Workers' Compensation Lawyers in Lancaster

Most of us never think about getting injured on the job. But, workplace accidents happen, and, unfortunately, often. The National Safety Council and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports a worker is injured in the workplace every seven seconds in the U.S. Also, thousands of workers are killed on the job every year due to work environments that are dangerous or hazardous, for a variety of reasons.

Workers’ compensation isn’t a topic of discussion for most, and it’s also something many workers in Lancaster, and elsewhere, are not fully familiar with. Because of that, workers who are injured on the job can lose out on a lot of money they are entitled to, by employers who want to keep their workers’ compensation insurance premiums at a minimum. Additionally, workers are often misled by insurance companies who will do whatever they can to keep claimants from being properly compensated. This is where Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C. comes in – helping those in Lancaster, and beyond, receive maximum benefits and the financial recoveries they fully deserve!

Navigating the myriad of legal nuances of the workers’ compensation system is best left to lawyers who have a thorough understanding of the complexities of the law. Without legal representation, workers can be subjected to reduced or delayed wage loss or medical benefits. Also, due to insurance negotiators who are paid well to protect insurance companies’ financial assets, the possibilities for lump sum payments to protect the injured worker and their family into the future can be in jeopardy.

One thing is sure – as our client, you will not have to worry about anyone distorting the very rules and regulations that are put in place to protect your rights as an injured employee.

What to Know About the Workers' Compensation Act

• Wage loss and medical benefits are provided.
• Work-related injuries are covered.
• Work-related illnesses or diseases are covered.
• Death benefits are provided to dependents of workers who died due to work-related injuries or illnesses.
• Workers' compensation benefits are typically paid through the employers' insurance policies.
• An injury doesn’t necessarily have to occur on the work site to qualify for compensation, but the injury must occur during the course and scope of employment.
• An employee must report the injury within 21 days from the date of the injury in order to receive compensation benefits from the first day of the injury; otherwise, provided notice is given by the 120th day, compensation benefits—if due and owing—will be paid from the date of notice, onward.

What are Compensable Injuries?

There are innumerable situations that can cause a work-related injury or illness, and many are easily defined.  Slippery floors, defective scaffolding, chemical leaks, second-hand smoke, the release of toxic fumes, repetitive activities, heavy lifting, twisting, turning and other physical movements, etc.—can all cause or contribute to a workplace injury.  Additionally, injuries covered by workers’ compensation include workers who are drivers or passengers in company-owned vehicles that have been involved in a wreck or a collision while on the clock.

Repetitive work duties, such as daily keyboarding activities, can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.  Other repetitive-stress injuries could lead to tennis elbow, bursitis, tendinitis, back injuries, and more.  Repetitive activities, day in and day out, cause a gradual buildup of damage to muscles, tendons, and nerves.  From cashiers to healthcare workers to firefighters to secretaries, repetitive-stress injuries related to work are very common and can happen easily.

Mental stress injuries, too, can qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.  Anxiety, emotional distress, and post-traumatic-stress disorder are just a few mental injuries commonly seen in some occupations.  Occupational illnesses such as asbestosis, silicosis, sunstroke, and hearing loss can qualify, as well.

Employees suffering from diseases or illnesses would be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if 1) the employment or job duties exposed the worker to a specific disease 2) the disease is causally related to the worker’s industry or occupation and 3) the type of disease is significantly enhanced, as related to the industry or occupation, when compared to the general public.

Pre-existing conditions that become aggravated by work activities may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits as well.  For example, if a worker wrenched his already-compromised back while lifting heavy items on the job, he could qualify for workers’ compensation.  If you are facing a workers’ compensation claim denial for the worsening or aggravation of a pre-existing condition, our Lancaster, PA workers’ compensation lawyers will fight to get you the benefits you deserve.

Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C. is known for its winning strategies and cases won.  A few relevant cases, out of many, include a $320,000 workers’ comp award, a $365,000 work-related injury settlement, and a $1,600,000 personal injury recovery.  We never stop fighting for our Lancaster clients!

Not Everyone Has Your Best Interest in Mind

When it comes to workers’ compensation benefits being made available, fully and quickly, it would be nice to think that the insurance companies involved would be willing and happy to pay you everything you are legally due.  Unfortunately, in the real world, insurance companies want to hold onto their financial assets and pay out as little as possible.

When you’re injured at work, and your claim is delayed, diminished, or denied—the insurance company may be working against you to keep money in their pockets. Their hope is that most claimants will either become discouraged, give up and walk away, or agree to low-ball settlement offers.

At Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C., our workers’ compensation lawyers protect Lancaster workers from becoming intimidated by the ‘powers that be’.  If you or a loved one were injured or sickened on the job, call our team at 1-800-HURT-NOW!  Also, if you feel uneasy about how your claim is being handled by the employer or insurance company, give us a call, right away!

Even injured workers who are currently receiving partial or total disability benefits have nothing to lose by giving us a call. We will make sure your case is completely in order—including confirming that you are being paid the correct amount and that your work injury is formally described accurately—handle all of the communications with the workers’ comp insurance carrier and prepare you for what is to come based upon the moves your employer and the insurance company are making…all for absolutely no charge. We only receive a fee if we litigate your claim and win benefits for you, or if we successfully defend your existing benefits in litigation. Our Lancaster, PA clients never receive a bill for the time our lawyers spend on their case, and they are encouraged to call us whenever they need to for questions, concerns or to share some information.

Desired Outcomes vs Compromised Outcomes

It cannot be emphasized enough that how you navigate your worker’s compensation claim can make all the difference between a desired outcome or a compromised outcome.  It is very important to know the following:

Report the Injury Immediately – Not reporting your injury within a certain period of time could lead to your workers’ compensation claim being denied.  Pennsylvania workers have up to 120 days to notify their employer of any work-related incident that resulted in an injury.  In order to be paid indemnity benefits from the date of the injury forward, though, notice must be given within 21 days.  It is highly advised to report the injury immediately and then request the employer’s panel list of workers’ compensation medical providers.

Waiting until the ’11^th hour’ to report a work-related injury could become problematic for many reasons.  Most commonly, employers and insurance companies like to argue that, the longer it takes an employee to report a work injury, the more likely it is that the injury did not occur within the course and scope of the worker’s employment.  This could jeopardize your right to wage loss and medical benefits.

Your injury report should be made immediately, and in writing, and include specific details concerning which areas of the body were involved.  Document everything and request copies of any report your employer asks you to complete.

Work-related illnesses or diseases follow a slightly different path regarding workers’ compensation rules.  At times, a worker may not know, right away, that he or she has become ill due to work-related conditions.  For this reason, as soon as a medical diagnosis is made regarding an occupational illness or disease, and the employee knows or has reason to know that the illness is work-related, the 120-day time limit begins.

Request the Panel List – The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act gives employers the right to generate a list of pre-selected health-care providers.  This panel list must include at least six medical providers – from primary-care physicians to physical therapists to orthopedic surgeons—and the injured employee can choose any medical provider on the list.

If a worker were to choose a medical provider not on the list, the employer’s insurance may not be obligated to pay for treatments unless certain circumstances were present.  In an emergency situation, the employee is not mandated to obtain treatment from a listed provider.  Once any emergency situation has dissipated, the injured employee would need to seek treatment with the listed providers on the panel list.

If an injured employee needs treatment from a certain discipline of medicine, but no provider in that discipline appears on the panel list, then the worker can seek out a provider of their choice within that discipline.  For instance, if a traumatic brain injury results from a work-related injury and no neurologist or neurosurgeon appears on the panel list, the injured employee may seek treatment from a neurosurgeon or neurologist of their choice, so long as the treatment is reasonable, necessary and related to the work injury.

Additionally, if an employer does not have a panel list available for employees, an injured employee has every right to seek medical attention from any medical or healthcare professional they choose.

Perhaps you are dealing with neck/low back/spine injuries, loss of hearing/loss of sight/loss of a body part, a work-related torn ligament or tendon or a repetitive or cumulative trauma-type injury—no matter what the case, if you are not sure if one or more of the listed medical professionals is the best choice, don’t hesitate to give us a call right away. One of our workers’ comp attorneys will get back to you right away to help guide you through the process

The Lancaster, PA clients we represent rest easy knowing our team of workers’ compensation lawyers remains vigilant with scrutinizing employers and insurance companies to ensure no attempts are made to undermine clients’ rights or benefits.  We leave no stone unturned to recover benefits from every possible source – the workers’ compensation system, liability insurance, and negligent third parties.

The Not-So-Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Injured workers have to be mindful of the insurance company and employer’s agendas when an accident happens at work. Workers should also be on the lookout for practices of representatives or investigators hired by the employer or workers comp carrier that could be harmful to their case. Take, for example, the following:

• The insurance company could stop paying you, at any time, if it fails to file a ‘Notice of Compensation Payable’.
• An inaccurate or incomplete description of your injuries, as reported by the insurance company, could limit your medical treatments.
• A ‘medical case-manager’ – aka: ‘rehab nurse’ – hired by the insurance company may 1) convince your doctor (behind your back) you can return to work, before you are ready 2) state that your work restrictions can be reduced, before they should be and 3) declare you are fully recovered, when you may not be.

