Employers and workers’ compensation coverage – Pennsylvania law
For the majority of employers in the state of Pennsylvania, workers’ compensation coverage is not an option, but a necessity that is required under Pennsylvania law. Employers who neglect to attain workers’ compensation coverage may be sued by their employees. Furthermore, those employers who …show more content…
Each employee is covered by the employer’s insurance for the length of his or her employment. This remains true even for employees who have previous injuries or diseases that are aggravated by their job. In other words, no matter what an employee’s previous medical condition, he or she is eligible to receive compensation for any issues that occur as a result of their job (even if it involves a worsening of their previous injuries/diseases).
Workers’ compensation statistics
According to the most recent Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety’s 2016 Workplace Safety Index (which is based on injuries sustained in 2013), falls and overexertion are responsible for the majority of workers’ compensation costs in the United States.
Falls
Falls that occurred to a lower level cost companies around $5 billion and made up nearly 9 percent of the national injury burden. Falls occurring on the same level cost companies a little more than $10 billion and accounted for approximately 16 percent of the total national injury burden.
Overexertion injuries
Overexertion injuries cost companies about $15 billion. This type of injury accounted for almost 25 percent of the national …show more content…
However, there is an exception to this rule when the disease is progressive.
Once your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance is notified of your injury, they have up to 21 days (from the date you provide notification of your injury to your employer) to issue a Notice of Temporary Compensation Payable. This may be filed to deny full liability for the claimed injury or extends the investigation into your injury for a period of 90 days.
Once the investigation is complete, and your employer decides to discontinue payment to an injured worker for temporary compensation, the employer is to provide the injured employee with a Notice Stopping Temporary Compensation and issue you either:
A Notice of Workers’ Compensation Denial A Notice of Compensation