Easton Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Steps to Take After Getting Injured in a Workplace Accident

Uncertain about what actions to take after a work injury? It’s vital to report your injury without delay, even if you feel you might be at fault, provided no unlawful acts were committed. For occupational illnesses that emerge over time, like mesothelioma, or repetitive strain conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, immediate reporting upon medical diagnosis and establishing its connection to your work is key.

Inform your employer or supervisor right after the injury happens, no matter how serious or you think it might be – even if it results in missed workdays. Ensure your report captures the date, time, and details of the incident. Submitting this in a written format is advisable. If a medical professional diagnoses you with a work-related ailment, relay this information promptly. Always report injuries to your supervisor or the person responsible for injury documentation.

By promptly reporting injuries, recording medical findings, bills, and lodging your claim, you fortify your position if your employer attempts to challenge, diminish, or outright reject your workers’ compensation request.

Do You Need a Workers’ Comp Attorney?

While all employees have the right to represent themselves when filing a worker’s compensation claim, doing so can put them at a considerable disadvantage. Law firms representing workers’ compensation insurance companies vigorously defend their clients and aim to minimize the benefits paid out. It is crucial for workers to have an experienced and well-equipped legal team capable of advocating zealously on their behalf.

Even if an employee is already receiving workers’ compensation benefits, consulting with an experienced attorney can reveal whether the current benefit arrangement is appropriate and can help the worker defend against challenges to their benefits or medical treatment posed by the insurance company.

In cases of severe work-related injuries or illnesses, legal representation is often necessary. Whether you are injured, have developed a work-related illness, or believe you have been treated unfairly, contacting a workers’ compensation attorney is in your best interest. Even if you believe you can handle the situation independently, an attorney is there to guide you through your case from start to finish and only receives payment when your case is won.

Why Should I Consult a Workers’ Comp Attorney?

The workers’ compensation system, while set up to offer prompt and fair recompense to hurt workers, often seems skewed in favor of employers and insurance providers. A seasoned workers’ comp lawyer in Easton would stand by you, guaranteeing that you’re accorded the dignity and consideration you rightfully deserve.

By choosing to be represented by a workers’ compensation attorney, you shield yourself from having to converse directly with the insurance firms; your attorney will undertake this task. Moreover, it’s common for insurance adjusters to organize independent medical evaluations, usually involving a physician funded by the insurer. Such doctors might downplay your injury or suggest a different cause. You’re obliged to attend these assessments, and non-attendance could lead to a forfeiture of benefits. Our team of lawyers in Pennsylvania will steer you through this process, updating you on major developments while you concentrate on recovery. They also work to ensure that the medical assessment of your injuries is impartial and thorough.

Dedicated workers’ comp attorneys tirelessly aim to maximize the compensation for the damages their clients suffer. It becomes particularly vital to hire a workplace injury attorney under these circumstances:

• The employer dismisses the claim or delays in disbursing the necessary benefits.
• The settlement offer from the employer falls short in covering medical bills and lost income.
• The accident-induced injury bars the worker from resuming their original job.
• The worker is incapacitated from any work due to the injury.
• The injury drastically hampers the worker’s work capability.
• The worker either receives or aims to secure Social Security disability perks.
• The employer doesn’t have workers’ compensation insurance.
• The employer retaliates after a worker’s compensation claim is filed.
• The injury resulted from a third-party’s actions or grave negligence on the employer’s part.

Even if litigation is not on the horizon, engaging our Pennsylvania-based workers’ comp team can aid you in maneuvering through the complexities that arise when dealing with your employer and its insurance company.

How Can Pond Lehocky Giordano Help?

Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP, with our nationally recognized team of workers’ compensation lawyers, specializes in providing legal support to workers unfairly denied their rightful workers’ compensation claims. We guide clients through the complex process of securing compensation, handling a broad spectrum of on-the-job injury claims, including but not limited to:

• Injuries to various muscles/bones/joints.
• Repetitive stress injuries.
• Hearing damage or loss.
• Head injuries.
• Cold stress or burn injuries.
• Illnesses due to toxin exposure.
• Muscular injuries and broken bones.
• Fatalities resulting from workplace activities.

We also handle third-party claims, allowing injured individuals to pursue legal action against manufacturers of machinery or equipment that contributed to their injuries, in addition to filing a workers’ compensation claim.

Navigating Medical Assessments for Workers’ Comp Cases in Easton

Once a workers’ comp claim is lodged, employers can ask for an Independent Medical Review. This lets their medical professional comment on the injury or ailment’s severity. Often, the objective is to minimize your condition, allowing the insurer to reduce or negate your benefits. While employers or their insurers might assert that this review is obligatory, it’s not always the case. An Easton workers’ comp attorney can determine its actual necessity.

Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP prides itself on its dedicated in-house medical unit, driven by a single mission: assuring workers’ access to top-notch medical care. Our team ensures fair, thorough, and empathetic evaluations, giving workers the optimal opportunity for recuperation.

Understanding Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Easton

If you’re an employee who has suffered an injury at work, you may be eligible for wage-loss benefits through a successful compensation claim. Typically, these benefits equate to 66.6% of your weekly pre-tax income prior to the injury. It’s important to note that the minimum and maximum amounts of these benefits can differ depending on the jurisdiction.

There are several types of workers’ compensation benefits:

Wage Loss Benefits: These payments serve to offset the wages you’ve lost due to full or partial disability.

Death Benefits: Should a worker die because of a job-related illness or accident, these payments go to their surviving dependents.

Specific Loss Benefits: These are financial compensations for the loss or permanent disuse of a body part, or for enduring disfigurement or scars on the head, neck, or face.

Medical Care: These benefits cover the essential medical and surgical treatments needed for recovery from a job-related illness or injury.

In scenarios involving partial disability, an employee may receive benefits for a duration extending up to 500 weeks under certain circumstances. The exact length of time benefits are offered may differ by region.

For cases categorized as total disability, the employer or insurance provider can, in many jurisdictions, ask for a medical review. This is to ascertain whether the employee’s medical condition has improved enough to reclassify the injury as a partial disability.