Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury, and Social Security Attorneys

The workers at our firm come from local and humble backgrounds, which gives us the ability to connect with and relate to our clients on very personal levels. We understand the hardships that come with a workplace injury. Growing up as the grandson of anthracite coal miners and son of a factory worker, Michael J. O’Connor was often a first-hand witness to the injustices that hard-working people have encountered as they try to support their families.

Workers’ Compensation

A Pennsylvania resident who has been injured or become ill on the job can pursue benefits through the workers’ compensation system. This is a program that provides injured workers with compensation for their medical expenses and some of their lost wages, regardless of fault. Workers’ compensation also may offer vocational rehabilitation programs. The benefits available will depend on the nature and duration of the worker’s disability. It may be classified as temporary or permanent, and as partial or total. Our Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorneys can help you bring a claim or pursue an appeal of a claim that has been denied. If you have an attorney on your side, an insurer is more likely to take your claim seriously. We also can explore the possibility of bringing a third-party personal injury claim against someone other than your employer or coworker if a third party contributed to your injuries.

Personal Injury

A victim who has been injured in a serious accident can pursue a personal injury claim against a person or business that played a role in causing the accident. These cases often result from motor vehicle collisions, slip and falls, and work accidents, although they can arise in many other situations as well. A victim will need to take action within the time frame provided by the Pennsylvania statute of limitations. This is a procedural rule that provides the period in which an accident victim can bring a claim, or otherwise it likely will be dismissed. Asserting your legal rights as soon as possible is a wise decision even without considering the statute of limitations, since your attorney will need time to collect evidence and develop arguments to prove the defendant’s liability.

Car Accidents

If a careless driver has struck you, you should not hesitate to sue them for the full scope of damages that you have incurred. A car accident victim may be able to recover compensation for all of their past, present, and future medical costs, as well as any income that they may have lost if their injuries prevented them from working. Our personal injury attorneys also can help victims pursue compensation for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering provided they have full-tort insurance coverage. Other types of damages in these cases may include property damage and loss of earning capacity. The core of a car accident case involves proving that the other driver was negligent and that you were injured as a result. If you were injured in a car accident on the job in Pennsylvania, our knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyers can help you pursue benefits as well.

Motorcycle Accidents

Drivers of cars and trucks often fail to respect the rights of motorcyclists to use the road, whether intentionally or inadvertently. They may drive aggressively in their vicinity or fail to notice the slimmer profile of a motorcycle. A collision can result in a rider sustaining catastrophic injuries, including brain trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and road rash. Some motorcycle accidents unfortunately prove fatal, depriving family members of a loved one on whom they may have depended emotionally and financially. They may be able to bring a wrongful death claim to pursue damages arising from their loss. Our personal injury attorneys advocate vigorously for victims and their families.

Premises Liability

A property owner in Pennsylvania or elsewhere has a responsibility to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition, addressing any hazards that could harm visitors. When they do not meet this duty, they may be liable for damages to a victim who was lawfully on the premises, such as a business customer or a social guest. A common example of an accident on property is a slip and fall or trip and fall. To prevail in a premises liability claim, a victim would need to show that the defendant knew or should have known about the hazard that resulted in the accident. This can be complicated and requires a thorough review and presentation of the relevant evidence. At O’Connor Law, we know what it takes to build these claims. Sometimes a slip and fall occurs on the job, in which case our Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers can help a victim seek benefits through that no-fault system.

Product Liability

Often, product liability claims arise from a pharmaceutical medication, a medical device, an auto part, a toy or other child product, or a household appliance. Our personal injury lawyers fight hard for consumers who have been harmed by a manufacturing or design defect. A manufacturing defect involves an error in making the product, whereas a design defect involves a product that was unreasonably unsafe when the plans were made to create it. We can also help victims bring claims based on products that reached the market without proper warnings or instructions for their use. When someone is injured on the job by defective equipment or materials, we can assist them in pursuing a workers’ compensation claim in addition to the product liability case.

Nursing Home Abuse

If you choose to place a loved one in a nursing home, you trust the staff at the nursing home to provide the care, attention, and treatment that they need. Unfortunately, many nursing homes are understaffed and underfinanced. This is not an excuse for the neglect and abuse that frequently appear in the news, however, and a victim and their family can hold a facility and individual staff members accountable. They can seek compensation for the victim’s pain and suffering, as well as the costs of any medical treatment needed to cope with the aftermath of the injuries. These claims sometimes seek punitive damages as well, which are designed to punish a defendant for egregious misconduct. Our personal injury lawyers provide nursing home residents and their families with compassionate guidance in these challenging times.

Social Security Disability

If you have a disability that prevents you from working, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) through the Social Security Administration of the federal government. This involves proving that you meet the criteria of a listing in the SSA’s manual of impairments, or that your disability completely prevents you from working in any type of job that may be available. Many deserving SSDI claims are denied at first, only to be granted upon further review. We can help you file your initial claim or a request for reconsideration, navigate a hearing before an administrative law judge, take your case to the Appeals Council, or even go to federal court if appropriate. Additionally, we can help you apply for supplemental income through the social security system if you have very low income and have a strong work history.

Consult a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Pennsylvania or Seek Assistance with a Personal Injury or Social Security Disability Claim

With 15 offices throughout Pennsylvania, we can represent clients anywhere in the state. Whether you are an injured worker seeking workers’ compensation benefits in the Lehigh Valley, a car accident victim in Pittsburgh, or a claimant seeking Social Security benefits in Schuylkill County, we have the team and tools to take on your case. We are available to answer your questions and help you through any legal issues you may be experiencing. Contact us right now online or at 800-518-4529 for a free consultation so that we can help you begin tackling your legal battle right now. Our intake specialists, lawyers, and paralegals are ready to start reviewing your case immediately to see how we can help you. For most of our services, we work on a contingency basis, which means that you will not owe us anything until we are able to earn money for you. That, in addition to our free consultation, means that you have nothing to lose by having a workers’ compensation lawyer at our Pennsylvania firm handle your claim for benefits or by having us pursue a personal injury lawsuit or SSDI claim on your behalf.