Pittsburgh
Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

On This Page

1. Get Answers to Your Workers’ Compensation Questions
2. Berger and Green Can Help You with Your Workers’ Compensation Case
3. How Can I Get the Compensation I Deserve After a Workplace Injury?
4. Your Employer Might Not Be Liable for Your Pittsburgh Workplace Accident
5. How Much Can I Get from Workers’ Compensation?
6. Do I Need a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Pittsburgh?

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

February 02, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

If you suffered serious injuries on the job and are worried about how to pay all your medical bills, a Pittsburgh workers’ compensation lawyer may be able to help you. We can explain how you can obtain workers’ compensation benefits from your employer. 

Get Answers to Your Workers’ Compensation Questions

Suffering major injuries at work often leaves people with many questions and few answers. If you have been hurt in the workplace, you may be wondering:

• Who pays for my medical care?
• What if workers’ compensation denies my claim?
• How can I get money for lost wages?
• What if I cannot return to work?
• Can I file a lawsuit for compensation against my employer?

We can answer each of these questions and others during a free consultation. A workers’ compensation attorney will help you collect evidence, meet deadlines, and negotiate a settlement. No upfront or out-of-pocket payments are required to get started.

Berger and Green Can Help You with Your Workers’ Compensation Case

You do not have to face the confusing, overwhelming process of dealing with a workers’ compensation claim on your own. We are here to help you get the benefits you deserve, and we understand how difficult things are for victims of workplace incidents.

Not only are you dealing with serious physical injuries that have affected your ability to work, but you are likely also worried about how you will pay your medical bills and whether you will be able to go back to your job.

If you suffered an injury at work or an illness due to work, you are likely entitled to collect workers’ compensation benefits through your employer. A Pittsburgh workers’ compensation lawyer will guide you through the claims process. 

How Can I Get the Compensation I Deserve After a Workplace Injury?

The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act governs your legal options for recovery in most cases. Under the PA workers’ compensation laws, this employer-provided insurance is usually your only option for money to cover medical treatment and lost wages.

Pennsylvania law requires all employers to have workers’ compensation insurance. This includes employers with more than one part-time or full-time employee.

In most cases, injured workers have no right to sue their employer for negligence after a workplace injury.

Seeking Compensation from Your Employer’s Coverage

Getting the compensation you deserve after a workplace injury should be as easy as notifying your employer, seeing an approved doctor, and filing a claim. However, things do not always go this smoothly for many injured workers. It is possible for the insurance provider to deny your claim, forcing you to threaten litigation to get the compensation you need.

Common reasons employers reject claims include:

• Claim not being filed with the worker’s supervisor on time
• Claim not being filed on time with the state
• The reported injury was a pre-existing injury or medical condition
• The reported injury did not occur on the worksite or workplace
• Evidence that the injury took place is insufficient

You typically have 21 days to notify your employer about your workplace injury and three years to file a claim with the state. If you wait too long to do either, you may not be permitted to recover any compensation. Nevertheless, a workers’ compensation lawyer with our firm can help you meet the applicable deadlines and/or appeal a denial.

Seeking Compensation After a Denial

If your employer’s insurer does not approve your workers’ compensation claim, a workers’ compensation attorney can file the proper petition. 

There are things you can do to strengthen your claim, such as:

• Keep all medical records and bills that help you document your injuries and the medical treatment.
• Take photographs or videos of your injuries and where your accident took place at work.
• Keep a daily log or journal of your injuries to track how your injuries affect your life.

Your Employer Might Not Be Liable for Your Pittsburgh Workplace Accident

Sometimes, a third party is responsible for your workplace accident. Using the incident report, witness testimony, video footage, and other available evidence, we can identify the liable party. However, this information may not be enough to convince an insurance company or jury that the other party was negligent. We would need to prove these standards of negligence:

• They owed you a duty of care.
• They failed to exercise that duty of care.
• This failure led to a workplace accident that caused you harm.
• You’ve suffered measurable damages as a result.

One or more parties could have contributed to or caused your accident, and we can apply these principles to each of them. Possible negligent parties could include:

• A product manufacturer, if you worked with defective equipment
• The property owner or manager
• A private contractor
• A subcontractor
• The maintenance company

When you file a third-party claim or lawsuit, you may be able to recover the full extent of your damages, including medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Don’t delay getting started on your third-party claim or lawsuit, as Pennsylvania enforces a statute of limitations. According to Pa. C.S.A. § 5524, the state generally sets a two-year time limit on personal injury lawsuits. Should you miss the deadline, you may no longer qualify for holding the liable party responsible for your damages.

How Much Can I Get from Workers’ Compensation?

There are several factors involved in calculating how much money you may get from a workers’ compensation claim. Ultimately, the pay to cover lost wages typically ends up being around two-thirds of your regular salary.

Note: The wage loss benefits of this type of insurance do not kick in until you miss more than seven days of work because of your injury or illness.

Past and Future Medical Bills

The nature and severity of your injuries also play a role in your workers’ compensation claim because all workers injured on the job are typically entitled to payment of their medical bills.

Disability

Other benefits include temporary total disability and permanent partial disability. We can help you determine if you qualify for either of these benefits or help you apply for  disability benefits through Social Security if you are unable to return to work.

The best way to maximize your benefits through workers’ compensation is to discuss your case with a knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer in Pittsburgh. We can help you understand your rights. We can also answer your questions and explain how these laws apply to your case and its outcome.

Do I Need a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Pittsburgh?

While not all injured workers need an attorney, you will want someone on your side if there are any hiccups in your case. Workers’ compensation negotiation and litigation are often complex, and your employer’s insurance company is sure to have an entire legal team representing it.

For example, denials for workers’ compensation benefits are common. If your employer denied your workers’ compensation claim, we can determine what led to the denial and fight back. Most employees do not have the knowledge or experience necessary to fight a denial and win.

We Can Help You with Your Workers’ Compensation Case

If you have questions or concerns about your workplace injuries, Berger and Green can help you understand your right to receive workers’ compensation benefits for any serious injuries you sustained at your workplace.

If you are already receiving benefits, we can also help you fight any insurance company that is threatening to take your benefits away and force you back to work even though you are still suffering from pain and impairment due to your injury or illness.

We Are Passionate About Helping Our Clients Secure the Benefits They Need

We want to provide you with the help you need and the care you deserve. Our previous clients have expressed their experience when we implemented this personalized approach. Here are a couple of their testimonials:

“It will never give me back what I lost but it was something…it’s kind of like something that made you feel there is some justice in the world. Berger Green, you know, they’re the best” – Helene

“So we decided to call Berger and Green and from the very first phone call they helped me through every question that I was asked. All you had to do is be honest and upfront and they took it away from there.” – Beth

Our staff is ready to listen to your story to see how we can help make the workers’ compensation claims process as easy as possible for you and your family.

Can I Afford a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Pittsburgh?

The attorneys at Berger and Green can assist you in understanding your workers’ compensation cases. Most worker’s compensation claims are on a contingency-fee basis. This payment structure means that you pay no upfront fees. You will not pay any money if you do not win your case.

Get in Touch with Berger and Green for Help with Your Workers’ Compensation Case

Injured at work and unsure whether you have a claim for workers’ compensation benefits? Contact a Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorney at our Pittsburgh office at 412-661-1400 for a free case evaluation. Let Berger and Green help you go after what is rightfully yours.