The Importance of Workers’ Compensation to Pennsylvania Workers

Workers’ compensation benefits are important benefits for workers who have been injured in a workplace accident or are suffering from a workplace illness. The importance of worker’s compensation benefits for many workers, their families and their ability to provide for their families cannot be overstated. Workers’ compensation benefits may vary based on the situation and circumstances and it is important for workers and their families to know how to obtain them.

In Pennsylvania, workers compensation benefits include lost pay for the time period while the worker is disabled because of their workplace injury; compensation for medical expenses related to the worker’s medical care and treatment because of the workplace injury; compensation for any disfigurement that worker has suffered because of the workplace injury; and death benefits for surviving family members in circumstances of a fatal workplace accident.

Workers’ compensation benefits in Pennsylvania are considered no-fault benefits. It is important for workers to report their injury to their employer immediately because they only have 120 days to do so and otherwise will not be able to pursue a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. The employer then has 21 days to accept the claim and if they do not, it is important for injured workers and their families to be familiar with their rights and have trained guidance concerning those rights.

Likewise, if an employer uses any one of a number of methods to try to block the worker’s benefits, and because there are important timelines associated with the process of seeking benefits, it is essential for workers and their families to understand the workers’ compensation process in Pennsylvania. Following a workplace accident, a worker’s livelihood may be threatened by an inability work as medical expenses pile up because of a workplace injury or illness which is where workers’ compensation benefits can come in to help.