Many people across Pennsylvania rely on their cars for more than just getting to and from work. For many, driving a car is a part of their job, whether they’re driving a company or personal vehicle. When an accident occurs while driving or riding in a car within the scope of work duties, the employee is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits as they would be if they’d been injured in the physical workplace.
Car accidents on the job are more complex than a workplace injury at the place of employment, and both employers and the insurance companies involved will try to undervalue your claim, if not deny it altogether. That’s why you need an experienced Lehigh Valley workers’ compensation attorney.
Proudly serving the people of Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem, Allentown, and beyond, the experienced workers’ compensation lawyers at Larry Pitt & Associates, P.C. are ready to start fighting for you today. Let us help you ensure that you’re receiving all the workers’ compensation benefits you’re entitled to following a car accident on the job.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem, Allentown, and Beyond
Employers, by Pennsylvania law, must have a workers’ compensation insurance policy in place to provide financial support and medical benefits to employees who sustain an injury or illness on the job. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, meaning that employees are almost always entitled to these benefits even if the injury could be, in part or in whole, their own fault. These benefits, however, are not available if the injury was due to the employee breaking the law.
Benefits include coverage for any relevant medical expenses, disability compensation to cover lost wages while recovering, and payment for any permanent disfigurement sustained as a result of the accident. These benefits can also include partial disability benefits which come into play when the employee cannot return to the same income level as a result of their injury, and, in the event of a fatality, death benefits for the surviving family.
How Can I Qualify for Workers’ Compensation Following a Car Accident in Pennsylvania?
Because workers’ compensation only applies to injuries an employee suffered during the course of their work duties, certain requirements must be met in order for a car accident to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
- You’re an employee. Workers’ compensation benefits are traditionally only available to employees of a company. Independent contractors and volunteers are not usually eligible for workers’ compensation.
- The accident occurred while performing work duties. Unfortunately, car accidents aren’t quite as easy to identify as work-related as, say, a slip and fall in the office may be. The accident must have occurred during the course of your duties. This can include situations such as driving in a company or personal vehicle for a work engagement, transporting yourself and colleagues to a work activity, or running a work-related errand such as picking up lunch for the office or making deliveries. This typically doesn’t include the commute to and from work or social engagements with colleagues outside of work.
- You reported your injury in a timely manner. Under Pennsylvania law, you must notify your employer within 21 days of the accident to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, but sooner is better.
- You have medical evidence. Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law requires that you see a company-approved doctor within 90 days of the accident. Your employer should provide you with the information for an approved provider. The doctor’s report will play a huge role in your case, serving as your biggest source of evidence. It’s best practice to schedule that evaluation as quickly as possible.
Employers and their insurance companies often don’t make it easy for injured workers to receive their rightful workers’ compensation benefits. That’s why you need an experienced Lehigh Valley workers’ compensation attorney who won’t quit. Larry Pitt and his team will guide you through the process, ensuring that you have the best possible evidence so you can see the benefits you’re entitled to.
Larry Pitt & Associates: Fighting for Injured Workers in Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem, Allentown, and Greater Pennsylvania. We Won’t Quit.
If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident on the job, you deserve to see your rightful workers’ compensation benefits. Trust the knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyers at Larry Pitt & Associates, P.C. to guide you through the process and to fight aggressively so you can receive all the benefits to which you are entitled. Contact us today or call us at 888-PITT-LAW for a free, confidential consultation.
