If you suffered an injury on the job, it is likely that you have considered filing for workers’ compensation. You may have read about the process involved in notifying your employer of your injury, filing a claim and obtaining benefits for medical expenses and lost wages. While many people go through the process of seeking worker’s compensation, not everyone gets the decision they want to hear.

Learning that your claim was denied can be devastating. You and your family may have been depending on the compensation to stay afloat while you cannot work and have medical expenses to pay. Fortunately, you have the right to appeal the decision.

Once you learn that your claim was denied, you have 20 days to file an appeal. Your appeal will be filed with the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board. If your claim is denied again, you have the option to appeal a second time to the Commonwealth Court and a third time to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Although you are not required to have an attorney to appeal your claim, many people choose to do so. Having an experienced lawyer on your side can help ensure you understand your rights and present a strong case at each step of the appeals process. For those who are new to the system, the appeals process can be very confusing. Your lawyer will understand the system and help guide you through it.

If you have been worried about what could happen if your workers’ compensation claim is denied, we hope knowing that you have the option to appeal is helpful. To learn more about how we can help with your workers’ compensation matters, please visit our Workers’ Compensation page.