We Fight for Injured
Workers Because We Care
About Injured Workers
Workers Because We Care
About Injured Workers
Philadelphia Lawyer Asserting the Rights of Injured People
When you hire Marla A. Joseph, you hire an attorney committed to representing her clients with compassion and zeal. Throughout her career, Ms. Joseph has concentrated her efforts on representing injured individuals. In addition to serving as a Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyer, she regularly handles Social Security Disability and personal injury claims. As a result, she has become a leader in the Bar, with a reputation for being knowledgeable and on the cutting edge of the law. At the Law Offices of Marla A. Joseph, LLC, our goal is to meet your needs, exceed your expectations, and obtain the best possible results. That is why if you are disabled because of a work-related injury, are seeking Social Security Disability benefits, were injured in an accident, or have a permanent disability, you need Attorney Marla A. Joseph to fight for you. Ms. Joseph was awarded the “Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers of America, an honor bestowed upon only one lawyer in that region.
Marla A. Joseph never represents insurance companies. Instead, she focuses her practice on assuring that her clients’ rights are protected and that they receive all the compensation to which they are entitled. Marla Joseph provides personal representation for her clients at every stage of every proceeding. She regularly appears before Workers’ Compensation, Social Security, Common Pleas Court, and appeals court judges.
Workers’ Compensation
If you have been injured on the job, you should retain a Philadelphia workers’ compensation attorney who understands the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act and safety regulations. Workers’ compensation is a system in which employees are compensated for work-related injuries and illnesses, regardless of fault. In exchange, employees give up the right to sue the employer in most situations. Workers’ compensation benefits include medical bills, surgery bills, lab tests, disability benefits, permanent injury payments, and death benefits for a spouse and minor dependents in some cases. In addition to receiving coverage for injuries sustained on the employer’s premises, you are covered for injuries that you suffer off the premises if you were acting in furtherance of your employer’s business interests. For example, if you are hit by a car while on a mandatory business trip for your employer, you could receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Ms. Joseph has represented injured workers in workers’ compensation claims based on a wide range of job-related injuries and occupational illnesses, including asthma, traumatic brain injuries, back injuries, amputations, fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, limb injuries, heart attacks, repetitive stress injuries, neck injuries, and vision or hearing loss. You must follow a certain timeline to make a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. You have 21 days to provide your employer with notice of a work-related injury. Your claim will be barred if you wait beyond 120 days. Your employer and you can agree on compensation on or after the seventh day following your injury. If you are unable to agree on compensation, you can petition to have a workers’ compensation judge hear your case. The workers’ compensation judge will set a mandatory schedule to present evidence, attend hearings, and go to a mediation conference. Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyer Marla A. Joseph can assist you with each of these steps.
Social Security Disability and SSI
People can be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from ages 18 up to their full retirement age if they have a condition that renders them unable to work full-time for 12 months in a row, or that is expected to end in death. These benefits are awarded based on the medical condition that you have and whether you are impaired. The Social Security Administration (SSA) lists many types of conditions in its Listing of Impairments. If your condition is severe enough to equal an entry in the Listing, you will qualify for benefits. Otherwise, the SSA will consider a five-step test that looks at whether there is other work that you can do to determine whether to award benefits.
Unfortunately, many valid claims for SSDI or SSI benefits are denied. If you have become disabled and are unable to work, you should retain an attorney who understands Social Security laws and knows how the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act and common law can affect your right to receive benefits. As a workers’ compensation attorney in the Philadelphia area, Marla A. Joseph is thoroughly familiar with each of these frameworks.
ERISA Claims
Often, employers provide employees with disability insurance and retirement benefits. Many of these benefits, including pensions based on years of service and salary, are governed by the federal Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). This law outlines the obligations and rights of employers, employees, beneficiaries, and insurance companies related to employee benefits plans covered by ERISA. ERISA permits administrative appeals. Only after you have exhausted administrative appeals will a federal court have jurisdiction over your ERISA claim. These claims are unique and complex, and it is important to hire an attorney at the earliest possible stage to maximize your chances of success. The federal court might not be able to review materials outside what was presented in the administrative appeal, making it crucial to present the right material at the administrative level.
Workplace Disability Discrimination
Disability discrimination in the workplace is prohibited under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. These cases require you to establish that you have a disability as defined under the law. The ADA requires a condition to substantially impair a major life activity to constitute a disability. Major life activities can include breathing, seeing, and walking. You are also protected if you are perceived as disabled. If you are disabled, you can request a reasonable accommodation for your disability from your employer. Your employer is supposed to provide a reasonable accommodation as long as it does not present an undue hardship.
Personal Injury
If you have been injured in an accident, you may be able to recover compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit. To establish liability, you likely will need to show that the defendant’s unsafe actions caused your injuries. Pennsylvania follows a doctrine of modified comparative negligence, which means that you can obtain damages from a defendant as long as you were less than 51% at fault. Ms. Joseph has represented clients harmed in vehicle accidents, construction site accidents, medical procedures, animal attacks, food poisoning, encounters with defective products, slip and falls, sports injuries, and other accidents. If clients need the assistance of other lawyers with special expertise in a certain area, Ms. Joseph integrates her representation with the representation of those attorneys.
Retain a Skillful Attorney to Advocate for You
You should not leave yourself at the mercy of an insurance company. At the Law Offices of Marla A. Joseph, LLC, we will fight for your rights. If you need a workers’ compensation lawyer in Philadelphia or assistance with another type of injury claim, you should consult the Law Offices of Marla A. Joseph. Ms. Joseph represents people throughout Berks, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lehigh, and Montgomery Counties and other counties through Eastern Pennsylvania. Call Attorney Marla A. Joseph at (215) 884-6664 or click here to send an email and talk to someone on your side. There is no obligation, and you pay no fees unless we make a recovery for you.
