tell you about your legal rights, and advise you on how to proceed to receive the compensation you deserve.
