When you work hard at your job every day in order to provide for your family, a workplace injury can be financially, physically and emotionally devastating. Fortunately, Workers’ Compensation benefits are there to protect you and your family when you need it most.
Whether you suffered a serious physical injury at a construction site, experienced intense emotional distress from your job or developed a life-threatening illness from exposure to toxic chemicals, one of our New Jersey Workers’ Compensation lawyers can help you apply for and receive the benefits to give you peace of mind to know that you and your family are protected. Call the compassionate attorneys at Grungo Law today. A helpful workers’ compensation lawyer in South Jersey is here to help.
Why Choose Us as Your Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in New Jersey?
Few civil cases are as urgent as a workers’ claim when an employee’s injury keeps them from being able to return to work temporarily or permanently. Nothing can erase the injury, but family members deserve relief from the resulting financial hardship. At Grungo Law, we bring the following significant advantages to your case:
- We charge no upfront fees, instead, we evaluate your case during a free consultation and only get paid after we obtain your settlement or court award for damages
- Our long-time client advocacy methods and in-depth understanding of workers’ rights and workers’ compensation insurance get strong results for our clients
- We have a policy of open, honest communication so you remain actively involved and informed throughout the process of your workers’ compensation claim
- We are a results-oriented legal team led by one of only 2.5% of New Jersey attorneys with a certification as a civil trial lawyer by the New Jersey Supreme Court
Our recent results speak for themselves, including a recent $6.5 million settlement to the family of a fatally injured construction worker. You and your family deserve a strong voice for justice behind your New Jersey workers’ compensation claim.
For a free legal consultation with a workers' compensation lawyer serving New Jersey, call (856) 528-4494
Overview of Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ Compensation is a state-mandated insurance program that provides a specified amount of money to an employee that has been injured on the job. It is a system of employer-financed, no-fault insurance. For an injured employee, it may be the only source of income that will cover the cost of the injury or illness. Once a claim has been accepted, the employee is guaranteed payment. Workers’ Compensation insurance typically covers medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits for the dependent of a worker who was fatally injured on the job.
While Workers’ Compensation is designed to provide employees with things like wage benefits, medical benefits and disability benefits, these types of cases can be very complicated. It is always in your best interest to contact an experienced personal injury attorney in South Jersey who can provide a comprehensive explanation of your rights and benefits that you are legally entitled to receive. Because time is of the essence, it is important to act quickly so that your benefits are not delayed or terminated.
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Types of Workplace Injuries
New Jersey employees suffer a wide range of injuries while on the job, with implications for their ability to earn a living for themselves and their families. Common work-related injuries include the following:
- Amputation/Loss of Limb
- Altered Smell/Taste
- Asthma
- Back and Neck Injuries
- Brain Injuries
- Burn Injuries
- Emotional or Psychological Distress
- Eye Injuries/Loss of Vision
- Illness from toxic exposures
- Fractures
- Soft-tissue injuries to knees, shoulders, wrists, and ankles
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
Workplace injuries can quickly cause financial hardship. A successful workers’ compensation claim protects New Jersey employees and their families from suffering undue hardship.
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Common Causes of Workplace Injuries In New Jersey
The causes of workplace injuries are as widely ranging as job responsibilities across industries. The construction industry, hospital workers, warehouse jobs, and other injuries are particularly high-risk, but an injury can occur even in the safest-appearing office. The most common causes of workplace injuries named in New Jersey workers’ compensation cases include the following:
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Traffic and transportation-related accidents
- Falls from heights
- Struck-by injuries (falling objects, struck by boards, or struck by work-related equipment and vehicles
- Equipment injuries
- Fires and explosions
- Electrocutions
- Chemical exposures
- Caught-between injuries
- Repetitive motion
- Heavy lifting
With the exception of strains and repetitive motion injuries, many workplace injuries happen suddenly, but can instantly send a life spinning off course, either temporarily or permanently. A successful workers’ compensation claim alleviates the worst financial concerns so an injury victim can focus on their recovery.
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What Portion of My Income Does New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Cover?