Under our watch, our Lancaster, PA clients can feel confident knowing they have an ally who is ensuring every “t” is crossed and every “i” is dotted when it comes to the handling of your workers’ comp claim. The workers’ comp system in Pennsylvania is very complex, and attention to detail is critical when it comes to your medical care, income amounts, and/or survivor benefits in cases of fatalities.

Our Team is Precision-Driven

Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C. has recovered more than $70,000,000 for Lancaster County’s injured workers and accident victims.  Also, our trial lawyers are credited with winning more than 99% of their cases!  Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C. is very proud to have been voted the best law firm in Lancaster County, PA – as part of Lancaster County Magazine‘s Best-of-Lancaster Survey, for 9 years running! Our top injury and accident legal team has over 170 Google reviews, and every single one of them is 5 stars.

Our select team includes two former Lancaster County Assistant District Attorneys, a former Philadelphia Insurance Defense Lawyer, and the former President Judge of the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas. Attorney Anthony Georgelis has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and assigned AV Preeminent Status by his colleagues, and he is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, National Trial Lawyers Top 100, National Association of Distinguished Counsel Top 1% and Distinguished Justice Advocates.

Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C. is continuously available for our Lancaster clients to answer questions, update the progress of each case, and address any concerns.  Our workers’ compensation lawyers are available evenings and weekends.  We can visit your home, office, the hospital, or rehab center.

Additional Insights

By now, we hope it’s clear that unacceptable, behind-the-scenes maneuverings are common when it comes to workers’ compensation claims. Even if you are receiving wage loss benefits and your medical bills are being paid, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting everything you are lawfully entitled to.

Nurse case-managers, surveillance investigators, and ‘independent’ medical examinations can attempt to reduce, limit, or stop your workers’ compensation benefits!  When so many people are working against you, you need Lancaster, PA’s best—aggressive, relentless and experienced workers’ compensation lawyers who will passionately work for you!

Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C. has over 100 combined years of legal experience and has helped thousands of Lancaster’s injured workers get compensated for the injuries they have suffered while in the course and scope of their employment.  We have worked tirelessly to build a reputation that earns us respect from big insurance. Put this experience and respect to work for you—Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C. will treat you like you are our only client…just check out our Google reviews!

Keep Your $$ in Your Pocket!

You will never receive a bill for the time and services we spend in handling your case.  Only if we succeed in getting you compensated through litigation or protecting your benefits by defending you in litigation, do we receive a fee.  You have nothing to lose by contacting our team, right now!

At times, Lancaster County injured workers receive compensation, but wait to contact a lawyer until they are faced with a Modification, Suspension, or Termination Petition filed by their employer and insurance company – don’t put yourself through that confusion and concern.  This is one more reason why contacting a top Lancaster, PA workers’ compensation lawyer, early, is so important!

When our workers’ compensation lawyers handle claimants’ cases as soon as an injury occurs, we make sure all parties are following the law, that you are being paid the correct amount in compensation and that all of your work-related injury medical treatment is paid in a timely manner!  We will also make sure your injury has been described properly with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.  With the experience we have representing Lancaster, PA workers’ compensation clients, we can anticipate the moves of your employer and their workers comp carrier and make sure your claim is in the strongest position possible.

Contact Our Team, Today!

Lost time can result in lost compensation – time restrictions are in place!  Our Lancaster, PA neighbors can connect with our team, in various ways:

• Call 1-800-HURT NOW or 717-394-3004.
• Visit www.georgelislaw.com and initiate a LIVE CHAT – real-time assistance 24/7.
• Fill out our ‘Get A Free Consultation‘ form.  One of our workers’ compensation lawyers will reach out to you, promptly!
• Drop by our office and speak with us, in person.  Our building location is right off Route 741 in Lancaster, PA.  Our address is 2168 Embassy Drive.

At Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C., we are committed to optimized safety during the COVID-19 crisis.  Click Coronavirus and Your Personal-Injury or Workers’-Compensation Case, to learn more.  As always, our top priority is ensuring our Lancaster clients and our staff members remain protected while handling their cases with the, utmost, care and efficiency.  Through video conferencing and other options, we remain diligent with implementing safety measures for everyone involved.