Chambersburg Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

Steps to Take Prior to Consulting a Chambersburg Workers’ Comp Attorney

Uncertain about the next steps after incurring a job-related injury? It’s imperative to promptly report any injuries, even if they might have been caused by your actions, as long as no unlawful activities were involved. In situations of work-induced illnesses that evolve gradually, such as mesothelioma, or repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s vital to notify them as soon as a medical professional establishes the diagnosis and affirms its connection to your job.

It’s of utmost importance to relay your injury to your immediate supervisor or employer right after it transpires, regardless of its severity or whether it leads to absence from work. Ensure your report includes the date, time, and the context of the injury. We advise submitting this information in written form. If a physician diagnoses you with a work-related illness, notify your employer promptly. Any injuries must be relayed to your supervisor or the person tasked with compiling injury reports.

Proactively reporting injuries, documenting medical findings, diagnoses, and bills, along with filing your claim, will notably enhance the strength of your case in the event that your employer seeks to dispute or diminish your workers’ compensation claim.

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.

Protecting Chambersburg’s Injured Workers

While the workers’ compensation system is intended to offer timely and fair compensation for those injured on the job, it often appears skewed in favor of employers and insurance companies. A skilled workers’ compensation attorney familiar with Chambersburg area courts can act as your advocate, ensuring that you are treated with the respect and fairness you deserve.

For example, your attorney can handle all communications with the insurance company, shielding you from direct interactions. Insurance claim adjusters often schedule independent medical examinations, usually with a doctor affiliated with the insurance company, who may downplay your condition. Our Pennsylvania lawyers will guide you through such proceedings, keeping you abreast of important updates while you focus on your recovery.

There are specific situations where engaging a workers’ comp lawyer is particularly vital:

• Your claim has been rejected or the payout delayed.
• The settlement offer doesn’t adequately cover your lost wages and medical expenses.
• You are unable to resume your previous job due to the injury.
• Your ability to work has been severely compromised.
• You are either already receiving or plan to apply for Social Security disability benefits.
• Your employer doesn’t have workers’ compensation insurance.
• Your employer retaliates against you for filing a workers’ compensation claim.
• Your injury was due to the actions of a third party or the extreme negligence of the employer.

If your case doesn’t require a court appearance, consulting our Chambersburg workers’ compensation lawyers can still assist you in navigating the complexities of dealing with your employer and their insurance provider.

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 Chambersburg 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 Chambersburg

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 Chambersburg 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 Chambersburg

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.