Every state’s workers’ compensation benefits vary somewhat. In New Jersey, an injury victim is compensated for their lost wages with 70% of their standard pay. The method used to arrive at a worker’s standard pay uses their gross pay for the 26 weeks prior to the injury, including bonuses, commissions, and overtime. If the injury victim is given clearance by a medical professional to take a light-duty position, they will receive 70% of the difference between their standard pay and light-duty pay. The employee may receive additional benefits based on their level of disability and whether the disability is full, partial, permanent, or temporary.
If a workplace injury results in death, a spouse or close family member may receive compensation for funeral expenses and the lost income of a provider, typically through a lump sum settlement or monthly installments.
What to Do After a Workplace Injury In New Jersey
After a grave injury in the workplace, you may be unable to do anything other than wait for help. For instance, a traumatic brain injury from a blow to the head or severe burns could leave you incapacitated. However, if you are able to take decisive action after your injury, it’s important to take the following steps:
- First, call 911 for an ambulance or arrange emergency transportation to a hospital as soon as possible for treatment and a full medical evaluation to catch any other injuries with delayed symptoms onset
- Notify your immediate supervisor and ask them to fill out an accident report
- Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and with the exception of your emergency treatment, seek all medical care through a provider on your employer’s list
- Notify your doctor in writing within 90 days of the injury using New Jersey’s form 1A-1
New Jersey allows up to two years to file a claim but only 90 days to inform an employer of an injury. It’s always best to notify an employer as soon as possible. This typically only becomes an issue if the injury victim doesn’t receive a definitive diagnosis immediately, which is sometimes the case with workplace-related illnesses, back injuries, or non-emergency injuries with causes that may be initially unclear. Still, it’s important to act fast. Failure to inform your employer within the time limit will prevent you from success in your claim.
Can I Choose My Doctor Under New Jersey Workers’ Comp?
Workers’ compensation insurance works with your employer to provide a list of doctors for various specialties. You cannot choose your preferred doctor if they aren’t on the list but may choose one from your employer’s list of approved providers. Failing to select a provider from the list may result in a denial of your claim.
Is Workers’ Compensation My Only Option After a Work Injury In New Jersey?
Workers’ compensation insurance protects injured workers by providing medical care and a portion of their wages, but it also protects employers from lawsuits. In most cases, workers’ compensation is the best way to recover compensation after a work injury; however, in some cases, an injured employee can obtain greater compensation through a lawsuit against a liable third party. Sometimes an involved third party is at fault for the injury, making a lawsuit the best way forward for maximum compensation. Examples include a subcontractor or property owner responsible for a construction accident injury, or a negligent driver in a traffic accident during on-the-job transportation. Lawsuits against liable third parties allow injury victims to recover additional compensation for non-economic damages like pain and suffering which isn’t available through workers’ compensation.
Protecting Your Rights Is Our Top Priority
In recent years, there has been an unfortunate shift in who benefits from Workers’ Compensation laws, from the employees who need them to the employers and insurers who are looking for a way out of covering these costs. According to a 2006 report by a consumer rights group, the Workers’ Compensation system is a “colossal failure,” one that should be a fair program but is manipulated by political forces, making it very difficult to help those who actually need it.
An experienced attorney in New Jersey can help you avoid the bureaucratic red tape and secure the Workers’ Compensation benefits you deserve, in a timely fashion.
What Injuries are Not Covered by Workers’ Compensation?
Most workplace injuries are covered by Workers’ Compensation, but not all. If an employee is injured while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, this is not covered by Workers’ Compensation. Other scenarios that may not be covered include:
- Injuries that are self-inflicted, including those resulting from a fight instigated by the employee
- Injuries suffered while an employee is engaged in illegal activity
- Injuries suffered off the job
- Injuries suffered when violating company policies
An attorney in New Jersey could help determine if an injury will be covered by Workers’ Compensation.
Hire A New Jersey Worker’s Compensation Attorney
If you or someone you love has experienced a workplace injury, contact a New Jersey Workers’ Compensation lawyer at Grungo Law. Whether your injury is the result of a construction site accident, or a serious illness due to exposure to toxic chemicals, we will take you through every step of the claims process to make sure that you receive the benefits you need.
Call or text (856) 528-4494 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form