The purpose of workers’ compensation is to provide benefits to injured workers. It ensures workers who are injured at work have access to medical care and receive compensation to cover a portion of their lost wages while they are out of work, among other benefits.
Without workers’ compensation, workers who were hurt at work might not be able to afford care for their injuries. In addition, the lost pay benefits are extremely important for many families affected by a workplace injury. They can be vital in helping to make ends meet when someone is out of work because of an injury.
Benefits Available to Workers Through Workers’ Compensation Coverage
Workers’ compensation covers almost every worker in PA or NJ, the only exceptions being those who get this type of coverage through another program, such as federal employees. Employers must provide workers’ compensation coverage to every worker from their first day on the job. This includes full-time workers, part-time workers, seasonal workers, and occasional workers.
In understanding the purpose of workers’ compensation, it is important to know what benefits cover. The benefits available when a worker gets hurt include:
- Medical benefits to cover all related medical costs
- Vocational rehabilitation, if necessary, to find new employment
- Death benefits for their family if they pass away
- Funeral expenses to cover some of the cost of the funeral and burial if they pass away
In addition, workers whose injuries or illnesses prevent them from returning to work and earning a living are eligible for wage loss benefits. These may include:
- Temporary total disability benefits after seven days missed at work
- Permanent total disability benefits if you cannot return to work
- Permanent partial disability benefits if you suffer a permanent disability that limits your ability to do your job
Workers’ compensation should kick in any time you suffer an illness or injury related to your job. This could include:
- Suffering an injury at work because of working conditions
- Suffering an injury because of a coworker’s or your employer’s action
- Suffering an injury at work through you own fault
- Suffering a chronic injury because of actions you regularly perform at work
- Suffering an illness because of something you were exposed to at work
Understanding Workers’ Compensation Laws in PA and NJ
Workers’ compensation is a type of no-fault insurance mandated by state laws and provided by employers to cover all their workers. This provides a quicker and easier way to get compensation for medical care and lost wages than filing a lawsuit would.
Another advantage of workers’ compensation is that you do not have to prove fault. There is no reason you need to prove your employer caused the accident or that you did not cause it. Except in rare instances of gross negligence (usually drinking or drug use on the clock), fault plays no role in whether your benefits get approved or denied.
The downside to workers’ compensation is that you give up the ability to file a lawsuit against your employer, no matter how negligent they were or what role they played in causing your injuries. This means you cannot pursue pain and suffering losses in these cases.
If Your Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Denied, Cordisco & Saile LLC Can Help
If you filed a claim for workers’ compensation in lehigh valley and they denied your claim, the team from Cordisco & Saile LLC is here to help. We know how to navigate the system in PA and NJ and will fight for the full benefits you deserve. We can help you understand your rights, and may take your case to appeal on your behalf. You can focus on getting better while we fight for the compensation you deserve.
In some cases, we may also be able to help you pursue additional compensation by identifying a liable third party in your case. For example, imagine you worked on a construction site and a delivery driver hit you with their vehicle while backing up to deliver a load. We might be able to hold the delivery driver’s employer responsible and recover pain and suffering damages and more.
Talk to a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
At Cordisco & Saile LLC, we understand how frustrating it can be to suffer a workplace injury and have to fight for the compensation you deserve. If you live in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, our team is here for you. We can review your case for free, and will represent you on a contingency-fee basis. You will not owe us any attorney’s fees until we get you approved for workers’ compensation.
Call us today at 215-642-2335 for a no-cost consultation
