Getting hurt at work can turn life upside down. One minute you are on the job, and the next you are dealing with doctor appointments, time away from work, and a lot of unanswered questions about what happens next.
Many people assume every workplace accident is simply a workers’ compensation case. That is not always true. A crash in a company vehicle, an accident on a construction site, a piece of defective equipment, or dangerous conditions on someone else’s property can sometimes involve another person or company besides the employer.
If you were injured in a workplace accident in Wilkes-Barre, it is worth finding out whether there is more to the case than workers’ compensation benefits alone. Call The Belt Law Firm, P.C. at (570) 714-3343 for a free consultation. Take the initial step toward the justice and support you deserve. Hablamos Español. Llámenos hoy.
Workplace accidents happen in many different ways and across virtually every industry in the Wilkes-Barre area. While some incidents involve only an employer and a workers’ compensation claim, others raise questions about whether another company, contractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer may also share responsibility for what happened.
The following workplace accidents can involve legal issues that are not always limited to a workers’ compensation claim.
The way an accident happened can sometimes matter just as much as the injury itself. Construction accidents, work vehicle crashes, equipment failures, and dangerous property conditions may raise questions about whether another person or company contributed to what happened.
If you were hurt in a workplace accident in Wilkes-Barre, it may be worth taking a closer look at how the accident happened and who may have been involved. Call The Belt Law Firm, P.C., at (570) 714-3343, and get your free case review today!
The details of a workplace accident can change the entire analysis. An unsafe jobsite condition, equipment that fails unexpectedly, or a crash involving another company can raise issues that extend beyond a workers’ compensation claim.
A person can get hurt at work and still end up with a case that involves more than an employer and a workers’ compensation claim.
A delivery driver backs into a worker in a loading area. A subcontractor leaves equipment where it should not be. A property owner ignores a dangerous condition that has been there for weeks. The injury happened at work, but the events leading up to it may involve another person or company besides the employer.
Equipment that has been used without incident for months or years can suddenly become part of a serious workplace accident. When that happens, attention often shifts from what the worker was doing to why the equipment failed in the first place.
Most people never think to ask whether their employer has workers’ compensation coverage until something goes wrong.
An employee gets hurt, reports the injury, and suddenly learns there is a problem with the insurance. The coverage may have lapsed. The business may not have obtained the proper policy. Questions that never seemed important before the accident suddenly become very important afterward.
When coverage issues surface after a workplace accident, the situation can quickly become more complicated than most people expect.
For more than two decades, Timothy D. Belt and his associates have represented injured workers and their families throughout Pennsylvania, handling cases involving serious workplace injuries, disputed claims, and complex accidents that extend beyond the workers’ compensation system.
Over the past two decades, he and his associates have obtained over $55 million in compensation for injured workers.
A workplace accident is not always as straightforward as it first appears.
Our legal team takes a close look at how the accident happened, who was involved, and whether the facts suggest that someone besides the employer may share responsibility for what happened.
If you were injured in a workplace accident in Wilkes-Barre, it may be important to determine whether someone besides your employer played a role in what happened. Call The Belt Law Firm, P.C. at (570) 714-3343 or fill out our confidential contact form for a free consultation. Hablamos Español. Llámenos hoy.
Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible and obtain any necessary medical treatment.
If the injury is not reported within 120 days, you will lose the right to file for compensation. You cannot legally be fired for reporting a work injury.
The employer reports your injury to their workers’ compensation insurer. If the insurance carrier accepts your claim, they will calculate any compensation owed and make payment. If your claim has not been accepted within 21 days of providing notice of the injury to your employer, your claim is likely denied.
If you receive a notice of denial, you can file a Claim Petition with the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Bureau. Your Petition will be assigned to a Workers’ Compensation Judge. The Judge will schedule hearings, and both sides will be provided the opportunity to present evidence. If the claim is not voluntarily resolved, the judge will issue a Decision.
In most cases you have up to three years from the date of injury to file a Claim Petition.
Any injury or illness that is work-related. It could be a fall, a burn or other workplace incident. It also covers occupational illnesses and repetitive stress injuries that develop over time from toxic exposures or the rigors of the job.
Workers’ compensation insurance covers all medical expenses stemming from your work injury. Workers’ comp pays wage loss benefits until you are able to go back to work. If you suffer an amputation or disfigurement to your face or neck, you may be entitled to additional disability benefits (even if you are still able to work).
Taking a lump-sum settlement may or may not make sense for your situation. You should get legal counsel before agreeing to a settlement.
Workers’ compensation is a complex process. If you fail to follow specific steps and timelines, you risk damaging your claim or not getting the full spectrum of compensation available. Speak with an attorney to ensure your rights are protected.
There is no upfront or out-of-pocket cost to you. We provide a free initial consultation. You do not pay any legal fees unless and until we recover benefits for you.
Do you have a work-related injury? Please give us a call in Pittston at 570-714-3343, in Hazleton at 570-535-3343 or contact us online. Belt Law Firm, P.C., serves injured workers in Luzerne County and the surrounding communities of northeast Pennsylvania.
Many aspects of a successful workers’ compensation claim or unemployment compensation benefits case are complex.
At Belt Law Firm, P.C., we are here to help you and answer your questions. We provide legal advocacy in English and Spanish.
Call us today to schedule your free case evaluation in Hazleton at 570-535-3343 or Pittston at 570-714-3343.
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