Areas Served
Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Serving Jeannette, PA
After a workplace injury, you might feel lost and unsure of what to do next. The Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system can be complicated, and you need someone on your side who knows how to guide you through it. Otherwise, you might not get the benefits you need, jeopardizing your health and financial future.
Attorney Cindy Stine and the team at Stine & Associates, P.C., are committed to helping injured workers in Jeannette, PA, get the benefits they need. Our firm has over 30 years of legal experience, and we can handle all the legal details of your case. This way, you can concentrate on getting better instead of fretting over complex legal matters. From filing your claim to dealing with any disputes, we’ll be by your side to help you receive the benefits you deserve. Call 724-837-0160 now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
Why You Need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for Your Case
Pennsylvania workers’ compensation claims can be tricky, especially when you’re dealing with the physical and emotional toll of a workplace injury. Many people assume they can handle their case on their own, but the reality is that these cases involve complex legal issues. For example, insurance companies might try to minimize your benefits, or your employer could challenge your claim, leaving you with less money than you need to recover fully.
Hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer means you have someone on your side who knows the ins and outs of the legal system. A lawyer can gather evidence to support your claim, handle the legal paperwork so you don’t miss critical deadlines, and handle any disputes that arise. They’ll also work to maximize your benefits, which can cover your medical expenses, partial lost wages, and more.
Without a lawyer, you risk missing out on the compensation you need. You might struggle to prove the extent of your injuries or face challenges from the insurance company that could delay or reduce your benefits. By working with a lawyer, you can focus on healing while they fight to get you the financial support you need.
Common Examples of Pennsylvania Workplace Injuries
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry reports that almost 140,000 workers statewide sustained a nonfatal injury on the job in a recent year. Some of the most common job-related injuries workers sustain include:
- Slip and Fall Injuries: These accidents can happen when workers slip on wet floors, trip over clutter, or fall from heights. Slip and fall injuries often result in sprains, fractures, or even head injuries, which can require extended time off work for recovery.
- Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs): Tasks that involve repeated motions, such as operating vibrating machinery like jackhammers or lifting, can lead to RSIs like carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. These injuries can cause chronic pain and may limit a worker’s ability to perform their job duties effectively.
- Back Injuries: Lifting heavy objects, bending over frequently, or working in awkward positions can strain the back. Back injuries, including herniated discs or muscle strains, can be debilitating, often leading to long-term pain and limited mobility.
- Burns: Workers in industries that involve exposure to heat, chemicals, or electricity are at risk of burns. Burns can cause severe damage to the skin and underlying tissues, sometimes leading to infections, scarring, and the need for extensive medical treatment.
- Hearing Loss: Prolonged exposure to loud noises, common in construction or manufacturing, can result in hearing loss over time.
Respiratory Issues: Workers exposed to harmful chemicals, dust, or asbestos may develop respiratory problems such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). - Crush Injuries: Heavy machinery, equipment, or vehicles can cause crush injuries when they trap or compress a worker’s body. These injuries can be life-threatening, leading to broken bones, internal damage, or even amputation.
- Job-Related Vehicle Accidents: Workers who drive as part of their job duties, such as delivery drivers or construction workers operating vehicles, face the risk of being involved in a vehicle accident. These accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, from whiplash and broken bones to traumatic brain injuries.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Pennsylvania
Injured workers in Pennsylvania typically have the right to certain benefits through the workers’ compensation system. Depending on a worker’s injuries and other factors, these benefits can include.
- Medical Benefits: Covers the cost of all reasonable, medically necessary treatments for the injury, including doctor visits, surgeries, medications, and rehabilitation.
- Lost Wage Benefits: Provides partial compensation for wages lost when an injured worker can’t do their job, typically around two-thirds of their average weekly income (up to certain limits under state law).
- Specific Loss Benefits: Offers compensation for permanent impairment of a body part.
- Total Disability Benefits: Provides ongoing wage replacement if an injury fully prevents a worker from doing their job for an extended period.
- Partial Disability Benefits: Offers wage compensation if an injured worker can return to work but earns less due to their injury.
- Death Benefits: Provides financial support to the dependents of a worker who dies as a result of a job-related injury or illness.
Steps in the Pennsylvania Workers’ Comp Claim Process
Here are the key steps in a Pennsylvania workers’ compensation claim:
- Report Your Injury: Notify your employer or supervisor about your injury immediately, and make sure to provide the date and place it occurred. You must report it within 21 days to avoid delays in receiving benefits and no later than 120 days after the injury to qualify for benefits.
- Seek Medical Treatment: Seek Medical Treatment. Get medical help as soon as possible. Your employer may have a list of approved doctors that you may need to treat with for the ⦁ first 90 days, if the employer can produce certain documentation. If your injury requires surgery and you are treated by someone on the panel list, you can seek a second opinion from another doctor on the panel list.
- File a Claim: Your employer should report your injury to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. If they don’t, you can file the claim yourself. The insurance company has 21 days to accept or deny your claim.
- Receive Benefits: If the insurer accepts your claim, wage-loss benefits start after you miss seven days of work, though your medical costs are covered from day one.
- Return to Work: If your doctor clears you to resume working, your employer may offer a job that fits your medical restrictions. Refusing this offer could reduce or stop your benefits.
- Appeal If Necessary: If your employer denies your claim or you face issues with your benefits, you can file a petition for a hearing before a workers’ comp judge. You have three years from the injury date to file this petition.
Contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Serving Jeannette, PA, Now
Acting quickly after a workplace injury is crucial to protect your rights and give yourself the best chance of recovering the compensation you need. The team at Stine & Associates, P.C., is ready to fight on your behalf and guide you through the workers’ comp claim process. Call 724-837-0160 now or complete our contact form for a free case evaluation.
Directions To Our Office
Stine & Associates, P.C. proudly represents injured workers in Jeannette and throughout western and central Pennsylvania. We can meet you wherever is most convenient for you, but if you’d like to visit our office in person, here’s how to find us:
From the North:
- Take US 119S toward Greensburg
- Bear left onto Otterman St
- Turn left onto Maple Ave
- Turn left onto E. Pittsburgh
- Destination will be on the right
From the South:
- Take US-119 N toward Greensburg
- Continue onto N. Main St
- Turn right onto E. Pittsburgh St
- Destination will be on the right
From the East:
- Take US-30W toward Greensburg
- Exit onto Rt 119/Rt 30
- Turn left onto S. Main St
- Turn right onto E. Pittsburgh St
- Destination will be on the right
From the West:
- Take US-30 E toward Greensburg
- Turn left onto W. Pittsburgh St/Lincoln Hwy
- Continue onto E Pittsburgh Street
- Destination will be on the right