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Work injuries and illnesses can happen to anybody at any time. Office workers, construction workers, cashiers working in retail stores, and any other type of employee may suffer an injury while on the job. Workers’ compensation is designed to compensate injured employees for their medical bills and lost wages. Unfortunately, getting the compensation you need and deserve is often a significant undertaking.
TopDog Law empathizes with injured workers and knows their struggles. Founding attorney James Helm and the rest of our team can help you fight for the maximum compensation possible in your case. We know that being hurt in a work accident can derail your life. We are here to fight alongside you, so you do not have to do this alone. Call us today.
It costs absolutely nothing to see if you have a case
James Helm is the founder of TopDog Law. James grew up playing sports 24/7. Whether it was football, wrestling, or baseball – James has always loved to compete. He’s taken that same competitive nature and applied it to the courtroom fighting for his clients and building TopDog Law from the ground up into the powerhouse law firm it is today.
One thing many people admire about James is that he is a straight shooter. He keeps it real with his clients and isn’t afraid to share his own story of struggle.
A contingency fee is precisely what the name suggests: A fee contingent upon something. At TopDog Law, legal fees are contingent upon you receiving financial compensation through a settlement or verdict.
You do not pay a fee for our legal services unless we successfully get you compensation. There are no upfront costs, and your initial consultation is completely free. This lets you learn more about how we can help you with zero financial commitment.
Our success stories webpage is filled with accolades from former clients. One of the most common praises we hear from clients is that they appreciate how James is personally available to take their calls, emails, or social media messages.
In one testimonial video, the client expressed her amazement when James immediately replied to her message at 8:00 PM. She was surprised that a lawyer took the time to answer her personally – even after work hours.
James is the type of lawyer who consistently goes above and beyond for his clients. He knows what it is like to be in a difficult place in life. Now that he has overcome his challenges, he focuses on helping others who need legal support and guidance.
Our success stories webpage is filled with accolades from former clients. One of the most common praises we hear from clients is that they appreciate how James is personally available to take their calls, emails, or social media messages.
In one testimonial video, the client expressed her amazement when James immediately replied to her message at 8:00 PM. She was surprised that a lawyer took the time to answer her personally – even after work hours.
James is the type of lawyer who consistently goes above and beyond for his clients. He knows what it is like to be in a difficult place in life. Now that he has overcome his challenges, he focuses on helping others who need legal support and guidance.
The workers’ compensation system has several shortcomings and inefficient processes. Many injured workers are lost and confused when filing a workers’ compensation claim and getting the necessary compensation.
When you work with TopDog Law, you know somebody is fighting alongside you and protecting your rights. A Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyer from TopDog Law can help you by:
Representing you in court: If your case ends up in a courtroom, you do not have to worry about facing this intimidating situation alone. Our team is familiar with hearings and trials and how to present the most robust case possible in court. We will advocate for you before the judge, presenting a well-constructed argument based on persuasive evidence.
In Pennsylvania, workers’ compensation insurance is required for all employers. This means that even if your employer only has one employee, they must carry workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation is designed to reimburse injured or sick employees for medical bills and part of their lost income due to missed work. However, the system doesn’t always work as intended.
Workers’ compensation insurers often undervalue claims, deny claims, or make the process of getting compensation more complicated than it needs to be. Something as innocent as not reporting your injury the minute it happened can reduce your eligibility for compensation.
At TopDog Law, we know the challenges injured employees often face when pursuing payment through workers’ compensation. We have seen first-hand the frustrating run-around that insurance companies give injured employees. Our team also knows how to combat these tactics and stand up for our clients’ rights.
Workers’ compensation typically covers injuries and illnesses that occur at work because of working conditions or duties.
Some of the most common work-related accidents and injuries include:
Workers’ compensation covers any medical services you need to treat your work-related injury or illness. This includes hospital care, doctors’ visits, surgery, and other treatments. Medications and related costs are also covered. Your employer has the right to designate the health care providers you must choose from when receiving treatment.
Workers’ compensation typically covers two-thirds of a worker’s salary. For example, if you made $1000 a week, you would get approximately $666 a week in compensation. The duration of workers’ compensation payments depends on the severity of your injuries and how long it will take you to recover.
