If you are filing a workers’ compensation claim for an injury or work-related illness in Wilkes-Barre, you may need the help of a Wilkes-Barre workers’ compensation lawyer to help you understand the claims process, meet important deadlines, and pursue the workers’ compensation benefits available under Pennsylvania law.
Our legal experts at Munley Law can assist you with every step of the process, from collecting evidence for your claim to meeting filing cut-off dates and helping you to file an appeal should your claim be wrongfully denied. Our firm has nearly 70 years of experience handling complex workers’ comp claims and cases and has won millions for our injured clients to date, including $12 million for an injured forklift accident victim and $1 million for a trucker injured on the job.
We also hold many industry awards and certifications, with Caroline Munley certified as a workers’ compensation specialist by the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Section on Workers’ Compensation Law and J. Christopher Munley named Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year for Workers’ Compensation.
Contact Munley Law today for guidance on handling workers’ compensation claims and to learn how much you could be entitled to. We offer free case evaluations to help you understand your rights and claim benefits successfully.
Contact a Workers’ Compensation Attorney at Munley Law
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Why Should You Hire a Workers’ Compensation Attorney?
Many injured workers wonder whether hiring a lawyer will reduce the amount of money they receive. In Pennsylvania workers’ compensation cases, attorneys generally work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay attorney’s fees upfront. Instead, fees are typically paid only if benefits or a settlement are recovered and must be approved by a workers’ compensation judge.
For straightforward claims that are accepted quickly and paid correctly, some workers complete the process without legal representation. However, when disputes arise over medical treatment, wage-loss benefits, permanent impairments, or settlement offers, having an attorney can help you understand your options and protect your rights throughout the process.
An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can identify missing evidence, communicate with the insurance carrier, prepare for hearings, and evaluate whether a proposed settlement fully accounts for future medical needs and lost income.
What Can a Wilkes-Barre Workers’ Compensation Attorney Do For Me?
Not every workers’ compensation claim requires legal representation. If your employer accepts your claim, your benefits are paid correctly, and you recover quickly, you may never encounter a dispute. However, many claims become more complicated than expected. Questions about medical treatment, wage-loss benefits, permanent impairments, or settlement offers can arise at any stage of the process. A workers’ compensation lawyer can help you understand your rights, navigate Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system, and advocate for your interests when issues develop.
Helping You Avoid Costly Mistakes
Workers’ compensation claims involve strict deadlines, detailed paperwork, and supporting medical evidence. Even a small mistake, such as submitting incomplete forms, missing a reporting deadline, or failing to provide sufficient documentation, can delay benefits or create unnecessary complications.
An attorney can help ensure your claim is prepared correctly from the beginning by reviewing required paperwork, gathering medical records and employment documentation, and making sure important deadlines are met. If additional information is requested by the insurance carrier or a workers’ compensation judge, your lawyer can help respond promptly and accurately. Taking these steps early can help reduce delays and strengthen the overall presentation of your claim.
Protecting the Value of Your Claim
Workers’ compensation benefits are based on several factors, including your average weekly wage, the extent of your injuries, and whether you can return to work. Calculating these benefits is not always straightforward, particularly if you work overtime, have multiple employers, or earn variable income.
An attorney can review how your wage-loss benefits have been calculated to determine whether they accurately reflect your earnings. They can also evaluate whether your future medical treatment, rehabilitation needs, or permanent work restrictions have been fully considered before you accept a settlement.
If vocational experts become involved to assess your ability to return to work or transition into another occupation, your lawyer can review that evidence and determine whether it accurately reflects your physical limitations and employment prospects. Before you sign a Compromise and Release agreement, an attorney can also explain how settling your claim may affect future medical benefits and other rights so you can make an informed decision.
Guiding You Through Appeals and Hearings
When a dispute arises, the workers’ compensation process can quickly become more formal. Hearings before a workers’ compensation judge often involve medical records, expert opinions, legal filings, and testimony from multiple parties.
A workers’ compensation lawyer can prepare the evidence needed to support your position, obtain opinions from treating physicians or other experts when appropriate, present legal arguments during hearings, and respond to issues raised by the employer or insurance company. If an appeal becomes necessary, your attorney can ensure deadlines are met and that the required legal documents are properly filed.
Having legal representation does not guarantee a particular outcome, but it can help you present the strongest possible case and understand your options throughout the appeals process.
How Can a Workers’ Comp Attorney Help With My Claim?
A workers’ compensation attorney does more than file paperwork. From the initial claim through settlement negotiations or an appeal, your lawyer can help protect your rights, explain your options, and address issues that could affect your benefits. While every case is different, legal guidance can be particularly valuable when questions arise about your medical treatment, wage-loss benefits, or the long-term impact of your injuries.
