Workers compensation insurance is designed to offer employees who have been injured on the job or have fallen ill due to workplace conditions the compensation they need to seek medical care and pay their bills while they are unable to work. Benefits from a Workers Compensation Claim in Luzerne County PA can be paid in three different ways. They may be covered by the employer’s private workers’ compensation insurance policy, the State Workers’ Insurance Fund, or by the employer itself.
Who Can File a Claim?
The state Workers’ Compensation Act covers the vast majority of non-federal workers, including seasonal and part-time workers. However, it’s important to note that volunteers, independent contractors, and domestic workers are not covered under this act. The rationale is that these professionals are not technically considered employees.
What Injuries and Illnesses are Covered?
Pennsylvania covers both injuries that have occurred in the workplace and illnesses that have arisen due to working conditions. However, in order to be covered, the injury or illness must be severe enough that the worker requires medical attention beyond first aid. In the case of occupational diseases, workers may be required to prove that the illness has been proximately caused or aggravated by his or her working conditions.
What Benefits are Provided?
Workers’ compensation benefits include medical benefits and lost wages for all workers who have been injured or become ill due to workplace conditions. They may also include permanent partial or total disability benefits in the event that the worker is not able to return to his or her job due to the injury or illness. In some circumstances, workers compensation will also provide death benefits for a deceased worker’s survivors.
What’s the Easiest Way to File a Claim?
By far the simplest way to go about filing a Workers Compensation Claim in Luzerne County PA is to schedule a consultation with a lawyer who can help with filing paperwork and ensuring that the compensation offered by the insurance company is sufficient to cover all damages. While it’s not technically required that workers hire a lawyer to help them file their claims, doing so will dramatically increase their chances of having their claims approved. Visit the website to learn about one legal firm that can help today to get started. You can also visit them on Google My Business.