You were hurt at work and now you find yourself sitting at your dining room table opening another hospital bill with no paycheck in your bank account. Your employer isn’t answering your questions, the workers’ comp insurance adjuster is making the process more confusing, and you don’t know whether the self-help guide you found online is accurate.
After a workplace injury, you need experienced guidance.
Kaufman Workers’ Compensation Law is ready to be your advocate. We don’t just say that. Jenifer Kaufman has decades of experience under her belt, helping injured workers during some of the most stressful moments in their lives.
Contact us now for your free consultation. Whether you are just starting on the claims process or have received a letter denying your claim, our workers’ compensation lawyer in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, can answer your questions.
Key Takeaways for Jenkintown Workers’ Compensation
- Workers' comp covers injuries regardless of fault in most workplace accidents
- Benefits may include medical treatment, wage replacement, and disability payments
- Filing deadlines in Pennsylvania make prompt action critical
Jenkintown Workers' Compensation Claims, Experience That Matters
Jenifer Kaufman is a certified workers’ compensation specialist. She brings her knowledge and experience to every case, helping injured Jenkintown workers recover the benefits they are owed.
Our workers’ compensation lawyer understands that some Jenkintown workplaces come with serious risks. Even if you haven’t been hurt, you can have Jenifer Kaufman on standby. By signing with her today, she can be at the ready if any issues arise, moving quickly on your claim. There are no fees unless you need to file a claim or a problem arises.
Call Kaufman Workers’ Compensation Law now at (267) 626-2973 to get answers to your questions.
What Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Laws Mean for Your Claim
Pennsylvania's workers' compensation system has specific rules that injured workers need to understand when filing a claim. These rules dictate when you must file and what benefits you can receive.
Filing Deadlines Under Pennsylvania Law
Under Pennsylvania law, you must provide notice within 21 days of a work accident or within 120 days of discovering an occupational disease or repetitive stress injury. Missing these deadlines may result in the denial of your claim.
Pennsylvania gives injured workers three years from the date of injury to file a formal workers' compensation claim petition. The three-year statute of limitations represents an absolute deadline.
Exclusive Remedy Doctrine and Your Legal Options
Workers' compensation is typically the exclusive remedy for most workplace injuries. This means that you generally cannot sue your employer in civil court for negligence that caused your injury. However, it also means you are guaranteed benefits regardless of who is to blame, but you cannot pursue damages like pain and suffering.
There are limited exceptions, such as when employers intentionally cause harm. Additionally, some injured workers may pursue third-party lawsuits against equipment manufacturers, property owners, or contractors whose negligence contributed to their workplace injury.
These lawsuits are separate from your workers’ compensation claim, and you may pursue both your workers’ comp benefits and civil damages simultaneously.
Workers' Compensation Benefits You May Pursue
Your workers' compensation claim covers more than just wage loss. Pennsylvania law provides multiple categories of benefits depending on your injury and its impact on your life:
- Medical benefits covering all reasonable and necessary treatment, including surgery, prescriptions, physical therapy, and durable medical equipment, with no maximum cap or time limit
- Temporary total disability benefits equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage when your injury prevents all work activity
- Partial disability benefits covering the wage difference if you return to light-duty work at reduced earnings
- Specific loss benefits providing lump sum payments for permanent loss or loss of use of scheduled body parts like arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, eyes, or hearing
- Total disability benefits for workers whose injuries prevent them from performing any type of gainful employment, continuing for the duration of total disability
Benefit amounts depend on your average weekly wage during the year before your injury and the severity of your workplace injury.
Why Claims Get Denied and How Jenifer Kaufman Helps
Insurance companies scrutinize claims, seeking reasons to minimize or deny legitimate workers' compensation claims.