An experienced workers’ compensation attorney may be able to assist by:
Reviewing Your Benefits for Accuracy
Workers’ compensation benefits are based on factors such as your average weekly wage and the nature of your work-related injury or illness. If your earnings included overtime, shift differentials, or multiple jobs, calculating benefits may become more complex. An attorney can review your benefit calculations to determine whether they appear consistent with Pennsylvania workers’ compensation laws.
Coordinating Medical Evidence
Medical records play an important role in supporting your claim. Your attorney can help gather treatment records, physician reports, diagnostic test results, and other documentation that demonstrates the extent of your injuries and any work restrictions. If additional medical evidence is needed, your lawyer can help identify what information may strengthen your case.
Communicating with the Insurance Company
Insurance carriers often request additional documentation or clarification during the claims process. A workers’ compensation attorney can respond to these requests, submit supporting evidence, and communicate with the insurer on your behalf, helping ensure that important deadlines and procedural requirements are met.
Preparing for Hearings and Legal Proceedings
If your claim proceeds to a hearing before a workers’ compensation judge, your attorney can prepare the necessary evidence, organize witness testimony when appropriate, present legal arguments, and advocate for your position throughout the proceedings. Having experienced representation can help you better understand the process and what to expect at each stage.
Evaluating Settlement Offers
Some workers’ compensation claims conclude with a Compromise and Release settlement. Before accepting an offer, it is important to understand how the agreement may affect your future medical treatment and wage-loss benefits. An attorney can review the proposed settlement, explain its terms, and help you decide whether accepting it aligns with your long-term interests.
Identifying Additional Legal Options
In some workplace accidents, another person or company besides your employer may have contributed to your injuries. For example, defective equipment, negligent contractors, or careless drivers can sometimes create grounds for a separate third-party personal injury claim in addition to workers’ compensation benefits. A workers’ compensation attorney can evaluate the circumstances of your accident and explain whether additional legal options may be available.
When you choose Munley Law, an experienced attorney will:
- Help you file your paperwork in a timely manner.
- Assemble all necessary work, medical records, and documents to support your claim.
- Handle all communications with your employer’s insurance company.
- Gather all medical and vocational evidence to support your claim.
- Help negotiate a lump‑sum settlement when appropriate.
“For more than three generations, our family has been fighting for justice. It’s more than a career choice—it’s written into our DNA. That legacy shapes how I approach every case. The people who walk through our doors aren’t case numbers; they’re families in crisis, looking for someone to fight as hard for them as we would for our own.”
Robert W. Munley, III
Wilkes-Barre, PA Industry By the Numbers
When someone thinks of a workplace accident, we usually imagine a jobsite where a construction accident lawyer in Wilkes-Barre might be needed or a busy factory floor. However, the risk of injury exists in every work environment, from behind the desk in an office to a bustling warehouse. Some of our biggest industries in Luzerne County include:
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Wilkes‑Barre’s top ten industries are:
- Warehousing and Storage
- Restaurants and Other Eating Places
- Elementary and Secondary Schools
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
- Employment Services
- Individual and Family Services
- Grocery and Convenience Retailers
- Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
- Plastics Product Manufacturing
- Outpatient Care Centers
According to the 2024 Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Annual Report, there were a total of 165,985 work-related injuries and illnesses reported in the state in 2024. This constituted 4,560 more injuries than the year before. Over half of these cases occurred in the Education and Health Services and Trade and Transportation super-sectors, with the total injury rate at 27.00 per 1,000 workers across all industries.
Strains and sprains were the most common injury type, accounting for 35.1% of all reported injuries. The upper extremities were most frequently injured, with overexertion named the leading cause of these injuries, among others. Workers between the ages of 25 and 29 suffered from the greatest number of injuries in 2024, and 57% of injured workers in Pennsylvania were male. Luzerne County reported a total of 1,960 work-related injuries and illnesses, as per the report’s findings.
Munley Law’s workers’ compensation attorneys have represented injured workers across all of NEPA’s many industries. If you have been injured at work or if you are suffering from an occupational disease and you are ready to file your workers’ comp claim, call us today for a free case evaluation.
How Do I File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
There are a few very important steps to starting your workers’ comp claim.
If you have been injured due to a workplace accident or incident, seek medical care immediately and notify your employer as soon as possible, preferably in writing. Be sure to include the exact day, time, location, and circumstances under which the injury occurred. Keep track of all your medical appointments and maintain all your medical records.
If you are opening a claim to receive benefits for an ongoing repetitive injury or other stress‑related condition caused by your job, notify your employer as soon as your doctor makes the diagnosis.
The employee reports their injury or illness to their employer
An injured employee is required to provide written notice, and most states set deadlines for reporting injuries. Per the PA Department of Labor & Industry, an employee should report all injuries to their employer as soon as possible.
The employee must give notice within 21 days of the date of the injury in order to receive retroactive benefits, unless the employer already has knowledge of the injury.
Notice given more than 120 days from the date of injury may result in the loss of workers’ compensation unless the employer already knew of the injury.
