PITTSBURGH WORKERS' COMPENSATION ATTORNEY

Some types of workplace accidents unfold because of the industry a worker has gained employment. For example, an electrician runs a much higher risk of electrocution than a clerk working at a gas station. On the other hand, the gas station clerk runs a much higher risk of sustaining an injury caused by an assault. With more than 35 years of experience handling workers’ compensation cases, the workers’ compensation lawyers in Pittsburgh from Morgan and Morgan have discovered four of the most common types of workplace accidents that cross industry lines.

Fall From an Elevated Distance

Whether you stock products for Target or work on an elevated platform at a construction site, you run a risk of sustaining one or more injuries as a result of a fall from a height. The types of injuries that you sustain are a function of the elevation from where you fell. Minor injuries caused by short falls to the floor or ground include cuts and bruises, while severe injuries can cause life-threatening head trauma or spinal cord damage symptoms.

Improper Lifting Technique

During orientation, the safety training part of the program educates workers about how to lift heavy objects. Bending the knees to gain leverage instead of lifting solely with the support of back muscles represents the proper way to lift heavy objects. However, many workers fail to follow the timeless advice and end up sustaining a serious back injury such as a herniated disc. The back injuries that result from an improper lifting technique occur most often in warehouses and at construction sites.

Slip and Fall

A slip and fall can happen at any type of workplace, from an office cafeteria to a movie theater located inside a busy mall. Nonetheless, slip and fall incidents most often hurt employees who work at restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores, and entertainment venues. Slip and fall incidents typically unfold because someone responsible for wiping up a spill failed to take prompt action. The injuries sustained from a slip and fall include broken ribs, a concussion, and/or a fractured wrist.

Repetitive Motion

Using the same group of muscles every day can lead to a repetitive motion injury. Professionals that spend a considerable amount of time typing on a daily basis can develop acute soreness in the hands, wrists, and fingers. Stocking products places substantial stress on the knees and back, which can develop into a repetitive motion injury. A repetitive motion injury such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) might not develop symptoms for months or even years. This can make filing a workers’ compensation claim difficult because your attorney does have a specific date to refer to a workplace accident.

The process for filing a workers’ compensation claim in Pennsylvania is similar to the requirements imposed by the 48 other states that require private sector employers to purchase workers’ comp insurance. However, Pennsylvania workers’ compensation laws differ in some regards, especially when it comes to the timing of filing a claim.

Report the Incident

Reporting a workplace accident to your employer is critically important because it initiates other steps of the claim filing process. Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law gives you up to 120 days to report a workplace incident that produced an illness or injury. The 120-day deadline accounts for the development of delayed symptoms. One common type of workplace accident that takes time to develop symptoms regards prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals. 

The sooner you report a workplace accident to your employer, the sooner you receive compensation for financial losses. If you fail to meet the 120-day deadline for reporting a workplace accident, your employer’s insurance company is not obligated to compensate you for medical expenses.

Get Medical Care

If you sustain serious injuries as a result of a workplace accident, you receive medical care right away from an emergency medical care center. Otherwise, you can wait to receive treatment for a workplace injury. Pennsylvania law requires you to visit with one of the healthcare providers approved by your employer. If you go outside of the employer-approved healthcare network, your employer’s insurance company does not have to compensate you for your financial losses. Pennsylvania law also requires you to seek medical care within 90 days of sustaining a workplace injury or developing the symptoms of an illness.

File a First Report of Occupational Injury Form

One of the reasons to act with a sense of urgency when reporting a workplace accident to your employer is that your employer must file a First Report of Occupational Injury form. The form goes to both your employer’s insurance company and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Your employer’s insurance company has no more than 21 days to approve or deny your claim, which covers the costs associated with medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages. Pennsylvania law requires you to have missed work for an illness or injury that required medical care for at least 14 days to receive compensation for the first seven days of lost wages.

Determine Your Employer’s Responsibility

If one of the experienced workers’ compensation lawyers in Pittsburgh from Morgan and Morgan discovers your employer should assume at least some of the responsibility for causing a workplace accident, Pennsylvania law requires you to receive a Notice of Compensation Payable. Some types of claims in which an employer assumes at least partial responsibility for a workplace accident can help a sick or injured worker receive temporary workers’ compensation payments. This is especially helpful if you rack up medical bills that run thousands of dollars.

The best workers’ compensation lawyers in Pittsburgh share the same professional attributes.

Specializes in Handling Workers’ Compensation Claims

The attorney you hire to represent you after a workplace accident should specialize in handling workers’ compensation cases. Your lawyer must have an in-depth knowledge of Pennsylvania workers’ compensation laws, as well as a detailed understanding of the filing and appeal process. At Morgan and Morgan, we devote an entire legal department to attorneys to represent clients that want to file a workers’ compensation claim. Our law firm handles workers’ compensation claims throughout the United States.

Represents Employees, Not Employers

Many law firms that represent employees for workers’ compensation cases also represent employers. This can produce a conflict of interest that diminishes the value of the compensation approved to cover financial losses. An attorney who represents employers might not interpret some legal issues that favor you for the approval of a workers’ compensation claim. The workers’ compensation lawyers in Pittsburgh from Morgan and Morgan work exclusively for employees who file claims for compensation.

Legal Support During Every Step of the Claim Process

Some workers’ compensation attorneys delegate responsibilities to less experienced paralegals or other members of a law firm. When you file a workers’ compensation claim, you want the same experienced attorney representing you throughout the claim process. At Morgan and Morgan, our team of workers’ compensation lawyers in Pittsburgh represents you from the day of the free case evaluation to the day when your claim gets approved by your employer’s insurance company.

Responsive Communicator

Filing a worker’s compensation can trigger considerable stress, particularly if your employer’s insurance company denies your claim. The stress becomes worse if your attorney does a poor job of communicating with you. At Morgan and Morgan, our workers’ comp attorneys return emails, phone calls, and text messages within the same business day. If you try to contact your lawyer after business hours, you can expect to hear from your attorney in some form first thing the next morning.

Although the process for filing a workers’ compensation claim is not as difficult and frustrating as filing a personal injury claim with your insurance company, you should still get the legal support provided by one of the workers’ compensation lawyers in Pittsburgh from Morgan and Morgan. We offer a free case evaluation to determine how to file the most persuasive claim for compensation.