Workers' Compensation

Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Claims

At Dugan & Associates, our attorneys focus on workplace injuries and represent our clients in workers' comp cases, Social Security Disability Insurance claims, and personal injury lawsuits.

We understand the relationships between these different actions and can often pursue them simultaneously to maximize our client's overall recovery. If you or someone in your family has been injured on the job, call the Pittsburgh attorneys at Dugan & Associates to discuss your workers' compensation claim.

The rules of workers' compensation in Pennsylvania can be complicated, and the deadlines at various steps of the claim process can be very tight. Because so much of our practice is focused on workers' comp, we work to keep your case on track, even while pursuing your personal injury or SSDI claims. We can advise you on whether to accept a lump sum settlement.
Under Pennsylvania workers' compensation law, if the employer accepts responsibility for the injury, or if the employer is found to be responsible over its objection, you're entitled to recover medical benefits and loss of wages in three situations:

• Injuries at work, usually traumatic in nature, involving fractures, ligament or tendon damage, blunt force wounds, or multiple trauma
• Aggravation of a previous injury that's serious enough to disable you from working
• Serious work-related illness, such as pneumonosis, hepatitis, or chemical exposure

During the first 90 days after the injury, you must select a physician from a list compiled by your employer. After that time, if the disabling condition persists, you may choose treatment from your own doctor. While all medical benefits are payable from the time of the injury, lost wages are not paid for the first seven days after the accident, unless the period of disability lasts more than fourteen days.
Complex sequences of deadlines cover the time periods for reporting the injury to a supervisor, for filing the workers' compensation claim, for the employer to accept or deny the claim, for appealing denied claims, and for reopening cases. Family death benefits are also available in fatal accidents.

Attorney Mitchell Dugan has nearly twenty years experience with the investigation and presentation of workers' comp claims in Western Pennsylvania. He's a frequent lecturer on workers' compensation in continuing legal education programs. For a free initial consultation about your workers' comp situation, contact the Pittsburgh injury attorneys at Dugan & Associates.