Pennsylvania’s workers often operate in environments that place them at risk of harm. Safety standards and regulations, imposed by the government and employers, often prevent workplace injuries from occurring. Yet, sometimes corners are cut and mistakes are made, resulting in on-the-job injuries. A worker who is injured on the job should know his or her legal rights, and act upon them to protect his or her well-being.
A Bucks County worker may need to act on his rights after being injured at a construction site. Reports indicate the man was crushed when the building he was working on collapsed. Firefighters worked for an hour to free the man, who was then flown to a nearby hospital. Though the exact cause of the collapse is unknown at this time, OSHA and local officials are investigating.
This worker, and others similarly situated, may have a hard road to recovery. In addition to needing medical care to physically heal, these individuals are often left unable to work and therefor unable to earn a wage. This shortfall can wreak havoc on an individual’s finances, making it difficult to afford much needed medical care and other daily expenses like rent, utilities and groceries.
Luckily, workers’ compensation benefits are designed to help these individuals attain relief. If an injury can be shown to have arisen out of and while within the victim’s scope of employment, then workers’ compensation will likely be awarded. Yet, sometimes these claims are wrongfully denied. When this happens, an individual should seek a legal advocate who can help him or her challenge the denial.
A Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorney can be powerful in seeking a denial reversal. He or she will vigorously pore over accident reports, witness accounts and legal precedent in order to develop a strong argument for the awarding of compensation. If successful, then the injured worker may obtain compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. These awards can go a long way towards caring for an injury, including a permanent disability, and sending the message that unsafe working conditions are unacceptable.
Source: ABC 6 Action News, “Worker injured in Bucks County building collapse,” Jan. 9, 2014