Welding Accident Attorneys in Reading, PA

Wrongful Injury Claims for Welding Victims in Berks County

Since 1959, Liever, Hyman & Potter has represented wrongful injury victims and their families throughout Berks County. Our four attorneys handle only wrongful injury and death claims. No real estate closings, no business contracts. Every hour of our combined 115-plus years of practice has been devoted to people who were hurt through no fault of their own. That focus matters when a welding accident has left you facing serious injuries, lost income, and an uncertain path forward.

We offer a free consultation to review your situation before you make any commitment. We advance all case expenses and collect no fees until we recover money for you.

If you or a family member was injured in an accident, call our office today at (610) 885-1991 to speak with a welding accident attorney in Reading at no cost.

The Real Risks of Welding Work

Welding is one of the most physically hazardous trades in construction, manufacturing, and industrial settings across Berks County. The dangers are varied and serious.

Common welding injuries include:

• Second- and third-degree burns from arc flashes or fires
• Electric shock and electrocution from energized circuits
• Toxic fume and gas inhalation causing lung damage or loss of consciousness
• Eye injuries, including welder’s flash from ultraviolet radiation
• Explosion and fire injuries
• Falls from elevated work positions

Some injuries are immediate and obvious. Toxic fume exposure and occupational lung disease can develop over months or years, long after the initial exposure. Permanent vision loss, traumatic brain injury, severe respiratory disease, and wrongful death are all documented outcomes of welding accidents.

Workers’ Compensation vs. Third-Party Civil Claims

Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system is no-fault. If you’re hurt on the job, you may be entitled to medical expense coverage and partial wage replacement, typically around two-thirds of your average weekly wage, regardless of who caused the accident. However, workers’ comp generally bars a direct personal injury lawsuit against your employer.

That limitation doesn’t close every door. A third-party civil claim is separate from workers’ compensation and is brought against parties other than your employer. In welding accidents, potentially liable third parties can include:

• Equipment manufacturers whose defective welding torches, helmets, or protective gear failed
• Subcontractors who created unsafe site conditions
• Property owners who failed to maintain safe premises

OSHA violations are frequently relevant evidence in these claims. Inadequate ventilation, failure to provide proper protective equipment, and improper storage of flammable materials can all support a finding of negligence. A successful third-party claim can recover compensation that workers’ comp doesn’t cover, including pain and suffering and full lost wages.

Under Pennsylvania law, workplace injuries must be reported to your employer within 120 days to preserve workers’ compensation eligibility. Third-party civil injury claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2). Missing either deadline can limit your ability to recover.

Why Choose Liever, Hyman & Potter?

Our track record in Berks County reflects decades of undivided focus. In a recent three-year period alone, our attorneys recovered more than 500 awards and settlements, including numerous million-dollar and multi-million-dollar results. Since 1959, we’ve won thousands of awards and settlements for injured clients and their families, more than any other firm located in the Berks and Schuylkill County area.

Documented results in our published record include a $3.5 million trucking crash settlement, a $3.265 million drunk driving wrongful death settlement, a $6.5 million settlement for a teenage client who suffered a brain bleed resulting in hemiplegia, and a $12.75 million settlement for failure to diagnose brain disease. We don’t have welding-specific results to cite, but serious catastrophic injury claims are the only work we do.

Lead attorney John R. Badal has represented wrongful injury victims for his entire career since his 1978 admission to the Pennsylvania bar. He is a member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, national recognitions tied to documented results at those dollar thresholds. He was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991.

His service as Chairman of both the Civil Litigation Section and the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Berks County Bar Association gives him a depth of familiarity with how workers’ comp and civil litigation intersect for injured workers in this region. That background matters when your case involves navigating both systems at once.

Within the legal community, our firm is known as “The Lawyers’ Lawyers.” A significant portion of our clients come to us through referrals from other law firms, satisfied former clients, and community members who know our record. Each case we accept is carefully reviewed and assigned to a civil trial attorney qualified to handle it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Welding Accident in Pennsylvania?

Third-party civil injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of injury under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2). If you were hurt at work, Pennsylvania also requires you to report the injury to your employer within 120 days to preserve workers’ compensation eligibility. Don’t wait to get a legal evaluation.

Can I Pursue a Civil Lawsuit If I’ve Already Filed for Workers’ Compensation?

Yes, in many situations. Filing a workers’ compensation claim doesn’t automatically close a third-party civil claim. If a party other than your employer, such as an equipment manufacturer or a subcontractor, contributed to your accident, a separate civil claim may still be available and can be pursued at the same time. An attorney can evaluate which paths apply to your facts.

Where Would My Civil Case Be Filed?

Civil injury cases for Reading and Berks County residents are typically filed in the Berks County Court of Common Pleas, located in Reading, PA.

What Does It Cost to Hire Liever, Hyman & Potter?

Nothing upfront. We advance all case expenses and collect no fees until we recover money for you.

My Injury Developed over Time from Fume Exposure. Do I Still Have a Claim?

Possibly. Occupational diseases and injuries that develop gradually are recognized under Pennsylvania law. The timing of your claim may turn on when you knew or reasonably should have known of the injury and its cause. An attorney can help you work through the timeline and evaluate whether a claim is viable.

Talk to a Welding Accident Attorney in Reading Today

You pay nothing to find out where you stand. Our attorneys review each case individually, advance all expenses, and collect no fees until we recover money for you. Liever, Hyman & Potter has been serving injured workers and their families throughout Reading and Berks County since 1959.

Call (610) 885-1991 today to schedule your free consultation with a welding accident attorney at Liever, Hyman & Potter.