Workers Compensation

Chester County Workers Compensation Attorneys

Have you, or a loved one, been hurt or injured in a workers’ compensation accident in Chester County, Pennsylvania? Has an on the job injury claimed the life of someone you care about? Under Pennsylvania workers’ compensation laws you may be entitled to benefits and financial compensation for your injuries.  Consulting with a Kennett Square workers compensation lawyer is a wise move. Contact the Pennsylvania workers comp attorneys at Donze & Donze as they help injured workers seek the compensation that is rightfully and lawfully theirs. Our two-attorney team is dedicated to providing attentive, caring and effective legal representation to workers injured on the job.  Dial 610-472-9120 for a free consultation with our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers. 

Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Laws

According to current Pennsylvania workers’ compensation laws you are entitled to workers’ compensation no matter whose fault it is. Even if what happened is your fault, if it happened at work, on the job or while carrying out a work related task, you are entitled to workers’ compensation for the duration of your disability. That is Pennsylvania law. You have an automatic right to two-thirds of your average weekly wage plus medical benefits. In exchange for an automatic entitlement to benefits, you give up your right to sue your employer for damages, however if the injury was caused by a 3rd person or a defective product for example, you retain the right to sue that party and collect pain and suffering damages.

In addition to wage compensation, in injured at work, you may also be entitled to death benefits for survivors of workers killed on the job, retraining if you cannot return to your former position, and payment for partial or total disability.

Even if you have a pre-existing medical condition, if it was aggravated at work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits and financial compensation.

Is a Lawyer Needed in a Workers’ Compensation Case?

Sometimes an employer will acknowledge that they are responsible for your job injury. After a while, they may determine that you are ready to go back to work. But what happens if you believe that you cannot go back to work yet? Your employer may file a petition to modify or suspend your benefits. Here is when an experienced attorney may be able to help you retain your workers’ comp benefits.

Settlement of Workman’s Comp Cases

An employer may want to write the workers’ compensation claim off after a period of time. This settlement is known as a Compromise and Release. The employer and employee agree on a lump sum of money and then the worker releases the employer from any future liability.

What Does a Settlement Depend On?

The settlement depends on many things, including:

• The claimant’s age
• Disability status
• How long the claimant had intended to keep working
• Income potential given the claimant’s disability status
• Job availability

If you are in pay-status, we sometimes monitor workers’ compensation cases for clients at no charge. We can help you file an initial claim for benefits or assist later if a problem does arise.

Statute of Limitations In Workers Comp Claims

A statute of limitations is a common legal term that defines the time frame during which legal action can be taken regarding a certain legal issue. There are different statutes of limitations for different areas of law. The statute of limitations for on the job accident, at work injuries or job related deaths, action in Pennsylvania is three years from the date of injury, accident or death.

Accidents Resulting In Workers Comp Claims

Under Pennsylvania workers compensation laws there are many types of accidents that can result in a personal injury lawsuit. These include: car, truck and motorcycle accidents. Premises liability accidents, dog bites/animal attacks, slips and falls on someone’s property, retail store negligence, nursing home and treatment center abuse, assault and accidental death. If you have been injured in any of these types of accidents, it  is in your best interest to speak to an experienced workers compensation lawyer. The statute of limitations for 3rd party lawsuits is 2 years.

What To Look For In A Workers’ Comp Lawyer

There are several attributes you may want to look for when choosing a workers’ compensation attorney. The first is experience. As filing a claim is a very time consuming and complex process you do not want to leave anything to chance. Another thing to look for is their track record of obtaining very favorable settlements, verdicts and judgments for their clients. Our founding workers’ comp attorney, George Donze, has been representing workers hurt on the job for many years. He is licensed to practice law throughout the state of Pennsylvania, and he has handled hundreds of workers’ compensation cases.

Depend on us to help you secure the full benefits that you are entitled to under Pennsylvania law. Call us at 610-472-9120 or send us an e-mail. When you seek a strong, compassionate and effective legal advocate, you need Donze & Donze.