JENKINTOWN PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

Do you remember how excited you were about your very first job?

School will be out soon. If your teen is planning to get a job, she is probably already focused on how she will spend her earnings. Whether she’s hoping for a new wardrobe, car insurance, or college savings, chances are that safety is not a big concern.

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), more than 140,000 teenagers are hurt on the job each year; about 100,000 require emergency room care. On-the-job injuries are the fourth leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 10 and 19.  Do you know what to do if your child is seriously hurt while at work?

Teens, and all workers, have the right to a safe workplace. However, an inexperienced worker may not be able to identify hazards in her surroundings. Talk to your teen about work safety.  Help her to understand that if something doesn’t seem right at work, she needs to tell someone.

The main cause of teen workplace injuries is a lack of training and experience. Many first jobs are temporary or seasonal positions. Employers are often hesitant to invest in employees who will only be working for a short time, so teens are often asked to do work that they are not trained to do. Talk to your teen about the importance doing her job safely. Tell her that it is OK to ask questions if she has any safety concerns.

If your child is injured, she has the same right to workers’ compensation as any other Pennsylvania worker. Pennsylvania workers’ compensation will cover her emergency room costs, hospital bills, follow-up care, and medication. She has the right to obtain the medical treatment from the doctor or hospital of her choice. Workers’ compensation will also provide a partial payment of wages if your teen is unable to work because of her injury.

You and your teen can learn more about Pennsylvania Workers’ compensation benefits in our free book, Your Guide To PA Workers’ Compensation. If you have questions, or are having trouble getting the benefits you have earned, please call the Philadelphia work injury lawyers at Mednick, Mezyk, and Kredo at 888-807-WORK.