After suffering a debilitating injury while at work, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. Although Pennsylvania law requires employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance that covers most on-the-job injuries and illnesses, you may not know how to file for these benefits and get the full compensation that you deserve.
Fortunately, an experienced attorney could help you look out for the mistakes to avoid when making a Levittown workers’ compensation claim. Our skilled legal team could discuss your injury and help determine an effective strategy to pursue the available benefits for your circumstances.
The first mistake to avoid when making a workers’ compensation claim is failing to report the injury or illness to the employer. In order to receive benefits, an injured worker must follow the procedures set forth under Pennsylvania law, which include notifying their employer of their condition. The employer can then give proper notice to its insurance company.
Many injured workers wrongly assume that they do not have to give their employer written notice of their injury if their employer witnessed the accident. However, it is essential to give an accurate, written account of one’s injury or illness as soon as possible.
Employees also sometimes make the mistake of reporting their injury to their doctor rather than their employer. Although they should fully disclose what happened to their doctor as well, it is not the doctor’s responsibility to report the incident to the employer.
Another critical mistake after a work-related injury is to not fully report one’s symptoms to a doctor. After suffering a work injury, an injured worker should meet with a doctor to discuss how they were hurt, even if the symptoms seem minor. Sometimes, conditions that seemed minor at first can worsen over time.
During the meeting, the worker should inform their doctor how the injury or illness is related to their job. A medical record that documents how a particular illness or injury occurred due to an employee’s job duties could be helpful later on when seeking workers’ compensation benefits.
Although many on the job injuries occur in specific accidents such as sudden falls, some injuries and illnesses develop after a series of events. Common examples include:
Pennsylvania workers’ compensation laws protect people who suffer these types of injuries and illnesses as well.
Some injured workers may falsely believe that they are ineligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits because their injury is not new. However, Pennsylvania law protects workers who suffer on the job injuries that aggravate or worsen their existing health problems.
An employer’s insurer may pressure an injured employee to settle a claim for less than it is worth. Workers should avoid this mistake by reviewing proposed settlements with qualified workers’ comp attorneys.
Pennsylvania workers’ compensation laws are complicated and require strict adherence to specific procedures. If you fail to follow the rules precisely, you could lose out on many or all of your benefits.
Reach out to a skilled attorney who knows what mistakes to avoid when making a Levittown workers’ compensation claim. Our firm has a proven track record of success in helping workers receive their benefits, so give us a call today.
Reviews