Teacher Work Injuries in PA

Between the long hours, heavy workloads, unruly students, and standing for long stretches, teachers are more at risk for on-the-job injuries than some might assume. If you’ve suffered an injury while teaching or attending a job-related function, you need to speak with a teacher work injury lawyer right away.

At Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C., we have over 20 years of experience helping injured workers get the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve, including injured teachers. If you sustained an injury while teaching, don’t try to handle something as important to your livelihood as a workers’ comp claim on your own. Call our lawyers today for a free consultation about how we can help you with your work injury claim for teachers and other school employees.

Common Injuries and Accidents Teachers Can Experience

Teachers are at risk for a wide variety of on-the-job injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following are the leading causes of injuries and illnesses that result in days away from work, job restriction, or transfer:

• Falls, slips, and trips – Teachers are at risk of falling on the job because of wet floors and poor maintenance. Students may be responsible for leaving backpacks and personal items in areas where a teacher could trip over them.
• Acts of violence – Teachers suffer violence-related injuries at about twice the rate of all other occupations. These injuries can happen because a student, parent, or coworker attacks a teacher, or when a teacher attempts to intervene in an altercation between students.
• Exposure to harmful substances – Schools are often hotbeds of communicable diseases, which quickly jump from students to teachers. Instructors who teach classes like chemistry might come into contact with toxic substances, while aging facilities can put teachers at risk of asbestos exposure.
• Overexertion and bodily reaction – Prolonged standing, typing, bending over students’ desks, or writing on the chalkboard or whiteboard can put strain on the body and lead to both soft-tissue and musculoskeletal injuries.

While these may statistically be the most common source of workplace injuries, any injury a teacher suffers while on the job could entitle them to workers’ comp benefits.

How Workers’ Compensation Works for Teachers in Pennsylvania

Most teachers injured at school in Pennsylvania are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation is a state-mandated program that provides medical and partial wage-replacement benefits for people injured on the job. The teacher receives these benefits without having to show that the employer caused the work-related injury. In exchange, the injured worker cannot sue the employer except in very rare circumstances.

To access these benefits, you should report any injury to your school’s administration immediately. Once you have lost one day of work, your employer is required to report your injury to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). Your employer may have posted a list of six or more physicians or health care providers. If they did so, you must select one of those providers for your initial treatment. 

For the 90 days after your initial visit to that provider, you cannot choose another doctor. Workers’ comp will not pay for medical care provided by a healthcare practitioner who is not on the list. However, if no such list exists or 90 days have passed since your first medical care visit, you may select a provider of your choice.

When you are kept off work by your healthcare provider, you are entitled to temporary total disability (TTD) benefits. These benefits are based on your average weekly wage (AWW) prior to your injury and a schedule created by the BWC. The maximum TTD benefit is based on the Department of Labor & Industry’s calculation of the statewide AWW. 

Your TTD benefits generally end once you’re healthy and able to return to work. 

There may be some additional complications to obtaining your benefits if you belong to a union. Talk to a work injury attorney for teachers to ensure you receive accurate information about how to navigate the workers’ compensation system.

Steps to Take After a Teaching Workplace Injury

When you’re injured at work, you must first report your injury to the administration, at which point you can also determine whether your employer has a list of preferred providers. After your initial reporting and treatment, you should take these steps to protect yourself and your workers’ compensation claim:

• Follow all your doctor’s advice, including appearing for follow-up visits and taking any prescribed medication.
• Keep track of all your medical bills and receipts for prescriptions and maintain hard copies of your medical records.
• Write down how you were injured as soon after the accident as you can.
• Don’t discuss your injury on social media, and ask your friends and family not to, either, as the insurer may be looking for information they can use to make it seem you weren’t really injured at work.
• Contact a skilled workers’ compensation lawyer who can oversee your claim and work to secure the benefits you’re entitled to.

Benefits of Hiring a Workers’ Compensation Attorney Who Represents Teachers

Why get help from a work injury attorney for teachers in Pennsylvania? Simple: because they know how to manage the complex and confusing workers’ comp system. Here at Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C., we have decades of experience handling these cases for injured education professionals and other workers. We are committed to obtaining the best possible results for our clients. 

Here’s what another satisfied client had to say after working with us: 

“I had an injury back on April 18th 2024 and dealing with the wc adjuster was a nightmare. Matt got me the benefits I was entitled to and was able to help me settle my case. I would 100% recommend this firm for any of your worker’s compensation needs. Matt is awesome at what he does.” 

– John, Myerstown, PA

Speak With a Pennsylvania Teacher Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today

Teachers who are injured at work deserve high-quality legal representation. If you’re one of them, you need to speak to a PA work injury lawyer for teachers, like those at Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C. Call us today or contact us online to learn how we can help you seek the benefits you deserve.