INTRODUCTION TO THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SYSTEM
The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, 77 P.S. 1 et. seq. (“the Act”) became law in 1915. Before the Act was passed, an employee who was hurt at work was required to file a lawsuit against her employer to obtain payment for medical treatment and wage loss benefits. In such a lawsuit, the employee would have to prove that her accident was the fault of her employer.
With the passage of the Act, there is now an automatic entitlement to certain benefits for any employee who suffers an injury “within the course and scope of his employment.” These benefits include payment of all “reasonable and necessary” medical expenses, as well as cash benefits to replace income lost due to the employee’s disability.
In theory, you need only notify your employer of your work injury and the claim should proceed with payment. In reality, however, the employer can dispute many items regarding the claim. This book is designed to provide general advice to those attempting to navigate the workers’ compensation system. It is not intended to provide specific legal advice; any questions you may have regarding your own situation should be directed toward an attorney of your choice.
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