If you are a corrections officer who was injured on the job in Pennsylvania, you could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits from your employer’s policy. These benefits exist to provide medical treatment and replace a percentage of an employee’s wages if they cannot work due to illness or injury.
Getting the workers’ comp benefits you need is not always easy, especially if your employer or the insurer decides to deny your claim. Fortunately, legal help is available to you. With an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer on your side, you could seek the benefits you deserve.
The Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers at Calhoon & Kaminsky are committed to helping injured correctional officers claim the benefits they need after a work-related injury. We have more than 20 years of experience helping employees such as corrections officers file for workers’ compensation. Our Pennsylvania workers’ comp attorneys can help you navigate the claims process. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Common Correctional Officer Injuries
Correctional officers face one of the highest rates of work-related injuries among all professions. Some common injuries correctional officers sustain on the job include the following:
- Attacks by inmates — Whether or not a weapon is involved, these attacks could lead to broken bones, cuts, sprains, strains, traumatic brain injuries, and damage to internal organs.
- Repetitive stress — Working as a correctional officer is a physically demanding job. The stress of opening and closing heavy doors, lifting and carrying heavy objects, and other activities can take a toll over time. This stress damages joints, muscles, connective tissues, bones, and nerve endings.
- Overexertion — While the physical toll of working as a correctional officer builds over time, officers can also sustain an injury from a single instance of overexerting themselves. For example, having to open or shut a heavy jail cell door puts a lot of strain on the muscles in the upper body. This can cause a muscle sprain or strain, along with other injuries.
- Falls — Jails and prisons are not always as well kept as they should be, making it more likely that someone in the facility will hurt themselves after a fall. These incidents can lead to head trauma, back injuries, and other serious medical conditions.
- Transportation accidents — A motor-vehicle accident that occurs while correctional officers perform their duties, such as transporting inmates, counts as a work-related injury. Transportation accidents can lead to broken bones, damage to internal organs, head trauma, and other serious injuries.
- Contact with machinery or objects — Correctional officers can sustain injuries from being struck by falling or thrown objects. They might also sustain an injury from being thrown or pushed into something heavy, such as a jail cell door. These injuries can cause massive physical trauma, including head injuries or damage to internal organs in some cases.
Steps to File PA Workers’ Compensation for Correctional Officers
If you have sustained a work-related injury, here is how you apply for workers’ compensation for corrections officers in Pennsylvania:
- Seek medical treatment — The sooner you see a doctor, the better. For the first 90 days after your injury, you may be required to see a doctor chosen by your employer. Save all your medical records so you have documentation of your injuries.
- Report the injury to your employer — Notify your supervisor or a manager, not a coworker. Do this as soon as possible. As long as you report your injury within 21 days of when it occurred, you can receive workers’ comp benefits backdated to when you sustained the injury. If you miss this deadline, you can still claim some benefits as long as you notify your employer within 120 days of the injury.
- Notify the State Department of Labor and Industry — After you report your injury to your employer, they should start the workers’ comp claim by filing a report with the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). If your employer does not notify the DLI, you can submit your own claim within three years of your injury.
- Fill out the necessary forms — As part of your workers’ comp claim, the DLI will likely require you to submit additional paperwork. We recommend getting help from a workers’ compensation attorney when you fill out these forms to maximize your potential benefits.
After you have submitted the necessary paperwork and your employer has notified the DLI, your employer’s workers’ compensation provider has 21 days to approve or deny your claim. If your claim is approved, you should receive your benefits shortly. If your claim is denied, talk to a workers’ comp lawyer about filing an appeal.
Corrections Facilities Near Harrisburg, PA
There are several jails, prisons, and other correctional facilities located near Harrisburg, including the following:
- Dauphin County Prison in Harrisburg, PA
- Capitol Pavilion in Harrisburg, PA
- Pennsylvania Department of Corrections in Mechanicsburg, PA
- Pennsylvania Correctional Industries (PCI) in Camp Hill, PA
- Cumberland County Prison in Carlisle, PA
Why Contact a Workers’ Comp Attorney in PA?
You don’t want to risk having your workers’ compensation denied after being injured, as navigating the appeals process could lead to a significant delay before you start receiving any benefits. By hiring a workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible after an accident, you can take advantage of their knowledge and experience to maximize your potential benefits.
We offer many advantages to working with us on a case:
A Pennsylvania workers’ comp lawyer can help you:
- Explain what benefits you may be able to claim
- Walk you through the workers’ compensation process
- Assist with filing any paperwork related to your claim
- Handle any appeals should your claim be denied
The Pennsylvania workers’ comp attorneys at Calhoon & Kaminsky are ready to get started on your case. Contact our office today for your free consultation.