In the case of an injury or illness caused over time, the employee must report the injury or illness according to these timeframes after receiving an official diagnosis.
The employer starts the affected worker filing the required paperwork
Once you report your injury or illness, your employer will provide you with a claim form to be filled out and returned to the employer. This form will request all of the details of the injury or illness.
You should also be provided a report of injury form, which will be submitted to the PA’s workers’ compensation board.
The employer reports the injury to the state and files your claim with the workers’ compensation insurance carrier
Your employer will send the claim form to your workers’ compensation insurance carrier,r and your doctor will submit an additional medical report.
The insurer approves or denies the claim
The claim is filed. It is now in the hands of the workers’ compensation insurance company to approve or deny your benefits.
If your claim is approved
- Accept the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company’s benefits offer, which may cover the costs of medical expenses, disability benefits, and some of your lost wages, or
- Negotiate for a lump‑sum settlement or a larger structured settlement.
If your claim is denied
- Request a review for reconsideration from the insurance company.
- File a formal appeal through the PA State Workers’ Compensation Board.
Do All Workers’ Comp Cases End With a Settlement?
In short, most PA workers’ comp claims are resolved with a settlement between the injured worker and the employer’s insurance company.
These settlements are known as “Compromise and Release” (CR) and represent a compromise between all of the involved parties that is agreeable to everyone. A settlement usually means you will receive your money faster and at lower risk, but a settlement is usually a lesser amount than a non‑CR claim would be.
If, for any reason, the parties involved cannot agree on a settlement—for instance, when complex third‑party claims are in play—a workers’ compensation case can be sent to a judge for a ruling.
Before accepting a Compromise and Release agreement, it is important to understand that settlements generally close some or all aspects of your workers’ compensation claim. An attorney can explain how a proposed agreement may affect future wage-loss and medical benefits so you can make an informed decision.
If your workers’ comp case goes to court, make sure you have the most experienced workers’ comp lawyer by your side to ensure you receive the maximum benefits you are entitled to.
Why Should I Choose Munley Law as My Wilkes-Barre Workers’ Compensation Attorney?
The Wilkes-Barre workers’ compensation attorneys at Munley Law have represented injured Pennsylvania workers for almost 70 years. Our attorneys have experience handling workers’ compensation claims involving workplace injuries, occupational illnesses, hearings before workers’ compensation judges, appeals, and negotiated settlements across a wide range of industries.
Caroline Munley is certified as a workers’ compensation specialist by the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Section on Workers’ Compensation Law. Several of our attorneys have also been recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Four of our partners are board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Law and Civil Practice Advocacy.
If you have questions about your workers’ compensation claim, we’re available to explain your legal options during a free consultation. If you decide to hire our firm, you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting a Workers’ Comp Lawyer in Wilkes-Barre
How Many Workers’ Compensation Claims are Filed in Pennsylvania Each Year?
According to the PA Workers’ Compensation Report, 8,549 workers’ compensation claim petitions were assigned to judges in the state in 2024. A total of 4,650 claims were also submitted to seek approval for Compromise and Release benefits.
What is The Worker Injury Rate in Pennsylvania?
The most recent worker injury rate statistics from 2024 show that 27.00 out of 1,000 workers across all industries suffer a work-related injury or illness each year.
How Long Do I Have to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Wilkes-Barre?
When you have a workers’ comp claim in Wilkes-Barre, you must notify your employer of your injuries within 21 days of the date on which they took place. It’s essential to give notice within 120 days from the date of your injury to ensure that you are eligible to claim workers’ compensation benefits. If you meet these deadlines, you will be given three years from the date of your injury to file a claim petition.
How Much Can I Claim from Workers’ Compensation in Pennsylvania?
The value of your workers’ comp benefits will depend on the nature and severity of your injuries and how much you were earning when they took place. Benefits are capped at a maximum weekly compensation rate of $1,394 for injuries occurring in 2026, though the amount an injured worker receives depends on their average weekly wage and the applicable compensation rate.
What Do I Do If My Workers’ Comp Claim Is Denied?
If a workers’ compensation judge in Pennsylvania denies your claim, you have 20 days from the date of this decision to file an appeal with the PA Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board. Having strong evidence of your injuries and a skilled lawyer on your side can increase the likelihood that your denied claim will be approved.
Munley Law’s experienced Wilkes-Barre workers’ compensation lawyers can help you through every stage of filing a claim and will fight for the compensation you are owed.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We won’t charge you any fees unless we win on your behalf.
Robert W. Munley, III
Robert W. Munley, III is a seasoned personal injury attorney and award-winning courtroom advocate. While he regularly handles a range of personal injury cases, his focus is on truck accidents and workers’ compensation cases. Bob has served thousands of accident victims and workers, winning them millions with his bold advocacy.
Reviewed by Bernadine Munley, Esq., Personal Injury Attorney at Munley Law, on August 6, 2026.
