Workplace Neck Injuries in Philadelphia
If you have sustained a workplace neck injury in Bustleton or South Philadelphia, you are well aware of the pain you are suffering, especially if the work injury prevents you from doing your job. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation doctors and insurance carriers frequently diagnose neck injuries as sprains or strains. When neck injuries are not diagnosed correctly — oftentimes due to the biased opinions of “the company doctor” — injured workers’ benefits can be denied.
Work injury lawyers, Jeffrey S. Gross and Patrick W. Kenny, along with their associates, have focused exclusively on representing injured Pennsylvania workers for more than 20 years. If you have sustained workplace neck injuries in Philadelphia, we offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case. Contact Gross & Kenny, LLP today to get started.
What To Know About Your Neck Injury
If you are injured at work in Bustleton, you are not required to use your employer’s doctor. You have the right to choose your own doctor. In doing so, you can obtain an unbiased opinion from a medical professional who is not influenced by your company.
Our experienced Philadelphia workplace injury attorneys handle serious neck and back injuries that include the following:
- Acute torticollis or wryneck
- Aggravation of pre-existing neck conditions
- Cervical disk prolapse
- Cervical fractures
- Herniated disk
- Nerve impingement
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Whiplash style injuries
The process of applying for and obtaining workers’ compensation benefits in South Philadelphia can be long and confusing. Our attorneys will manage every step of the workers’ compensation process for you. We file paperwork, schedule medical appointments, consult with medical experts, and negotiate on your behalf to make sure that you receive the best care and the most benefits. We focus on the legal aspects of your injury so that you can concentrate on recovering from your injury.
Deadline for Filing a Workplace Neck Injury Claim in Philadelphia
If you sustain an on-the-job neck injury in Philadelphia, Bustleton, or South Philly, there are various timelines in place that you need to be aware of related to these cases. For the vast majority of these claims, individuals need to be concerned about the deadline related to workers’ compensation claims.
When filing a workers’ compensation claim in Philadelphia, it is crucial to report an injury to a supervisor or the employer as soon as possible. However, there are times when the full extent of a work injury is not immediately apparent. That is why the workers’ compensation system in Pennsylvania allows individuals to report the injury for up to 120 days after the incident occurs. If a victim individual fails to report an injury within this 120-day time frame, they will likely not be able to recover any compensation for their losses.
However, after reporting an injury, an employee will still have up to three years from the day the injury occurs to officially file a workers’ compensation claim.
In the event the worker is able to file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent third party who may have caused the workpalce neck injury, there is a different timeline in place. In this situation, the Pennsylvania personal injury statute of limitations of two years will apply. This means that a workplace neck injury victim in Bustleton or South Philadelphia will have a two-year window with which to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent party, or they will not be able to recover compensation at all.
Types of Compensation Available for a Workplace Neck Injury
As an attorney can further explain, Philadelphia workplace neck injury victims should be able to receive a variety of types of compensation as a result of what happened. The workers’ compensation system in Pennsylvania is designed to provide the following types of coverage in these situations:
- Compensation for all hospital and doctor’s office bills
- Coverage of any physical therapy or rehabilitation needed
- Prescription medication and medical device coverage
In addition to covering all medical bills related to a workplace injury, victims in these situations should also be able to receive a large portion of their lost wages if they cannot work while they recover. Typically, this means that they will receive two-thirds of their average weekly wage for the time they are away from work.
Disability Benefits
In the event an individual becomes disabled as a result of a workplace neck injury, there are various schedules of disability benefits that may be available through the workers’ compensation system.
Unfortunately, the workers’ compensation system does not provide coverage for an injury victim’s pain and suffering or emotional distress damages. However, if a third party was responsible for the workplace injury, and if the individual can file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation, they will likely be able to recover much more compensation for their losses, including coverage of their pain and suffering losses.
Suffering from Workplace Neck Injuries in Philadelphia? Contact Gross & Kenny, LLP
Let our Philadelphia work injury lawyers make workers’ compensation work for you. Call Gross & Kenny, LLP today to discuss workplace neck injuries in Philadelphia with a committed attorney. Our firm proudly serves injured workers throughout Philadelphia and the surrouning areas, such as Bustleton and South Phildelphia. Call today to learn more.