Frequently Asked Questions About Work Comp Laws in Pennsylvania
Under work comp laws in Pennsylvania, can you receive payments:
- for any injury or illness?
- for repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel?
- if you were injured while volunteering?
- if you were injured in an car accident while driving to a work seminar?
- if your work injury was your own fault?
- if you are a traveling salesman and are injured in a car accident while driving home from a sales convention?
- if you are injured at work while under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
- if you were injured on your lunch break?
- if a previous injury was aggravated on your current job?
- if you were injured at home while doing work for your employer?
- if a scar results from a work-related injury?
Under work comp laws in Pennsylvania, can you receive payments for any injury or illness?
You may be eligible for workers comp payments in Pennsylvania if you:
- are hurt on the job
- aggravate a pre-existing injury
- develop a work-related illness, such as asbestosis or carpal tunnel syndrome
Here's a general rule: Injuries that occur in the workplace, or that occur while "furthering" the business of your employer, such as traveling to a work-related appointment, may qualify you for workers comp payments.
You may request work comp payments even if you are at fault for your injury at work. Accidents that occur while traveling to or from work, or during breaks, generally do not qualify for Pennsylvania workers compensation.
Under work comp laws in Pennsylvania, can you receive payments for repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel?
Yes. If you can prove that your injury is work-related, you could request workers comp payments. Jobs that require repetitive motion to perform them can cause carpal tunnel syndrome and other disorders.
Under work comp laws in Pennsylvania, can you receive payments if you were injured while volunteering?
In most situations, you must be paid in some way for your work in order to be covered under Pennsylvania workers compensation laws.
However, some volunteers, such as firefighters, ambulance workers, and special school police, are able to collect Pennsylvania work comp payments.
If you get hurt while you are volunteering, you should contact one of our Pennsylvania workers comp lawyers to see if you may be able to request work comp payments.
Under work comp laws in Pennsylvania, can you receive payments if you were injured in a car accident while driving to a work seminar?
Yes, in this situation you should be able to request workers compensation payments because you were traveling to a seminar required for your job.
However, if you were injured in an accident while driving to or from your workplace, you probably would not be able to request work comp payments. You are not "engaged in the business or affairs" of the employer when traveling to or from your job.
Under work comp laws in Pennsylvania, can you receive payments if your work injury was your own fault?
Yes. Pennsylvania workers comp laws allow you to request payment for work-related injuries regardless of fault. However, intentional, self-inflicted injuries are not covered under workers compensation.
Under work comp laws in Pennsylvania, can you receive payments if you are a traveling salesman and are injured in a car accident while driving home from a sales convention?
People who have no fixed place of work - like traveling salesmen, traveling nurses, and consultants - are generally covered once they take to the road. Work comp coverage is extended for just about every injury.
Under work comp laws in Pennsylvania, can you receive payments if you are injured at work while under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
If you are injured while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, you probably would not be able to receive PA workers comp payments.
Under work comp laws in Pennsylvania, can you receive payments if you were injured on your lunch break?
Probably not. The general rule is that any personal time taken during the work day - including lunch breaks - would not be covered under PA workers comp.
However, if you were injured on the way to an employer-hosted lunch, you probably would be able to receive work comp payments.
Can you receive work comp payments if a previous injury was aggravated on your current job?
It depends on whether the aggravation is a new injury or a recurrence of the old injury. If your medical records show that you have a new injury and that it was related to your present employment, you would be able to receive workers compensation payments.
These are very tricky cases. You should contact one of our Pennsylvania workers comp lawyers.
Can you receive work comp payments if you were injured at home while doing work for your employer?
It depends. If you chose to take work home, you would not be covered. However, if your employer specifically asked you to do work at home, you probably are covered. Because each case depends on its particular facts, you should contact one of our Pennsylvania work comp lawyers.
Can you receive work comp payments if a scar results from a work-related injury?
Yes, you would be able to receive additional work comp payments for any scar that is on your head, face, or neck. This include scars that result from burns and any necessary surgery resulting from a work-related injury. You don't have to have missed any days of work to receive a payment for your scar.
If you have a scar to your head, face, or neck from a work-related injury, you should contact one of our PA work comp lawyers.
Hurt on the job? Put our experience to work for you
If you don't have an attorney to help you with your injury claim, the deck is stacked against you. It is important to know your legal rights if you are injured at work. The law firm of Edgar Snyder & Associates has been helping injured Pennsylvania workers for nearly 20 years. Let us put this experience to work for you.
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If you suffered an injury at work, and don't already have an attorney, you can contact our law firm for a free evaluation of your claim by:
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- Calling toll-free 1-866-802-2643. Our phones answer 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
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