Similarly to people elsewhere in the country, people in Pittsburgh, PA diligently go to work everyday to earn a living. Unfortunately, accidents can happen, so it’s essential to know how to respond after a workplace injury. Pittsburgh residents have access to workers’ compensation benefits, but there is a procedure that must be followed in order to claim them. Keep reading to learn about some things to do to safeguard your legal rights after getting hurt.
Report Your Injury Right Away
It’s essential to immediately notify your supervisor after suffering a workplace injury. Pittsburgh employees sometimes fail to take that important step because they think injuries are very minor and not worth reporting. However, there’s always a chance an injury could turn out to be more severe than you’d previously thought. Notifying a supervisor is one crucial part of accessing workers’ compensation.
Document the Kind of Treatment Received for a Workplace Injury
In most cases, if you’re a Pennsylvania employee, you have the right to see a health care provider of your choice. The only exception is if your employer has posted a list of six or more health care providers at your job site.
Then, you must visit any of the professionals on that list for the initial visit, and any others that occur within the first three months. Otherwise, your care may not be covered by workers’ compensation. No matter what, always make sure to take careful notes about the type of treatment given, including names of doctors, and dates of care.
Be Mindful of Time Limits
As mentioned above, it’s in your best interests to be prompt when reporting a workplace injury. Pittsburgh employers may be more likely to deny claims if you wait too long. Also, you cannot seek compensation for treatment that occurred before you told an employer about an injury, and you must give that notice within three weeks of the time when the accident happened.
Unlike some states, Pennsylvania has a Workers’ Compensation Act that covers seasonal and part-time workers, as well as people who work full time. You’re even covered by the Act if you are the only employee your workplace has hired. If you have further questions about what to do after a workplace injury, Pittsburgh workers’ compensation lawyers are available to give consultations.
Have you been affected by a workplace injury? Pittsburgh clients, and those in nearby communities, have trusted the Law Office of Tom Crenney & Associates to answer their workers’ compensation questions. You can get guidance as well by receiving a complimentary consultation.
