What Are Your First Steps if Injured on the Job?

The Philadelphia workers compensation attorneys of Nass Cancelliere answer some common questions about the first steps to take if you have been injured on the job.

If you are involved in a workplace accident, there are a few simple, but important steps you should take in order to ensure your workers’ compensation claim proceeds smoothly. These include obtaining documentation about your injury and calling a lawyer.

• 1. You must inform your employer when you have been injured on the job. You have 120 days within which to report your injury, or you risk losing compensation. Make sure your report is submitted in writing (and keep a copy of this important documentation).
• 2. Seek medical treatment as soon as possible, to ensure that your injury/ies are documented by an objective party. You can go to the doctor of your choice, but if your employer provides you with an official list of approved physicians, it is a good idea to see one of them. Otherwise, your employer doesn’t have to pay any of your medical bills until after the first 90 days of your injury.
• 3. File a loss of wages claim IF the doctor puts you on medical leave for over seven days. If you wind up off work for 14 days, you will then be eligible to receive back payments for the first seven days you were out of work, along with subsequent payments for the 14 (or more) days.

At this point, so long as you followed all the reporting and claims requirements, it is up to your employer to accept or deny responsibility for your accident. If accepted, you’ll receive a Notice of Compensation Payable and possibly receive temporary workers compensation payments for 90 days.

However, if your employer denies responsibility, you’ll get a Notice of Compensation Denial. At this point, you will need to start filing petitions to the Workers’ Compensation Bureau to request a hearing regarding your claims. This is when the most important step of all – retaining an attorney – should be taken.

Consult with our experienced legal team in Philadelphia today

For more detailed information about claiming workers compensation following an on-the-job injury, contact the Philadelphia workers compensation lawyers of Nass Cancelliere. They can also assist you at any time during the claims process, from your first steps right through any necessary appeals process.  Call us at 215-546-8200, or submit our contact web form.