If you are partially disabled and can perform light-duty work but not your typical work duties, you can get partial disability benefits. These benefits are equal to two-thirds of the difference between your pre-injury earnings and your post-injury earnings. These benefits may continue for up to 500 weeks.
If you suffered an injury that resulted in hearing loss, vision loss, or loss of use of a limb, you might be entitled to a specific loss benefit. This is a lump sum payment based on the body part that was injured and the severity of the injury.
Total disability benefits are for injured workers whose injuries prevent them from performing any work. Total disability benefits equal two-thirds of a worker’s average weekly wage.
If a worker is killed on the job, their close family members may file a workers’ compensation claim on their behalf and receive death benefits. These benefits are paid as if the worker had survived their injuries. The compensation the family can receive is based on the deceased worker’s average weekly wage at the time of their death. Typically, the surviving loved ones receive two-thirds of the deceased worker’s wages.
Anyone dependent on the deceased worker can file a claim for death benefits. This is usually a spouse or children. However, other family members may also be entitled to benefits.
Death benefits may also include up to $3000 worth of compensation for funeral and burial costs.
When an employer has workers’ compensation insurance, employees are not permitted to sue the employer for work-related injuries. The workers’ compensation program is intended to be a win-win situation: The injured employee can access financial support while the employer enjoys lawsuit protection.
However, the system is imperfect, and injured employees are often left without the necessary funds. Workers’ compensation insurance companies want to protect their bottom line above all else. This means reducing the amount of money that is paid to injured workers whenever possible.
When somebody is injured on the job, they have 120 days to notify their employer. However, the sooner an injured worker tells their employer about the injury, the better. The employer then reports the injury to the workers’ compensation insurance company. The insurance company has the authority to either accept or deny the claim.
Sometimes, an insurance company denies a claim for a valid reason. For example, an injury must be related to work to be covered under workers’ compensation. However, workers’ compensation claims are also sometimes denied unfairly.
If your claim is denied, you will be issued a Notice of Workers Compensation Denial. At that point, you can file an appeal with The Pennsylvania Bureau Of Workers Compensation. You must file your appeal within three years of the denial. Working with an experienced attorney is essential to appeal a denied claim. Your attorney will provide the legal help and guidance you need to navigate this confusing and frustrating situation.
After you have filed an appeal, a hearing will be scheduled. During the hearing, you can explain why you think you have been unfairly denied coverage through workers’ compensation. The judge will listen to your arguments and evaluate any evidence your attorney has gathered to support your case. Then the judge will listen to the insurance company’s arguments.
In many cases, the judge will send the case to mediation. During mediation, the injured person and the insurance company will try to negotiate a settlement. TopDog Law knows how important strong negotiation skills are in this situation. We fight to get our clients the best settlement possible.
If no settlement agreement can be reached, the next step is to ask for a settlement conference with a judge who will issue a ruling. If the ruling is unfavorable, the next step is to file an appeal with the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board. If you still do not receive a favorable outcome, you can take the case to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania and, if needed, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Workers’ compensation may not be the only legal avenue through which you can recover compensation. Depending on the circumstances of your injury and who is at fault, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against a third party.
A personal injury claim may allow for greater monetary damages than workers’ compensation would provide. For example, a personal injury claim may compensate for your lost wages and pain and suffering.
If you or a loved one were injured at work or fell ill because of your work environment, call us. Attorney James Helm and the rest of the TopDog Law team know how to get results for our clients. We can help you fight for maximum compensation.
We take workers’ compensation cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront legal fees. We only get paid if you do. Call (844) 456-9275 today for your free consultation.
TopDog Law has easy-to-access offices across the country. We also pride ourselves in being a text message away. Our lawyers routinely travel to meet clients in their home or close to their home. Do not hesitate to reach out if you are unable to travel to one of our locations.
403 Olde House Lane Media, PA 19063
TopDog Law works with a select group of law firms around the country via licensing arrangements. This arrangement allows local law firms to license TopDog’s name and technology. Helm Law Group LLC has an exclusive licensing arrangement to use the TopDog Law name and technology for the state of Pennsylvania. Helm Law Group LLC is a law firm with its headquarters located at 403 Olde House Lane Media, PA 19063. Complete list of licensees available upon request. See more on our disclaimers page
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