February 24, 2026

Documenting a Workers’ Compensation Claim at Home

Workers’ compensation provides coverage for lost wages, medical bills, and permanent disability benefits. While you may feel that filing a workers’ compensation claim for an injury at work is complicated, the process is only more complex when submitting a workers’ compensation claim as a remote employee. If you have been injured while working at home, you will want to report your injury immediately, seek medical attention, gather information, document your losses, follow medical advice, and retain the services of an experienced lawyer.

The Reading workers’ compensation attorneys at HGSK Injury Lawyers understand the steps an injured employee working from home should take following a work-related injury or accident.

Report Your Injury Immediately

Even if you are working from the comfort of your home, you will want to report a work-related injury to your employer or direct supervisor. Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law requires that you report your injury to your supervisor within 120 days to collect benefits. However, immediate reporting is best since the incident will be fresh in your memory. When reporting the injury to your employer, be sure to include the date, time, and location of the incident and a detailed description of how the accident occurred.

Seek Medical Attention

As always, your health should be your top priority. If your injuries require medical attention, be sure to keep track of all ER visits and doctors’ appointments, including the names of healthcare professionals, tests that were run, and diagnoses received. You will want to keep all medical documentation related to your work injury, including medical imaging and laboratory tests, doctor’s notes, and medical bills.

If your work injury was due to a fall, lifting something heavy, or another isolated event, take photographs of where the injury occurred. If you suffered lacerations, bruising, or any visible injuries, take photos of your injuries. In some cases, a work injury may be caused by repetitive motion. If you first noticed symptoms out of the blue, you should take note of what task you were performing at the time. Keeping a journal can be helpful, allowing you to record any recurrence of your symptoms. Be sure to record the date and time of any flare-ups, as well as what task you were performing when your symptoms reappeared.

Document Damages

The bulk of damages in a Reading worker’s compensation claim entails medical expenses and lost wages. You will want to collect and organize medical bills related to your injury, which may include any visits to the ER, hospitalizations, surgeries, doctor’s visits, and physical therapy appointments. If your injury or injuries cause you to miss time from work, be sure to keep track of how much time you have to take off.

Although Pennsylvania workers’ compensation covers 100% of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses, it covers approximately 66 2/3% of lost wages, subject to a maximum amount each year. Based on the statewide average weekly wage (SAWW), the maximum compensation amount for all injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2026, is $1,394.00.

Follow Treatment Plans and Keep all Medical Appointments

As a remote worker, it is important to follow the doctor’s orders, including treatment plans and taking prescribed medications. If you deviate from the recommended treatment, the insurance company may claim that your damages are greater than they should be. The same will be true if you cancel any scheduled medical visits. By following medical advice to a tee, you underline your dedication to a speedy recovery and the legitimacy of your claim.

Contact a Reading Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

While maintaining an open dialogue with your employer is important in a workers’ compensation claim, that does not mean that you should forgo representation. By working with experienced counsel, you can ensure that all documentation is filed on time and that you are recovering maximum compensation for your injuries. Even though Pennsylvania gives you 120 days to report and injury and three years to file a workers’ compensation claim, you will want to begin preparing your claim much sooner. If any disputes arise between you, your employer, or your insurance, a workers’ compensation attorney can provide legal guidance on what steps should be taken.

Injured Work Working from Home? Reach Out to Our Reading Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Today

Oftentimes, remote workers find it more challenging to recover workers’ compensation benefits. If you have recently experienced an injury due to a work-related accident or repetitive motion that is part of your job duties, HGSK Injury Lawyers would like to speak with you. Our Reading workers’ compensation lawyers have helped nearly 26,000 people recover $500 million in benefits and are ready to put our knowledge and skills to work for you.

To arrange your free consultation with a member of our legal team, we can be reached online or by calling (267) 551-8782 today.