Permanent Disability Claims Under Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Law
The final resolution of your workers’ compensation claim will depend on whether and for how long your workplace injury results in disability — either temporary or permanent, as well as whether your disability is partial or total.
The Amount And Duration Of Workers’ Compensation Benefits Will Depend On The Degree Of Your Disability, Among Other Factors
Aside from having your medical treatment covered, if you are unable to work, you will be classified as having a temporary total disability (TTD). Wage-loss payments normally begin a week after the last date you were able to work. These payments will consist of a percentage of your total wages up to a certain maximum. If your employer or employer’s insurer later determines that your disability is permanent, the insurer may offer you a lump-sum settlement. It is important to discuss your case with a knowledgeable attorney as you decide whether to accept.
After receiving wage-loss payments for 104 weeks, your insurer may ask you to submit to an impairment rating examination (IRE). If doctors determine that your total disability is partial rather than total after this period of time, you may be classified as having a permanent partial disability (PPD). With this designation, your wage-loss benefits will have a time limit, with a maximum of 500 weeks.
Note: If you have permanently lost the use of a body part, you may receive specific loss benefits for a number of weeks to be determined by which body part is injured. Permanent loss of the use of a leg or of your sight, for example, will generally result in a payout of more benefits than disfigurement or permanent loss of a finger.
Serving Area Communities Including Allentown — Permanent Disability Attorneys
An efficient, knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer can help ensure that you receive the maximum benefits you are entitled to after an on-the-job accident. From our law offices in Hazleton, disability attorneys are prepared to help you take advantage of provisions of the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act after a workplace injury.
If your disabilities are permanent and total, we can also advise you on how to collect Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, and let you know how workers’ compensation and SSD may affect each other. Furthermore, if we determine that a third party (other than your employer) was responsible for your injury at a construction site or any type of job, we can help you file a third-party liability claim or lawsuit.
For a free consultation about workers’ compensation and other possible sources of compensation after a workplace injury, call us at 570-861-5905 or complete the intake form located on our contact us page.