The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania offers workers’ compensation benefits to employees who have experienced work-related injuries or occupational illnesses. Most employers in the state are required to carry the insurance. Workers’ compensation provides reimbursement for medical expenses and lost wages in correlation to the injury or medical condition. However, to qualify for disability benefits, you must report the accident to your employer or supervisor within 120 days of the injury.
State law mandates strict reporting and appeal requirements, making it a challenge if you are not familiar with the process. Suppose you have recently experienced a work injury or have been denied benefits in Williamsport or nearby areas. In that case, the workers’ compensation lawyers at Shollenberger Januzzi & Wolfe are here to assist you.
Who is Required to Carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
Under Pennsylvania law, most employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ comp allows employees to receive compensation for workplace injuries and illnesses, with employers who do not have the insurance facing criminal charges and civil liability. However, some employers are exempt from providing coverage under state law, with domestic servants, agricultural workers, and railroad workers being notable exceptions.
Workers’ compensation provides coverage regardless of fault. Coverage will last for the entire length of a worker’s employment. If you have a pre-existing condition that is aggravated by a workplace injury or occupational exposure, workers’ compensation benefits will still be available to you.
What Medical Benefits Are Included?
Workers’ compensation covers all reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to your workplace injury or accident. In a workers’ comp claim, these often include ambulatory services, emergency room care, surgeries, treatments, and prescription costs. The nature and severity of your injury or condition will dictate whether mobility aids such as wheelchairs, crutches, and scooters are covered. If you are uncertain whether specific medical devices are covered under your workers’ compensation insurer, you should speak with our team.
What Percentage of Lost Wages are Covered?
Following a workplace injury or occupational illness, you may be panicked about the amount of work you will be missing. PTO days can run out fast, making you concerned about how to put food on the table. Thankfully, the Commonwealth offers wage replacement benefits to those who cannot work due to their occupational disease or work injury.
Wage reimbursement for workers’ compensation claims is subject to a statutory cap that is adjusted each year. As of 2025, the maximum weekly compensation rate for any injury claim is $1,347.00. If an employee’s average weekly wage (AWW) falls between $1,010.26 and $2,020.50, then the weekly compensation rate will be two-thirds of the worker’s AWW. Wage replacement benefits will be triggered once the employee has missed at least seven consecutive workdays.
Additionally, total disability benefits will apply as long as you’re unable to return to work due to your injury or illness. These benefits will end once you make a full physical recovery and return to your regular job, or you can perform alternative work with no decrease in pay. If your benefits have been prematurely discontinued, our workers’ compensation lawyers may be able to help.
Injured? Speak with Our Williamsport Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
Understanding the full scope of your benefits can be intimidating, especially when you are recovering from an injury. By speaking to our Williamsport workers’ compensation lawyers, you can better grasp the full extent of your rights and what deadlines must be followed to preserve your claim.
Working with a knowledgeable attorney gives you the strongest chance of recovering maximum benefits from your workplace claim. To learn more about our services, contact Shollenberger Januzzi & Wolfe online or by phone at (717) 229-6580.