How long does it take to settle a workers’ compensation case?
If you suffered a serious injury and may be out of work for several months, your company may be eager to lay the matter to rest quickly. Other times, it can take longer for an employer to put a settlement on the table. You may fight for months or even a year before you get a settlement offer — every case is different.
How are workers’ compensation settlements calculated in Pennsylvania?
In the typical workers’ comp settlement, amounts originate from two-thirds of your average weekly pay and the 500 weeks that injured workers in Pennsylvania are eligible for benefits. For example, if two-thirds of your average weekly pay was $500, then you’ll multiply $500 by 500 weeks for a total of $250,000.
What is the time line for workers compensation litigation in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, a typical time line for workers compensation litigation extend from 8 months to 12 months. Let’s walk through the time line to illustrate why the lengthy time line exists.
How does a workers’ compensation settlement affect my case?
A settlement may help an employer save money over time. If your employer fights against your claim and wins the case during a hearing in front of a workers’ compensation judge, then they may no longer have to continue paying your workers’ compensation.
How Long Do Workers Comp Settlements Take?
Whenever clients ask me, “How long do workers comp settlements take?” they are actually asking one of two different questions:
How Long Does It Take To Reach a Settlement?
Most workers’ comp cases settle anywhere from 6 to 18 months after the date of accident, but the process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few years.
How Long Does It Take To Get My Settlement Check?
After you reach an agreement, it can take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks to receive your settlement check. However, things can (and do) happen to cause delays.
When Does Workers Comp Offer a Settlement?
One rule every injured worker should understand is: there are no rules for when an injured worker can reach a settlement with the insurance company. It could happen the day after the accident, or it could happen years after the accident … or it could happen somewhere in between.
Timeline for Workers Comp Settlements
In theory, a settlement for a workers comp claim could happen the day after an injury. It also could take years after the accident. And it could happen anytime in between, for that matter!
Does Workers Comp Always Offer a Settlement?
The extent and seriousness of an injury determines whether their claim results in a settlement.
What is the maximum amount of workers comp in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, there is a maximum limit of $1,081 on your weekly workers’ compensation as of 2020. This figure factors towards your PA workers’ comp settlement limits.
Who Pays the Workers’ Comp Settlement?
Just as you take out insurance policies to cover your home, car or life, your employer carries insurance to pay for workers’ compensation claims. If you’ve ever had an auto accident and filed a claim with your insurance company, you may have experienced a subsequent increase in your premium.
What Is a Fair Amount for a Settlement?
So, what can you expect for body part prices for a workers’ comp settlement? How do you negotiate a workers’ comp settlement? If you receive a PA workers’ compensation offer of settlement, the first thing you should do is contact an experienced workers’ comp attorney. Your attorney will have the expertise to evaluate the offer and determine its fairness based on your situation. This entails determining the expected costs of ongoing medical treatment and the amount of lost wages you may need to recapture over time.
Should I Accept a Settlement?
What should you do when you receive a workers’ compensation settlement offer? Ultimately, the answer lies in your circumstances and what might improve or not improve by taking the offer.
Why do employers settle workers compensation cases?
A settlement may help an employer save money over time. If your employer fights against your claim and wins the case during a hearing in front of a workers’ compensation judge, then they may no longer have to continue paying your workers’ compensation. If your employer fights against you and loses, however, they lose money from the expenses leading up to the hearing and from your workers’ comp benefits after. Settling your workers’ compensation case is often better for the employer’s long-term finances.
What happens if you settle a medical claim and you get paid?
If you settle both your wage loss and medical claims, you will be paid the lump-sum amount and no longer receive workers’ comp payments from your employer. If your injury takes longer to heal than expected or becomes worse, you won’t receive any additional compensation.
How to win a workers compensation case?
Work with a workers’ compensation attorney to help you win your case. When you work with an attorney, you can estimate how much is a fair amount for your settlement and ensure you get the full compensation you’re entitled to.
