Workers' Compensation Lawyer in Pennsylvania

Workers’ compensation should pay your medical bills and part of your lost wages after a workplace injury, no matter who caused the accident. But insurance companies sometimes question key parts of a claim to reduce or stop your benefits. At Marzzacco Injury Law, our workers’ compensation lawyers in Pennsylvania help injured workers protect those benefits.

Which Pennsylvania Industries Have the Most Workplace Injuries?

The types of injuries we see often depend on the main industries in each part of the state. Our attorneys often handle claims from workers in:

• Warehouses and logistics: Distribution centers along Interstate 78 and Interstate 81 lead to lifting injuries, forklift accidents, and shoulder injuries.
• Healthcare and nursing: Workers at hospital systems like UPMC and Penn Medicine are often hurt while moving patients or from needlesticks, especially after long shifts.
• Energy and gas work: Marcellus Shale sites can cause crush injuries, falls from heights, and hearing loss.
• Manufacturing and construction: Presses, saws, and scaffolding cause many of the amputations and spinal injuries we see.

In every industry, insurance companies may describe your job as easier than it really is. Our lawyers work to correct the record early, so your claim reflects what you actually lift, climb, or carry during a shift.

What Happens During the First 90 Days?

Your employer can require you to see its chosen doctors for the first 90 days of treatment only if it posted a list of at least six approved providers and had you sign an acknowledgment. If your employer didn’t do both, you may be able to choose your own doctor right away.

It’s important to report your injury to your employer quickly. If you give notice within 21 days, your benefits can be paid from the date of your injury. If you wait longer, benefits generally start from the date you gave notice. If you don’t give notice within 120 days, you may lose your right to benefits.

Some employers never report injuries to their insurance company. Give written notice, keep a copy, and contact our attorneys. If the insurance company never receives your claim, we can file a claim petition for you.

How Does the Impairment Rating Evaluation Work?

After you’ve received 104 weeks of total disability benefits, the insurance company can ask you to attend an Impairment Rating Evaluation (IRE). These evaluations are governed by Act 111 of 2018, 77 P.S. § 511.3. If your impairment rating is below 35%, your benefits change from total to partial disability. Partial disability benefits are limited to 500 weeks.

What Happens if Your Claim Is Denied?

A denial doesn’t have to be the end of your claim. The process usually follows these steps:

• Notice of denial: The insurance company files a form explaining why it denied your claim. Common reasons include claims that the injury isn’t work-related, that you reported it late, or that it was caused by a pre-existing condition.
• Claim petition: Filing a claim petition moves your case from the insurance adjuster to a workers’ compensation judge.
• Mediation: Many cases go through a settlement conference with a different judge before a decision is made.
• Appeals: A judge’s decision can be appealed to the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board, and then to the Commonwealth Court.

You have only 20 days to appeal a judge’s decision. That’s why our lawyers review your paperwork as soon as it arrives.

Why Injured Workers Call Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for injured Pennsylvanians. That includes $300,000 for a power plant worker whose hand was amputated and reattached but never worked properly again. Every case depends on its own facts.

Talk to Us Before You Sign Anything for the Insurance Company

Insurance forms can affect your rights in ways that aren’t always clear. Marzzacco Injury Law will review them at no cost and explain how each document could affect your claim. Call (717) 231-1640 or request a free case review online.