Helping You Avoid The Myths Around Workers’ Compensation

Many people put off notifying their employer of their injury or filing a claim for benefits because they do not know where to begin. However, that delay can hurt their chances of receiving benefits. At McCormick & Vilushis LLC, we help clients in northwestern Pennsylvania navigate the workers’ compensation claim process and get the aid they need. Don’t fall prey to the myths surrounding workers’ compensation claims and the rights of workers injured on the job.

Reporting Your Injury To Start Your Claim

Workers’ compensation covers injuries due to accidents while on the job and those resulting from occupational disease. Under both scenarios, it is critical to report your work injury or illness to your employer within 120 days of the injury or illness to obtain your benefits. If you just learned that your injury or illness is related to work activity, you must report within 120 days of discovering the connection to work activities.

To receive medical payments and wage-loss payments for your work injury from the date you were injured, you must report the injury to your employer within 21 days of it occurring. Missing this deadline could also be used by your employer as a basis to deny your claim.

Although the process could seem straightforward, an employer or an insurance carrier may deny your benefits. You may also find that you need more resources to cover your needs. Our workers’ comp attorney helps injury victims like you understand their rights, guide them through the process and make a solid case to maximize their compensation, when applicable.

Getting Medical Treatment

After you report your work injury to your employer, they should provide you with a list of panel physicians who can treat you for the first 90 days of your injury. The list of panel physicians must contain several different physicians or physician practice groups with different specialties.

If your claim is accepted, after the first 90 days, you can continue your treatment with a doctor of your choosing, and the carrier must pay for the treatment. However, if you do not seek treatment with a panelist doctor within the first 90 days of your injury, the workers’ compensation insurance company may not cover that medical treatment.

Contact Our Erie Office

To speak with our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers about your claim and your potential benefits, call 814-455-5362 or send us an email. Your consultation has no cost, and we charge no attorney’s fee unless we win your case.