What To Do if You are Injured on the Job
On-the-Job Injury Attorneys Pittsburgh
If you have been injured at work, you might feel overwhelmed, not knowing the right steps to take. At the Law Office of Melvin L. Vatz, we have represented injured workers since 1979. We understand the anxiety workers face not knowing whether their medical bills will be paid, or whether their lost wages will be reimbursed.
Attorney Melvin Vatz, at our law firm offers more than forty years of experience in workers’ compensation. We are committed to guiding workers injured on the job through Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced lawyer.
What to Do if You are Injured at Work
If you were injured in a job-related accident, you are entitled to payment for medical care, and to payment for a percentage of your lost wages.
Unfortunately, sometimes legitimate claims are denied or delayed. In order to protect your rights, make sure that you do the following:
- Report your work-related injury — Tell your employer about your injury as soon as possible, even if you don’t think that it’s serious. You have 120 days to report a work injury, but you should report it as soon as you are aware of it.
- Obtain medical attention — If you need medical treatment, get it as soon as possible. Your employer may have established a “panel” of doctors and other providers from which you have to choose a doctor for your first 90 days of treatment after the injury. But if your employer has not posted this list, you can choose your own.
- If your employer denies your injury — You may find your own doctor to treat with even if they have a “panel” of doctors.
- Tell your doctor how your injury happened — It is always important to have a history that connects your injury to the treatment.
- Get the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses to your injury — If your employer denies that your injury occurred, we will interview and, if necessary subpoena witnesses for hearings.
Our firm’s workers’ comp lawyer, Mel Vatz, will evaluate every detail of your case. He has almost four decades of experience helping injury workers pursue their workers compensation claims, protecting your benefits, and often obtaining lump sum settlements of their claims.
Third Party Claims
Although you cannot sue an employer for negligence, if your injury was caused by the negligence of a “third party” you may be able to file a lawsuit for your injuries. You may also become eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. If we settle your case through a lump sum or “compromise and release” we will insure that any other benefits, such as Social Security, are protected.
Contact Us About Your Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If you have questions about an on-the-job injury, we can help you. Contact us by e-mail or by calling (412) 391-3030 for a free initial consultation.