Hurt On-the-Job in Pennsylvania?
Steps to Follow After an Accident

It doesn’t matter how you got hurt. Just about all injuries and illnesses related to work are covered under Pennsylvania workers comp law. Even if it was your fault, you might be eligible for work comp. There are certain steps you need to take to qualify for PA workers compensation benefits if you’ve just been hurt on-the-job.

Step 1:
Report your work injury.

Immediately report any work-related injury or illness to your employer. If you wait more than 120 days to report your injury, your employer does not have to pay you.

Step 2:
See an approved doctor for medical treatment.

In Pennsylvania, if your employer has a list of doctors posted at your worksite, you must see one of these doctors for the first 90 days of your injury. If you ignore the list and see your own doctor, your employer does not have to pay any medical bills until after the first 90 days of your injury. If a list is not posted, you can see your own doctor right away.

Step 3:
File a "Loss of Wages" claim.

If a doctor has placed you on medical leave from work for more than 7 days, you can file a "loss of wages" claim to receive work comp payments. But, in order to get paid for the first 7 days of lost wages, you must be off work and under a doctor’s care for at least 14 days.

Step 4:
Your employer accepts or denies responsibility for your injury.

If your employer accepts responsibility for your work injury, you’ll get a "notice of compensation payable." In some cases, you may be issued temporary workers comp payments for 90 days.

If your employer denies responsibility for your work injury, you’ll get a "notice of compensation denial." If this happens, get help from the experienced workers comp attorneys at Edgar Snyder & Associates.

When Will You Get Paid?

If you are approved, workers comp for missed wages usually starts with the 8th day of your injury. You won’t get paid for the first 7 days unless you are hurt longer than 14 days. You should get your first workers comp check no later than 21 days after you told your employer about your injury.

Is Your Job Covered?

Most Pennsylvania workers are covered by the Workers Compensation Act. Generally, those not covered are self-employed. In most situations, you must be paid in some way for your work in order to be covered under Pennsylvania workers compensation laws. Some volunteers such as firefighters, ambulance workers, and special school police are able to collect workers comp payments.

Collecting PA Workers Comp for Scars or Burns

If you were hurt on the job and have a scar or burn on your head, neck or face, you may qualify for a one-time payment for your injury. That’s in addition to any payments for missed wages or medical bills. Since there are specific rules for collecting workmans comp for scars, a PA workers comp attorney can help figure out if you qualify.

Did You Know?

Not all work-related injuries are "accidents." You may have been hurt because of a dangerous or defective product. You may be entitled to other types of compensation in addition to work comp benefits.

Important Workers Comp Information:

• Answers to frequently asked questions about workers comp.
• About the highly-rated law firm of Edgar Snyder & Associates.
• Get more information about workers comp resources.