Employers must provide their employees with worker’s compensation benefits under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, with few exceptions. When an employee is injured on the job, these benefits may include:
- Medical benefits include payments for medical treatments, doctor’s visits, medication, physical therapy, occupational therapy, hospitalization, surgery, and adaptive devices.
- Disability benefits include compensation for employees who aren’t able to work at full capacity (partial disability) and/or compensation for employees who aren’t able to work at all (total disability).
- Death benefits for the family of employees who die due to a work-related injury or illness, given to a spouse or minor children.
If you or a loved one has been injured while on the job or died of work-related injuries, this article will discuss the benefits you and your family may be entitled to.
Who Is Eligible for Worker’s Compensation Benefits in Pennsylvania?
It’s important to note that a person must be an employee and injured while acting in the course and scope of their employment to be eligible to receive worker’s compensation benefits in Pennsylvania. This means that independent contractors, volunteers, and other types of workers are not eligible.
What Injuries Are Covered Under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act?
To be considered a covered injury, the injury must be work-related. This means that it must occur during the job activities while the employees are performing their job duties. It’s not always necessary for the injuries to occur on the employer’s premises as long as the injury happens from the person’s activities while on the job.
Work-related injuries aren’t limited to acute injuries. They also include repetitive-use injuries from continually repeating the same motions, exacerbating a pre-existing condition, and illnesses caused by employee exposure to environmental hazards like heavy metals and toxins.
Employer negligence or fault isn’t required for the employee to receive worker’s compensation benefits. Promptly reporting injuries is a must since there are time limits to pursuing benefits.
Make an Appointment at Lenahan & Dempsey P.C. To Discuss Your Injury
Discuss your work-related injury with a personal injury attorney at Lenahan & Dempsey P.C. by calling 888.536.2426 or completing a contact form online.
