Everything You Need To Know About Workers’ Compensation In Philadelphia

Have you been injured while on the job in Philadelphia? If your answer is yes, it’s time to start looking for a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Philadelphia.

History Of Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Comp Law

The Pennsylvania Legislature passed the Pennsylvania Workmen’s (Workers’) Compensation Act in 1915. The statute charges the Department of Labor and Industry (department) and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (Bureau) with carrying out the act’s administrative and appellate requirements and its compensation for employees who are injured on the job regardless of culpability.

The compensation for injuries and occupational diseases was subsequently combined into this legislation as a result of amendments. The act establishes the benefits accessible to Pennsylvania workers and the conditions under which they are provided, and the processes for obtaining them.

What Exactly Is Worker’s Compensation And How Does It Work?

Workers’ compensation is a government-mandated system that offers financial assistance to employees who are injured or incapacitated on the job. It is a sort of insurance that compensates employees for injuries or disabilities sustained due to their employment.

Except for Texas, every state requires businesses to have workers’ compensation insurance, either through a private insurer or through the state. A company can also choose to be self-insured. There may be repercussions if a corporation fails to carry the required insurance (like state penalties).

Who Is Covered By Workers’ Compensation? 

Employers and employees are both protected by workers’ compensation. Employers are protected because they are not required to pay for the costs connected with treating an employee’s work-related illnesses or injuries out of pocket. Employees are safeguarded by receiving financial assistance in unforeseen medical costs resulting from a work-related injury or illness.

What Injuries Does Workers Compensation Cover? 

Almost every accident or illness that occurs on the job is eligible for workers’ compensation, especially if the employee needs to be absent from work for an extended period. An employee, for example, who suffers an arm injury while operating risky machinery can make a workers’ compensation claim.

One thing to keep in mind is that work-related injuries might occur outside of the company’s premises and still be covered. If the employee was harmed or became ill while working for their employer, they can make a workers’ compensation claim. In contrast, injuries or illnesses caused by an employee’s commute to and from work do not qualify for worker’s compensation.

Workers’ Compensation Claims Procedure 

• The HR team ensures that the employee’s immediate medical needs are met. 
• A formal claim is prepared by either the employee or the employer. 
• HR offers a summary of the claims process to the employee, describing how and where they can obtain medical care and how their pay can be supplemented while they are away from work.
• The employer’s insurance provider is then contacted, and a workers’ compensation claim is submitted. Ideally, the claim should be made within 24 to 48 hours following the injury incidence. 
• The employer should maintain contact with the injured party until the insurer either approves or denies the claim. 
• The insurance company would notify the employee and employer if the claim was approved or denied. If the insurer declines the claim, the employee may request a re-evaluation. 
• If the claim is allowed, the employee will be able to receive extra medical care and will be able to return to work once a medical practitioner has cleared them.

So, there you have it. Hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer in Philadelphia may be a good idea if you’ve sustained an injury, disability, or illness on the job. Hopefully, this article has helped you learn more about workers’ comp laws and guided you through its history, what it can do for you, who it protects, and its process.