Common tactics include:
- Disputes over whether injury arose from employment: Insurance adjusters scrutinize injury reports for inconsistencies and argue that injuries resulted from outside activities rather than workplace duties
- Injury reporting timeliness challenges: Carriers deny claims by arguing that injured workers failed to report injuries within deadlines
- Pre-existing condition arguments: Insurance companies claim that prior medical conditions caused your current symptoms rather than your workplace injury; Pennsylvania law recognizes compensation for work-related aggravation of pre-existing conditions
- Independent contractor classification disputes: Some employers misclassify workers as independent contractors to avoid providing workers' compensation coverage, then argue that injured workers were not employees
- Medical treatment disputes: Insurance carriers question whether specific treatments are reasonable or necessary, requesting independent medical examinations before approving procedures
- Return-to-work capacity claims: Carriers attempt to terminate benefits prematurely by arguing that suitable work exists within your medical restrictions based on labor market surveys or vocational expert testimony
Jenifer Kaufman fights wrongful benefit denials with thorough preparation and skilled advocacy. When carriers deny claims, they face a knowledgeable opponent with an in-depth understanding of Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system and the challenges Jenkintown workers face.
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Practical Steps to Take After a Workplace Injury
Quick action protects your health, safety, and future. It also protects your right to workers’ compensation benefits.
Report Your Injury to Your Supervisor in Writing
Pennsylvania law requires injured workers to notify their employer within 120 days of discovering a work-related illness. Missing that deadline may jeopardize your right to benefits.
If you notify an employer within 21 days, you increase the likelihood of receiving benefits from the date of your injury, not the date you reported it.
You are not required to report in writing, but a written report documents that you reported your injury on time and the details that you provided. Keep a copy of everything you submitted for your workers’ comp lawyer’s records.
Seek Medical Treatment From an Authorized Provider
Your employer's workers' compensation insurance carrier maintains a list of approved medical providers in Pennsylvania. Your supervisor or employer’s human resources department can provide you with a list of providers.
You must receive treatment from these authorized physicians for the first 90 days after your injury, or your employer may deny coverage for those medical expenses. After 90 days, you gain the right to choose any physician you prefer for ongoing care or if your claim is denied.
Keep Detailed Records of Medical Bills, Wage Statements, and Correspondence
You will want to gather and provide your Jenkintown attorney with any:
- Itemized medical bills
- Prescription receipts
- Mileage logs for medical appointments
- Statements showing your pre-injury wages
- Correspondence from your employer, their insurance carrier, and medical providers
- Copies of claim forms, benefit payment statements, and any letters approving or denying aspects of your claim
These thorough records help us identify any gaps, provide ammunition to challenge denials, and build a strong evidentiary foundation in the event of disputes.
Document Your Recovery Progress and Work Restrictions
You will also want to keep track of any symptoms you experience and how your injury affects your life. Note your pain, mobility limitations, and any difficulties with daily activities.
Request written documentation of all work restrictions from your treating physician. If your employer tries to pressure you to perform tasks beyond your restrictions or retaliates, you will need this documentation.
Call a Jenkintown Workers’ Comp Attorney at Kaufman Workers’ Compensation Law
Consult our Pennsylvania workers' compensation attorney before accepting any settlement offers or signing documents from the insurance carrier. Jenifer Kaufman can review your situation, records, and identify what benefits you may deserve. She can file a claim on your behalf and take on the insurance company if it denies your claim.
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FAQ for Workers' Compensation in Jenkintown
Can I Choose My Own Doctor for Workers’ Comp Treatment?
Pennsylvania requires treatment with employer-designated providers for the first 90 days. After 90 days, you may select your own physician within the workers' comp system.
What Happens if the Insurance Company Denies My Claim?
You have the right to file a claim petition through Pennsylvania's Bureau of Workers' Compensation. The process involves mediation and hearings before a workers' comp judge.
Will I Lose My Job if I File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Pennsylvania law prohibits employer retaliation for filing legitimate workers' comp claims. If you face termination after reporting an injury, you may have additional legal claims.
Our Workers' Compensation Resources
Don’t Fight Alone – Let a Jenkintown, PA Workers' Compensation Lawyer Help
We know what is at risk when you are hurt on the job. Lost income, medical bills, and questions about the future of your career linger. But a Jenkintown, PA workers’ comp attorney is just a phone call away.
At Kaufman Workers’ Compensation Law, we take on the legal burden offering a structured path forward and answering your questions about what happens next. We cannot guarantee outcomes, but we can offer you experience and support you won’t find in an AI overview. Call us now at (267) 626-2973 for a free consultation and let us go to work for you.