Because accidents can happen anywhere, most Pennsylvania employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This type of insurance provides medical and wage replacement for workers who become sick or injured on the job. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system – a compromise between workers and employers. Workers get timely financial assistance when they are hurt at work and employers are protected from personal injury lawsuits.
One special type of Pennsylvania workers’ compensation benefit is called a disfigurement benefit. This pays benefits to workers who suffer a permanent disfigurement of the face, head, or neck. A disfigurement benefit may be paid for up to 275 weeks and is paid at the same rate as that of total disability (two-thirds of the worker’s pre-injury average weekly wage).
While specific loss injuries—amputation or loss of use of a body part—are associated with a specific number of weeks of compensation, disfigurement benefits are at the discretion of the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation judge. The judge will look at the injury and make a ruling based on personal observation of the scarring and disfigurement. The judge will take into consideration the location, size, and severity of the scar as well as the individual’s age and gender when deciding how many weeks of benefit to award for the disfigurement.
Suffering a severe accident at work is stressful both physically and financially. Permanent injuries such as an unsightly scar on the face, neck, or head can cause a great deal of emotional trauma in addition to the physical pain associated with the injury. The financial worries that go along with hospital stays, doctor visits, medical tests, and lost work can be overwhelming. If you have been hurt at work and need help, contact a York workers’ compensation lawyer at Schmidt Kramer. Our knowledgeable attorneys will work diligently to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (717) 888-8888 for your free workers’ compensation case consultation. You may also wish to download a free copy of our book: Who Pays the Bills When You Are Injured at Work?