Workers’ Comp Lawyers in Easton

Work-related injuries result from performing job duties or while on company time. These injuries can include:

Repetitive motion injuries

Overexertion from lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying, and throwing

Slip-and-falls

Bodily reaction injuries from slipping without falling, tripping, bending, or reaching

Being struck by an object

Vehicle-related accidents

Being caught, pinned, or pressed by a machine

Workplace violence and/or assault

You may also be injured due to exposure to chemicals or materials at work that cause you to develop injuries later.

A workers’ comp attorney can handle all aspects of your workers’ compensation case. While you focus on recovery, a lawyer can negotiate behind the scenes. They can respond to specific deadlines and court correspondence, collect evidence, and build a case for well-deserved compensation.

It can be a challenge to know when to hire a lawyer for workers' comp claims. Some employers might prompt you to return to work while also talking to a team of lawyers on their side. Do you have someone equally dedicated to your best interests? An experienced, knowledgeable Easton workers' compensation lawyer on your side helps protect your rights to their fullest.

A third-party claim in a workers’ comp case involves an additional party who is not your employer that may be found liable for your injuries. Examples include other drivers in vehicle accidents, contractors hired by your employer to carry out tasks at a job site, or cleaning personnel who clean a workplace.

In addition, your employer may be subject to the dual capacity doctrine. Under dual capacity, your employer may be held liable for negligence if they acted in a way that was not in compliance with public safety. Easton lawyers can help you understand the type of claim you have and who to take action against.

Nearly all Pennsylvania workers are covered by some form of workers’ compensation. “Workers” can include full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers. Possible exclusions are railroad employees, longshoremen, and federal workers.

Other workers who may not be entitled to workers’ compensation include casual workers, sole proprietors, general partners, employees who work from home (in an environment not maintained by the employer), and real estate agents. Talk to an Easton workers' compensation lawyer about whether you are covered.

Workers’ compensation is designed to protect you financially and medically in the event of an accident or injury sustained on the job. Benefits can include:

Medical benefits. Medical benefits include coverage for hospitalizations, treatments, therapies, surgeries, and medications related to your injury and recovery.

Lost wages. Lost wages benefits include compensation for wages you miss while you are unable to go to work.

Specific loss benefits. Specific loss benefits cover specific losses incurred as the result of an injury. Specific loss can mean loss of or amputation of a limb, loss of hearing or sight, permanent disfigurement, and more.

Death benefits. If a loved one dies as the result of an on-the-job injury, their dependent survivors may be entitled to death benefits through workers’ compensation.

Determining your benefits can be a challenge in some cases. An Easton workers' compensation lawyer works hard so that employers and their insurers can’t attempt to deny valid benefit claims.

If injured on the job, tell your employer as soon as possible. You have 120 days to inform your employer of the injury to receive compensation from the date of your injury.

In Pennsylvania, it is important to report a work-related injury to your employer immediately. Pennsylvania law provides that an injured worker must report their injury to their employer within 120 days of the date the injury was sustained. However, it is always better to report your injury sooner rather than later.

Once an injured worker informs their employer that they sustained an injury, their employer has 21 days to review and investigate your claim. During this time the employer gets to determine whether or not they are going to accept or deny liability. If your employer decides that they need or want additional time to investigate an injury, they have the option to issue a Temporary Notice of Compensation Payable in which they may agree to cover medical expenses, wage loss, or both for a period of up to 90 days.

During this 90-day period, though, your employer retains the right to suddenly deny responsibility for your injury and/or responsibility for an injured worker's potential loss of income due to their injury. If that happens, or if the employer denies an injury from the start, an injured worker has the right to file a claim and litigate this denial for up to three years from the date their injury occurred, provided they had initially reported the injury to their employer within 120-days of being injured.

By law, you are free to choose your own doctor to treat the injuries you sustain from your work-related accident unless your employer accepts your claim and has posted a list of six or more doctors in a highly visible area in your workplace. This list is referred to as a treatment panel, and if one has been provided, you are legally required to visit one of those doctors for treatment.

You must comply with Pennsylvania labor laws by visiting one of these doctors first and continuing treatment with them or another provider on the list for 90 days after the initial visit. Your employer cannot coerce you to pick a specific doctor from the list. In addition, if the provider you see suggests surgery, you may obtain a second opinion. That visit should be covered by workers’ compensation.

Once you begin receiving workers’ compensation benefits, your employer and/or their insurer can ask you to seek treatment from their preferred provider. If you don’t, your employer may petition the court to order you to have an examination performed by their choice of provider. If you don’t comply, you could lose your benefits.

All claims are different, and it is impossible to know offhand how much a claim could be worth. Compensation for lost wages is based on your current salary or hourly rate, with a maximum weekly allowance of $1,987.50 in 2024.

Workers’ compensation benefits are a percentage of what you currently make. For those who make $736.10 or less per week, for instance, their benefits could be 90% of their weekly salaries. On average, lost wages are about ⅔ of the current salary at the time of injury.

You’ll receive compensation for medical benefits that cover expenses related to your injuries.

One of the most common reasons a workers’ compensation claim is denied is because paperwork is filled out incorrectly or has not been filled out in a timely fashion. To avoid this, hire an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to handle your Easton, PA workers’ compensation claim.

If a claim has been denied, it’s time to take action. Contact a workers’ comp attorney immediately if you don’t already have one to handle your case and file a petition on your behalf. If you have legal representation, you or your attorney can request a review of the claim to see if it will be reconsidered. You may also file an appeal with the Pennsylvania State Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board.

Hiring an Easton workers' compensation lawyer smooths out the claims process. Rest easy knowing that someone with experience and knowledge is championing your rights.

The length of time to collect worker’s compensation in Pennsylvania depends on the extent of an injury and the time it takes you to recover (but typically no longer than 11.6 years). There are caveats to this rule, and not all injured workers receive benefits for this period of time.

After receiving full or temporary disability benefits for two years through workers’ compensation, your employer can request an Impairment Rating Evaluation (IRE). If a person is found to be less than 50% impaired because of an injury, benefits can change to partial disability benefits, which can be collected for an additional 500 weeks (9.6 years).

If you have a family member who passed away because of an injury they sustained on the job, you can file a workers’ compensation claim on their behalf to receive their benefits. Contact one of our wrongful death attorneys today to discuss how to proceed while you mourn your loss.

The law firm of Cohen, Feeley, Altemose, and Rambo is located conveniently just southwest of Interstate 33 and William Penn Highway.

As a firm, we have over 190 years of combined personal injury law experience and have secured over a billion dollars for our fellow Pennsylvania residents. We’ve been awarded the titles of Best Lawyers®, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, the American Trial Lawyers Association, and more. Additionally, our Easton workers' compensation lawyer, Alexis, is one of the only 199 Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Specialists authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can help you handle your workers’ compensation claim while you get back on your feet.