An injury occurring at the workplace can have lasting consequences on your physical and mental health, family life and ability to work in the future.
As a Pennsylvania resident, you can claim compensation for work-related illnesses, diseases and injuries. Understanding how workers’ compensation functions can prevent mismanagement of your benefits and lost wages.
Prompt reporting
After a workplace injury, your top priority is to recuperate. However, prompt reporting is vital to the workers’ compensation process. You should immediately report your injury to your employer and include the exact time and date the incident occurred. If you hesitate to report your injury, the state may deny your claim or delay your benefits. Pennsylvania requires employers to report injuries after the first day of lost wages. Your employer is also responsible for explaining your rights and benefits according to the workers’ compensation act.
Available benefits
Workers’ compensation provides numerous benefits to injured workers, including:
- Lost wages
- Specific loss benefits
- Death benefits
- Medical care
The extent of your compensation depends on the severity of the injury or illness. You have a right to quality medical treatment from a medical center or physician, and benefits can include surgery, medicines, orthopedic appliances and hospital treatments. You are free to visit any physician unless your employer files your claim and posts a list of six or more available healthcare providers. Your employer has to cover any differences between the insurance payments and medical fees.
Workers’ compensation may seem like a challenging process. Understanding your rights as a worker and the compensation available may help you recover faster and return to work.
