Navigating The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Process

If your claim for workers’ compensation benefits has been denied in Pennsylvania, or if you are having a dispute with the insurance carrier, your employer or your doctor, the attorneys at Shollenberger Januzzi & Wolfe, LLP can help.

The following are examples of the kinds of issues our lawyers handle:

Notice of Workers’ Compensation Denial (NWCD)
Disputes as to whether your injury was work-related
Disputes over the amount of benefits
Improper or incomplete medical diagnosis
Early suspension or termination of workers’ compensation benefits
Loss of use and disfigurement claims for certain permanent injuries
Independent contractors’ claims for workers’ comp benefits
Negotiation for a lump sum settlement while you pursue personal injury claims against a negligent defendant

We offer a free initial consultation to explain the workers’ compensation appeals process. With offices in Harrisburg and Enola, we represent injured workers throughout central Pennsylvania.

Steps in Appealing a Denied Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Claim

Contact our attorneys as soon as you have a dispute. We charge nothing to answer your questions and give you advice. We never charge a fee of any kind unless you retain our services and our lawyers are successful in obtaining benefits for you.

Here are the steps for appealing a denied claim in Pennsylvania:

File a Claim Petition with the Workers’ Compensation Bureau in Harrisburg.
The bureau will assign your petition to a workers’ compensation judge based on the county in which you live.
The workers’ compensation judge will schedule a hearing.

The litigation process can be long and drawn out. Generally, the judge will not make his or her determination until after a series of hearings which can take up to one year. If the judge rules against you, you can appeal the decision. However, most cases end up reaching a settlement.