A Norristown workers' compensation lawyer at Kaufman Workers' Compensation Law helps injured workers understand the claim process, manage claim delays and denials, and deals with the insurance company and legal technicalities, so they can take this time to recover.
We know the bills are stacking up, and you don't know when or if you can go back to work. Getting your benefits isn't an option; it's a need, and under Pennsylvania law, something you may be owed.
Our practice focuses solely on helping injured workers like you recover compensation. Contact Jenifer Kaufman now for a free consultation.
Why Norristown Workers Choose Jenifer Kaufman
After a workplace accident, you shouldn't rely on your employer, their workers' comp carrier, a co-worker, a family friend, or generative AI for advice. You deserved to have a knowledgeable and trusted lawyer in your corner.
Jenifer Kaufman has dedicated her practice to helping injured workers. She is certified as a workers' compensation law specialist by the Pennsylvania Bar Association Workers' Compensation Law Section, a specialty organization accredited by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
She has also become a leading voice on medical marijuana reimbursement in workers' comp claims, an area of Pennsylvania law that continues to evolve and one where many injured workers in Norristown face claim denials without knowing they have options to challenge them.
If you need help, our workers' compensation lawyer is here for you. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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What Workers' Compensation Laws Impact My Norristown Claim?
Pennsylvania workers' compensation laws require most employers to carry workers' compensation coverage, and injured workers have a legal right to file for benefits after a workplace injury. These laws impact filing deadlines, the benefits you are owed, and options if a claim is denied — including what you need to know about how to file a workers' compensation claim.
Reporting Deadlines You Should Know
Reporting the injury within 21 days preserves eligibility for retroactive benefits from the first day of disability. The outer deadline is 120 days from the date of injury or from the date a worker discovers an occupational disease or repetitive stress condition is work-related.
Exclusive Remedy and Who You Can Sue for Your Accident
When an employer has workers' compensation coverage, you generally cannot sue them for damages. This means your recovery from your employer is typically limited to your workers' comp benefits.
However, if a third party caused or contributed to your accident, you may be able to recover additional compensation, such as pain and suffering damages. A third-party lawsuit is separate from your workers' comp claim and may be pursued simultaneously.
Available Benefits After a Norristown Workplace Accident
Depending on the nature of your Norristown workplace injury and how it affects your ability to work, you may be entitled to different types of benefits, including:
- Medical benefits — Coverage for reasonable and necessary treatment related to the workplace injury, including doctor visits, surgery, prescriptions, physical therapy, diagnostic testing, and durable medical equipment. These benefits have no time limit and continue for as long as the treatment is medically necessary under Pennsylvania workers' compensation rules.
- Wage-loss benefits — If the injury prevents all work activity, total disability benefits replace approximately two-thirds of the worker's pre-injury average weekly wage. If the worker returns to light-duty or reduced-hours work at lower earnings, partial disability benefits cover a portion of the wage difference. There is no maximum duration for total disability benefits in Pennsylvania, though partial disability is capped at 500 weeks.
- Specific loss benefits — Lump-sum payments for permanent loss or permanent loss of use of scheduled body parts, including arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, eyes, or hearing. These benefits are calculated separately from wage-loss payments and may be available even if the worker returns to full employment.
Your benefits depend on your average weekly wage before the injury, the type and severity of the condition, and whether wage-loss or specific loss categories apply.
How to Appeal a Claim Denial
An initial claim denial is not the end. There are options to challenge a denial and, if successful, still receive benefits.
This process starts with reviewing the Notice of Compensation Denial (NCD) to identify the insurer's stated grounds. From there, we can file a Claim Petition with the Bureau of Workers' Compensation. A workers' compensation judge is then assigned to evaluate medical records, witness testimony, and documentation from both sides.
If the judge's decision is unfavorable, an appeal to the Workers' Compensation Appeal Board and, if necessary, the Commonwealth Court may also be possible.
Acting quickly is crucial for both preserving evidence and meeting procedural deadlines that govern each step of the process.
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FAQs for Norristown Workers' Comp Lawyer
Does workers' comp cover a workplace injury if I had a pre-existing condition?
Yes. Pennsylvania workers' compensation covers injuries that aggravate, accelerate, or combine with a pre-existing condition. Insurance carriers may try to use prior medical history to argue the current condition is not work-related, but medical records showing a change in symptoms, function, or treatment needs after the workplace event can counter that argument, including in cases involving a workers' comp preexisting condition.
Can I choose my own doctor for a workplace injury in Pennsylvania?
For the first 90 days of treatment, Pennsylvania law requires injured workers to treat with a provider from a properly posted list designated by the employer or its insurance carrier. The list must include at least six physicians or health care providers. After the 90-day window, workers have the right to treat with any physician of their choosing. If an employer fails to provide a proper panel list, the 90-day restriction may not apply at all.
What if my workers' comp insurer refuses to pay for medical marijuana?
Pennsylvania law permits medical marijuana for qualifying conditions, and recent legal developments have created a path for workers' comp insurers to reimburse those costs. Many carriers still deny reimbursement requests as a default, even when the treating physician has issued the required medical certification and the worker holds a valid medical marijuana card. Jenifer Kaufman has been at the forefront of medical marijuana and workers' comp in Pennsylvania since 2018 and can evaluate whether a denied reimbursement claim has grounds for a challenge.
Our Workers' Compensation Resources
Get Help From a Norristown Workers' Comp Attorney Who Only Handles These Cases
The first consultation is free, and it starts with listening. Jenifer Kaufman will review your situation, explain what benefits may apply, and outline a path forward based on the specifics of your injury and your employer's response. If your claim needs legal action, representation is already in place.
Call Kaufman Workers' Compensation Law at (267) 626-2973.
Standby counsel options are also available. This is a unique legal service for high-risk workers across Norristown's various industries. There are no fees unless a problem develops and your workers' comp representation is already in place, eliminating the delay of finding an attorney while your claim is at a standstill.