Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Attorneys

Helping Employees with Pennsylvania Work Injury Benefits

Pennsylvania workers' compensation is an insurance program that pays you benefits if you are unable to work due to an on-the-job injury or occupational disease. While you may not need legal help to file a workers' comp claim, it is a good idea to seek legal counsel if you have suffered a serious injury or if your employer has attempted to terminate your benefits.

At the law firm of Joshua M. Bloom & Associates, P.C., our Pittsburgh workers' compensation lawyers represent men and women throughout Western Pennsylvania who have been injured on the job. We will meet with you to discuss your situation in depth and explain the options available to you moving forward.

How Long Do I Have to File a Workers' Comp Claim?

After suffering a workplace accident, you have up to three years to file a workers' comp claim. However, you must notify your employer within 120 days of the workplace injury, or you will be permanently barred from filing the claim. Our attorneys will explain the application process to you in greater detail.

What Benefits Does Workers' Comp Provide?

You are entitled to three main benefits through workers' comp:

• Medical benefits such as free medical care and prescription drugs for as long as you are injured
• Two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum amount, for as long as you are unable to work (or partial wage-loss benefits if you can work but cannot earn as much as you did before your work injury)
• A specific-loss award if you suffer scarring, disfigurement, or loss of use of your arm, hand, finger, leg, eyesight, or hearing

Your employer may offer you light-duty work assignments while you are recovering. If you refuse a light-duty assignment, you could lose your benefits.

Claims Brought Under the Pennsylvania Heart and Lung Act

Pennsylvania's Heart and Lung Act operates somewhat differently from traditional workers' comp. The act provides public safety employees with full compensation if they become disabled while performing their job duties. Specific claims must be filed to qualify for these benefits, and not every injury or occupation is covered. That is why it is important to speak with our lawyers to determine whether you are eligible for this form of compensation.

Can I Sue My Employer?

Workers' comp is designed to operate without assigning fault to either the employer or the employee. As such, you generally cannot sue your employer for injuries suffered at work. However, if a third party caused your injury, you may file a personal injury claim for 100 percent of your lost wages and fringe benefits, as well as damages for pain and suffering.

A third party is anyone other than your employer or someone who works for your employer. For example, subcontractors, vendors, equipment manufacturers, and other drivers who cause car accidents are third parties. There are some exceptions where you may be able to sue your employer or its affiliated companies directly.

Call for a Free Consultation with a Pittsburgh Work Injury Lawyer

If you have suffered a repetitive-motion injury or any other type of workplace injury, you may be entitled to compensation. We can also help people whose claims or benefits have been denied. Contact our Pennsylvania workers' compensation attorneys online, or call 412-288-6000 to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your situation. We handle workers' compensation cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we obtain compensation for you. We have relationships with other law firms. Where it makes the most sense for your matter, we may refer your matter to another law firm.

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorneys

At the law firm of Joshua M. Bloom & Associates, P.C., we represent working men and women in Pennsylvania who have suffered personal injuries because of another's wrongdoing. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case and explain your options.

A personal injury is any harm caused to a person. If you have been injured as the result of an attack, negligence, or an accident, you can file a lawsuit to recover damages from whoever is responsible for your injuries.

Examples of personal injury cases include:

• Auto accidents: These include accidents involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, and pedestrians, whether they occur on or off the job.
• Product liability: These cases include construction equipment, industrial equipment and machinery, commercial products, agricultural equipment and machinery, inadequate warnings, child injuries, unsanitary food, and related matters.
• Construction accidents: These include explosions, falls, collapses, heavy-equipment accidents, scaffolding accidents, OSHA violations, entrapments, and related incidents. Our personal injury lawyers are ready to help.
• Medical malpractice: These cases include failure to diagnose, nursing home neglect, birth injuries, infections, surgical errors, and related matters.
• Workers' compensation: These cases include claim petitions, termination petitions, lump-sum settlement agreements, scarring and disfigurement claims, and heart and lung claims.
• Social Security Disability: These cases include initial applications and appeals of denied claims.

Contingency Fee Representation

In all personal injury cases, we charge no upfront fees. If we are successful, our attorney fee will be a percentage of the recovery obtained through a settlement, verdict, or award.

We have relationships with other law firms. Where it makes the most sense for your matter, we may refer your matter to another law firm.

Free Attorney Consultation

Please call our Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at 412-288-6000 for a free and confidential consultation. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we obtain compensation for you.