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Quick Answer
Suffering a workplace injury can leave you unable to work and riddled with medical debt. Scranton workers should know that in the event of a workplace injury, they can file a claim to receive workers’ compensation benefits. You should not have to pay for your expenses out of pocket, nor should you have to lose out on wages due to recovery.
The workers’ comp process can be tricky to navigate, especially if your claim gets denied or if your benefits are not reflective of your injury. To ensure you have the best chances to fight for the benefits you deserve, get in touch with the Scranton workers’ compensation lawyers at Pond Lehocky. We are ready to assist you and help you get your benefits.
How Does the Workers’ Comp Application Process Work in Scranton?
The workers’ comp application process is relatively straightforward:
- Your claim gets submitted to your job’s workers’ comp insurance company.
- The insurance company reviews your claim and, if necessary, will follow up with requests for further documentation or ask questions about your injury.
- You will receive a notice that your claim was either accepted or rejected.
The entire process typically takes 21 days. How long it takes for the insurance company to process your claim varies depending on its complexity, circumstances, etc. However, you should receive a response within the 21-day general timeframe.
What to Do After a Workplace Injury
After suffering a workplace injury, there are several steps you need to take to ensure you can file a claim with minimal issues:
- Immediately after your accident, seek medical attention. If possible, document your injury and how your accident took place; however, prioritize medical attention first, especially if your injuries are severe.
- Report the accident and your injury as soon as possible to your superiors. It is essential that you do not delay in reporting what happened.
- Gather as much evidence as possible about your accident and injury. Keep all of your medical documentation on hand as you prepare to file a claim.
- File your claim with your employer, and they will submit it to the insurance company. Be as detailed as you can and be honest about the amount of pain you are in or the severity of your injury. Do not downplay what happened to you.
After following the above steps, you should get in touch with one of our lawyers. Our lawyers are experienced in helping Scranton residents figure out the best course of action for their workers’ comp claims. Whether you work in construction, manufacturing, or healthcare, we will help you file your claim and assist you in your pursuit of compensation.
What Do Workers’ Comp Benefits Cover?
Workers’ comp benefits cover a wide array of damages:
- All current, past, and future medical expenses related to your workplace injury
- Vocational training
- Lost wages
- Permanent, temporary, or partial disability
Workers’ comp benefits are very straightforward and cover essentially only the above. There can be exceptions, but those are typically very rare. However, if you can prove that the damages you suffered that are not related to the above were caused by your workplace accident, then it could be possible.
How Much Is Your Case Worth?
Can I Recover Benefits for Damages Like Pain and Suffering?
Unfortunately, damages like pain and suffering, mental anguish, or loss of enjoyment of life are not covered by workers’ comp. There are no benefits that would pay for those damages in any workers’ comp policy in Pennsylvania. For you to recover compensation for those damages, you would have to file an additional personal injury lawsuit in conjunction with your workers’ comp claim.
The reason why these damages are not covered by workers’ comp is that it is a no-fault system. Workers’ comp benefits are more streamlined and designed to be guaranteed to workers. Non-economic damages are harder to objectively determine, and trading those for stronger coverage of the other damages you can receive benefits for is the trade-off designed in the workers’ comp insurance system.
Why Do I Need a Scranton Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
Our Scranton workers’ compensation lawyers do more than just fill out your paperwork. We will help you in various key ways.
Gather Evidence and Help You File Your Claim Accurately
Our lawyers will assist you in gathering all of the critical evidence necessary for your claim. Many claims in Scranton get denied due to a lack of sufficient evidence or documentation of the severity of your injuries. We will ensure that all important and relevant evidence to your case gets collected and organized.
Furthermore, we will also help you file your claim. We will help you gather all the forms and ensure they are completed properly. Making errors and submitting incomplete claim documents can prolong the application process. We will help you streamline everything and get it all submitted on time with minimal hassle.
Handle All Communications and Negotiations with the Insurance Company
When it comes to your benefits, you can expect the insurance company to try to give you a very low-ball settlement offer or pay you far less than what you actually deserve. This is because, at the end of the day, insurance companies are businesses. Their goal is to protect their own bottom line, not to help you out, even in your time of need.
When determining your settlement, it can be hard to know just how much you really need and whether or not you are getting shorted. Pond Lehocky’s workers’ compensation lawyers have decades of experience negotiating with insurance companies. We know how to handle them and will represent your best interests at all times to ensure you receive the proper amount of benefits for your workplace injury.
Help You with Appeals or Early Termination of Benefits
If your claim gets denied or if the insurance company tries to terminate your benefits early, it is not the end of the world. The law empowers you to challenge them on these decisions.
With help from our lawyers, you can fight back and prove that you deserve your benefits. If necessary, we will even take your case to trial.
Get Help from Our Experienced Attorneys Today
With 100,000+ cases won, the team at Pond Lehocky is ready to help Scranton residents fight for their benefits. Our workers’ comp lawyers are here to assist you today. We have offices near Scranton and throughout Pennsylvania.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation at no risk to you. Remember, there is no fee unless we win.
