How Long Do You Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in PA

Hurt on the job in Delaware County or elsewhere in Pennsylvania? You have the right to file for no-fault workers’ compensation benefits. These are time-sensitive claims. Your injury or illness should be reported to your employer within 21 days to maximize your benefits. (Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry). According to the law, you have three years to file for workers’ compensation. In this article, our Delaware County workers’ comp lawyers offer a more detailed guide to Pennsylvania’s deadlines for these claims.

Report Your Accident to Your Employer in 21 Days (120-Day Limit)

The first “deadline” to be aware of is the deadline to report your accident to your employer. In Pennsylvania, you should report your workplace injury to your employer within 21 days to ensure that you can receive full and fair benefits.

While you technically have up to 120 days to report the injury, waiting too long can jeopardize your claim. If you fail to notify your employer within 120 days, you will likely lose your right to workers’ compensation benefits.

Why the 21-Day Deadline Matters: In Pennsylvania, reporting a workplace injury within 21 days is crucial because it allows you to receive workers’ compensation benefits retroactively from the date of the injury itself. Suppose you report the injury after 21 days but within the 120-day maximum reporting period. In that case, you are only eligible for benefits from the date you notified your employer, not the injury date. You may be denied benefits you could have gotten.

Three-Year Statute of Limitations for Workers’ Comp Claims

Workers’ compensation claims are time sensitive. Under Pennsylvania law, there is a three-year statute of limitations to file a workers’ compensation claim. You must file your claim with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation within three years of the date of the injury. If you fail, your claim can be time-barred due to Commonwealth law.

A Proactive Approach is Best: Do Not Wait to Pursue Workers’ Comp Benefits

You do not want to wait to start the claims process. A proactive approach is the best approach. Delaying the process can result in reduced benefits, a denied claim, or a wide range of avoidable complications. You need your full and fair workers’ comp benefits without unreasonable delay. The sooner you can work with a top-tier Delaware County workers’ comp lawyer, the better position you will be able to get justice and the maximum financial support.

Consult With Our Experienced Workers’ Comp Lawyers Today

At Schmidt, Kirifides, Rassias & Rio, our workers’ comp attorneys in Delaware County are passionate, experienced advocates for justice. If you have any specific questions or concerns about the timeline for filing a workers’ comp claim, we can help. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case review. From our office in Media, PA, we fight for the rights of injured workers throughout Delaware County.