Dugan & Associates: Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Uniontown

Although we never want it to happen, accidents can happen at work. Even if they are not a result of negligence or poor working conditions, you may be entitled to compensation. Depending on the case, your medical bills could be fully covered. Partnering with Dugan & Associates can award you the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve if you need workers’ compensation in Uniontown, PA.

Dugan & Associates pursue benefits that cover medical bills and/or lost wages as a result of work-related accidents. If you’ve been injured or ill from your job, we want to fight for your workers’ compensation. We understand how overwhelming it can be, which is why our attorneys are ready to help you through the entire process. 

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation covers injuries, illnesses, or accidents that happen at work and/or are in the course of employment and related thereto. Workers’ compensation can apply whether there were poor working conditions or not if the accident or injury was work-related, or in the course of employment and related thereto. Other situations that are eligible for compensation include amputations, occupational disease, or death. 

Workers’ comp benefits are payable even if you’ve had to take a large amount of time away from your job. If your time of leave exceeds 7 days or more, a portion of normal wages are paid. Time away from work can leave you without a steady income. If this happened because of an illness or injury at work, your compensation should pay you wage loss benefits you for lost time. 

There are some situations that can’t be covered by workers’ compensation. It’s important to know about these before filing a claim. For example, self-inflicted injuries on the job site will not qualify for workers’ comp. Injuries or illnesses caused by your own illegal drug use or intoxication. Injuries outside of your job or as a result of unlawful behavior may not entitle you to workers’ comp and you should talk to one of our lawyers if you have concerns or the workers’ compensation insurance carrier is denying your claim. 

Common Workplace Accidents

One can suffer an injury at work whether in a dangerous work setting or not, for example just bending to pick up something. And no matter how safe it may appear, all workplaces are capable of danger. There are some work settings that are more capable of injury than others. For example, a construction site is more likely to have an injury on-site than a coffee shop. But, a staff member could still slip on the floor after a recent mopping. 

Our attorneys have successfully worked with many of these situations. Here are some of the most common workplace accidents:

  • Ladder falls
  • Motor vehicle accidents at work
  • Poor flooring conditions
  • Falls from scaffolding
  • Heat or electrical burns
  • Ineffective danger warnings
  • Using defective equipment
  • Slips and falls

Let Us Defend Your Case

Our experienced and professional attorneys want to fight for your benefits. Get the support you deserve by filing for workers’ compensation in Uniontown, PA. If you’ve been injured or ill from work, you deserve to be compensated. Dugan & Associates plans to fight on your behalf to make that happen. We fight to get you as many benefits as possible. 

The process can seem like a lot without professional support. Fortunately, we are here to help you with all of it. At Dugan & Associates our goal is to get you the workers’ comp you deserve. This can include any or all the medical coverage you need following an injury or illness at work. 

Report the Incident

The first thing you should do is report the accident or injury. If you’re filing from Pennsylvania, you’ll have 120 days from the date of the incident. Reporting your illness or injury immediately will maximize the workers’ compensation benefits available to you. This will also give you an opportunity to protect yourself. 

From there, see a licensed medical professional. If your employer has a panel of approved medical providers you must treat with one of them for the first 90 days of treatment. If no approved posted panel of providers you are free to choose to see who you wish. After you’ve been seen by a doctor, file an official workers’ compensation injury claim. You have up to 3 years from the date of the injury to file a claim. 

File a Claim

Once you’ve filed a notice of a workers’ compensation injury in Uniontown, you have up to 3 years from the date of the injury to file a claim. As mentioned before, you are given 120 days to report your injury to a supervisor at your workplace. With that said, workplace comp usually has little to do with fault. In other words, you could receive workers’ compensation benefits even if no one was at fault for your injury. If someone other than your employer caused your injury while in the course of employment you could sue that other party for negligence and pain and suffering however you can’t sue your employer for negligence in Pennsylvania.

Even so, a workers’ compensation claim may lead to a lawsuit. This can happen with a negligent third-party owner like a property owner. If it is discovered that a separate person or company is responsible, we can file a lawsuit against all appropriate parties for all your injuries sustained. 

Contact Us Immediately

You want to protect yourself and get as much compensation as you’re entitled to. To get your workers’ comp, it’s important to get the process started immediately. Take the necessary steps above and begin working for us to obtain all your benefits.

Contact us immediately so that you can begin working with your attorney in Uniontown, PA. There are time limits and deadlines that could impact someone trying to get their benefits. We want to help you get everything you need for your health and wellbeing. Talk to one of our skilled workers’ compensation lawyers if you or your loved one has been injured at work. 

Appealing a Denied Claim

If your claim for benefits has been denied, we will begin strategizing and pursue getting benefits on your behalf. We won’t give up on your benefits just because your claim l is denied. With more than 30 years of experience, our lawyers are well prepared to represent injured or ill workers. If this happens, your lawyer will fight the basis of denial and file a claim petition for benefits on your behalf.

Why Was My Appeal Denied?

You can still work with your lawyer to appeal a denial. If you feel that you were unfairly denied, contact one of our attorneys immediately. It’s important to speak with a workers’ comp lawyer before giving up on your appeal. We have many years of experience with claim denials and can help you get the benefits you deserve.

The legal grounds for an employer to deny your claim could include the following:

  • The injury didn’t happen during the course of employment or at work.
  • A doctor doesn’t approve that an injury is disabling. 
  • The injury is a pre-existing condition
  • The injured or ill worker is an independent contractor 
  • The claim processing is delayed
  • More information is needed about the incident. 

Lump Sum Settlement

Many people injured at work or in the course of employment on benefits may be entitled to a lump sum settlement. Sometimes it can be overwhelming when dealing with legal issues. Know your rights and whether a lump sum settlement is right for you. Lump sum settlements can help you move on with your life, and often, during litigation cases, settle to avoid the risk and uncertainty of the outcome of litigation. While lump sum settlement may not always be the best option for every case, lump sum settlement is an option that should be discussed as well as what are your rights, risks, and uncertainties,  with an attorney from our office with a proven track record and experience in such matters.

We’ll help you decide if a lump sum settlement is your best course of action. If so, we can help negotiate on your behalf as much money as possible for you to make an educated decision. At Dugan & Associates, our goal is to get you as much as we can. When overseeing your case, we may consider:

  • The extent of your disability 
  • A secondary injury caused by the injury
  • If ongoing treatment will be necessary
  • If the injured person has additional sources of income
  • If the injured person is eligible for other benefits like Medicare

Hire a Uniontown Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If you’ve been looking for a workers’ compensation attorney in Uniontown, contact Dugan & Associates. Your rights are important, and we want to help you get every benefit out of your Workers’ Compensation. Our passionate team of lawyers has 40 years of experience. Using persuasion and skill, our attorneys are ready to represent you and get your life back on track. 

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