York Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

Preparation Before Consulting a York Workers’ Comp Attorney

Not sure what steps to take after a work-related injury? Reporting your injury promptly, even if you suspect fault (as long as no illegal activity was involved), is crucial. In cases of job-related illnesses like mesothelioma or repetitive trauma injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, report them as soon as a doctor confirms the diagnosis and its link to your employment.

Report your injury to your employer or supervisor immediately after it occurs, even if it seems minor or doesn’t cause you to miss work. Include the date, time, and injury circumstances in your report, preferably in writing. If a doctor diagnoses an occupational illness related to your job, report it promptly. Injuries should be reported to your supervisor or the person responsible for injury reports.

Taking these steps to report injuries, document medical results, diagnoses, and bills, as well as filing your claim, strengthens your case should your employer dispute or minimize your workers’ compensation claim.

Do You Need a Workers’ Comp Attorney?

While all employees have the right to represent themselves when filing a worker’s compensation claim, doing so can put them at a considerable disadvantage. Law firms representing workers’ compensation insurance companies vigorously defend their clients and aim to minimize the benefits paid out. It is crucial for workers to have an experienced and well-equipped legal team capable of advocating zealously on their behalf.

Even if an employee is already receiving workers’ compensation benefits, consulting with an experienced attorney can reveal whether the current benefit arrangement is appropriate and can help the worker defend against challenges to their benefits or medical treatment posed by the insurance company.

In cases of severe work-related injuries or illnesses, legal representation is often necessary. Whether you are injured, have developed a work-related illness, or believe you have been treated unfairly, contacting a workers’ compensation attorney is in your best interest. Even if you believe you can handle the situation independently, an attorney is there to guide you through your case from start to finish and only receives payment when your case is won.

Why Hire a York Workers’ Comp Lawyer?

While the workers’ compensation system is intended to fairly compensate injured employees on a prompt basis, it often seems biased towards employers and insurance firms. A skilled York workers’ comp lawyer acts as your champion, ensuring you’re accorded the respect and recompense you deserve.

Having a workers’ compensation attorney means you’re insulated from direct interactions with the insurance provider – they handle these communications. Moreover, insurance claim handlers often schedule an independent medical review, typically with a physician on their payroll. Such doctors might undervalue your injury or try to shift the blame to an outside cause. Obligatory attendance at these sessions can lead to benefit forfeiture if missed. Our expert lawyers in Pennsylvania can support you throughout this process, updating you on major developments, letting you concentrate on healing, and assuring fair, unbiased injury assessments.

Dedicated workers’ compensation lawyers endeavor to obtain the highest compensation for their clients. Engaging an injury attorney becomes especially critical under certain scenarios:

• Employer denies the claim or delays benefit payments.
• The employer’s settlement offer doesn’t sufficiently cover lost income or medical bills.
• The injury prevents the employee from resuming their former role.
• The injury hinders any form of work.
• The injury restricts the worker’s ability to work significantly.
• The worker is either receiving or planning to obtain Social Security disability benefits.
• Employer lacks workers’ compensation insurance.
• Employer retaliates against a worker for filing a workers’ compensation claim.
• Injury resulted from a third party’s actions or employer’s grave negligence.

Even if your matter doesn’t progress to court, consulting our team of York workers’ compensation attorneys can simplify the daunting task of negotiating with your employer and their insurer.

What a York Workers’ Comp Lawyer Can Do for You

Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP is renowned nationally for our team of workers’ compensation lawyers who specialize in offering legal support to those unjustly denied their rightful claims following workplace accidents. With our prodigious experience, we guide our clients through the complicated and demanding process of securing the compensation they are entitled to. We handle a wide range of workplace injury claims, including but not limited to:

• Various body part injuries like shoulders, backs, knees, hands, and so on.
• Repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Hearing loss or damage.
• Head injuries like traumatic brain injuries from falls.
• Cold stress injuries or burns due to incidents like electrocution.
• Occupational diseases like mesothelioma or Black Lung.
• Muscular injuries, broken bones, and more resulting from activities like lifting.
• Fatalities due to workplace incidents.

We also manage third-party claims. Even if workers’ compensation implies no employer fault, individuals injured at work may sue machinery, product, or equipment manufacturers in addition to filing a workers’ compensation claim. These third-party claims are often based on factors like unsafe working conditions, insufficient training, or faulty equipment.

What Can a Workers’ Comp Lawyer Secure For You?

Workers’ compensation attorneys at Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP are wholly dedicated to aiding York residents who’ve sustained workplace injuries. Our attorneys handle a vast range of workers’ compensation claims, ensuring our clients obtain the benefits they rightfully deserve. Compensation amounts can vary based on numerous factors, such as the injury’s gravity, the recovery time, and the incurred medical expenses. Nevertheless, our esteemed attorneys in Pennsylvania can help you secure:

• Medical expense reimbursements, which encompass surgical operations, medicines, physical therapy, medical apparatus, and doctor visits.
• Temporary total disability benefits for workers incapable of returning to work for a duration post their injury.
• Permanent partial disability benefits for workers who’ve experienced a lasting disability, but can continue working in some form.
• Permanent total disability benefits for workers debilitated to a degree that precludes any employment.
• Death benefits for families and dependents of workers who’ve tragically succumbed to their injuries.
• Vocational rehabilitation support for retraining or counseling, assisting workers to transition to different roles due to their injuries.

Furthermore, if an injured worker believes they were subjected to employer negligence that caused their injury, they could file a personal injury lawsuit, separate from the workers’ compensation claim. This could lead to compensation for pain, suffering, and other non-economic damages not covered under workers’ comp. Our York workers’ compensation lawyers are well-versed in handling such personal injury claims and can guide clients throughout this complex process.

Understanding Workers’ Comp Benefits in York

Successful claimants are usually entitled to a compensation equivalent to two-thirds of their pre-injury gross weekly earnings. However, this can vary by region. This amount may also be limited by the state-wide maximum reimbursement amount

Different kinds of workers’ comp benefits include:

Wage Loss Benefits: Compensation for earnings lost due to full or partial disability.
Death Benefits: For dependents of workers who succumbed to work-related health issues.
Specific Loss Benefits: Compensation for permanent disfigurement or loss of body parts.
Medical Care: Covers essential medical treatments for work-induced illnesses or injuries.

In instances of partial disability, benefits might be available for up to 500 weeks in certain situations. Total disability cases might see the employer or insurer seeking a medical review to possibly reclassify the injury.