Question: I hurt my back at work a few months ago. I was working the night shift and I was with my supervisor when it happened. I told my supervisor immediately that I felt a real bad pain in my back when I lifted a box. He asked me if I waanted to go to the doctor and I said that I would try to tough it out and work through it. But it hasn’t gotten better. In fact, it’s worse. I brought it up with the supervisor and he said that I should talk to my boss who owns the company. When I told the boss, he said that he knows I told the supervisor, but since I never told my boss until yesterday, it’s too late to file a claim for workers comp. Is that true? I would have told my boss, but he wasn’t there the night I got hurt. I don’t know what to do. E.M. Pa.
Answer: The first thing you should do is pick up the phone and call me at (570) 347-1011 or (570) CALLDLP/(570) 225-5357. In Pennsylvania, you have 120 days to give your employer notice of a work-related injury. If it’s within 120 days of the date you were injured, you have given timely notice. However, even if you are beyond the 120 days, a strong argument can be made that the notice you gave to your supervisor is valid notice (and timely notice) to your employer.
If you’ve suffered a work injury and have questions about your claim, contact me at tcummings@dlplaw.com or call (570) 347-1011 for a free consultation.
