Pittsburgh Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Preparation Before Contacting a Pittsburgh WC Attorney

Uncertain about what to do following a workplace injury? It is vital to promptly report your injury, even if you think you might be at fault, provided no illegal activity is involved. In situations involving occupational illnesses that develop gradually, like mesothelioma, or repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, immediate reporting upon diagnosis by a medical professional is essential.

Timely notification to your employer or supervisor about the injury, irrespective of its severity or impact on your work attendance, is crucial. Include details like the date, time, and circumstances surrounding the injury in your report. We suggest submitting this information in writing. In the event you’re diagnosed with a job-related illness, it is imperative to report it without delay.

Properly documenting your injuries, medical findings, and bills, along with filing your claim, will greatly fortify your case in the event your employer attempts to dispute or diminish your workers’ compensation benefits.

Is a Lawyer Really Necessary?

While employees have the right to represent themselves when filing a workers’ compensation claim in Pennsylvania, this approach can put them at a disadvantage. Law firms representing insurers work diligently to minimize benefits. Having an experienced legal team is essential to advocate on your behalf.

Even if you’re already receiving benefits, consulting an attorney can help you determine if the current arrangement is fair and assist you in defending against challenges posed by the insurance company.

In cases of severe work-related injuries or illnesses, legal representation is often necessary. Whether you’re injured, have a work-related illness, or believe you’ve been treated unfairly, contacting a workers’ compensation attorney is advisable. An attorney guides you through your case and only gets paid when you win.

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 Pittsburgh 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 understate 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 expert 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 Pittsburgh-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 Workers’ Comp Attorneys Help?

Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP, renowned for our elite team of workers’ compensation lawyers, is committed to assisting workers injured on the job and unjustly denied their workers’ compensation rights. Harnessing our vast experience in championing worker rights, our Pittsburgh workers’ compensation attorneys shepherd clients through the often tangled and demanding process of securing the compensation they’re owed. Our workers’ compensation attorneys manage a wide range of work injury claims, including:

• Injuries to numerous body parts, such as shoulders, back, eyes, neck, lungs, knees, ankles, wrists, feet, and hands.
• Repetitive motion injuries like tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Hearing impairment or loss.
• Cranial injuries like TBIs or concussions from falls or dropped objects.
• Frostbite or injuries from incidents like electrocution or machinery failure.
• Illnesses from toxin exposure, like occupational diseases including mesothelioma or Black Lung.
• Muscular damages, fractures, ligament tears, herniated discs from actions like lifting or falls.

Our workers’ compensation lawyers also handle third-party claims. Even though workers’ compensation typically implies no-fault on the part of employers, individuals injured in workplace accidents may pursue legal action against the manufacturers of machinery, products, or equipment that contributed to their injuries, in addition to filing a workers’ compensation claim. These third-party claims are typically based on factors like unsafe working conditions, insufficient training, or defective equipment.

Managing Medical Examinations and Treatment for Workers’ Compensation Cases in Pittsburgh

Following the filing of a workers’ compensation claim, employers have the right to request an Independent Medical Examination (IME). This examination allows their medical expert to provide an opinion on the extent of the injury or illness. The purpose is typically to downplay the severity of your injury or illness so that the insurance company can reduce or eliminate your workers’ compensation benefits. Employers or their insurance companies may tell you that this examination is mandatory; this is not always true. A Pittsburgh workers’ comp lawyer can help you determine whether or not this examination is required.

Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP maintains its own in-house medical team with a singular objective: ensuring that workers have access to the best available medical care and doctors. Our team guarantees that workers receive impartial, accurate, and compassionate assessments of their condition, offering them the best possible chance of recovery from their illness or injury.

Navigating Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Pittsburgh

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.