When a worker is involved in a work-related accident in the state of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act covers you for your medical expenses, wage-loss compensation benefits, and death benefits to the dependent survivors. This means your employer’s private insurance company is responsible for paying for these benefits. If your employer is self-insured, you may receive your benefits from the State Workers’ Insurance Fund.
Who is covered by the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act?
As per the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, almost every worker employed in the state of PA is entitled to collect benefits should they engage in a work-related accident. the employees who may be covered under this act or another workers’ compensation law include:
- Part-time and full-time employees
- Season part-time workers
- Those who work for a nonprofit corporation are covered
- Unincorporated businesses also must comply with the Act’s requirements
- Federal civilian employees
- Railroad workers
- Longshoreman
- Shipyard and harbor workers
Employees who may not be covered for workers’ compensation benefits include:
- Volunteer workers
- Agricultural laborers
- Casual employees
- Domestics and employees who have been granted a personal religious exemption from the Act.
If an employer decides to exempt their business from the Act, and only some may be permitted to do so, they must notify their workers of this and risk being sued in the event an employee does engage in a work-related accident.
What does Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Cover?
If you are injured in a work accident in Erie, PA or suffer from an illness or disease, your medical bills should be covered along with the additional payment for your loss of wages for the time you are unable to work. However, our accident lawyers in Erie, Pennsylvania point out that if your injury occurred for one of the following reasons, you will not be entitled to workers’ comp benefits:
- When the injury or death is intentionally self-inflicted.
- It was caused because of a violation of the law.
- You were using drugs or alcohol which in turn led to the accident occurring.
When will I begin receiving my workers’ comp benefits?
After your report your accident, informing your employer as to what happened and the injuries you are suffering from, they should take the appropriate action so that you can begin receiving the medial benefits necessary. If you miss a day of work or weren’t able to make it to your shift as a result of the accident, your employer is required to report your injury to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation by filing a first report of the injury.
Each cause is going to vary in how long it takes before benefits are paid out but if you fail to report your accident and/or injury right away, it could delay your benefits from being paid out and your employer’s insurance carrier could very well deny you access to them.
If you would like to learn more about workers’ compensation and the process you must go through, schedule your free consultation with one of our featured accident attorneys in Erie, PA. You are going to want to become informed on what your rights are and the various types of actions that can be taken if your employer and/or their insurer fails to provide you with the necessary benefits. You can contact us here at USAttorneys.com and one of our agents will connect you with a local attorney in your area.
