Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Newark

If you were injured while doing your job, a workers’ compensation lawyer in Newark can help you understand which benefits may be available and what to do if your employer or its insurance carrier disputes your claim. 

At Grungo Law, we represent injured workers with more than 100 years of combined legal experience and a record of recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for clients. We help workers understand New Jersey’s compensation system, address benefit disputes, and determine whether someone outside the employer may also be responsible for the injury.

Contact Grungo Law to discuss what happened and what options may be available. You can speak with a Newark personal injury lawyer from our team during a free consultation.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits Available in New Jersey

New Jersey workers’ compensation is generally a no-fault system. An eligible employee does not ordinarily have to prove that the employer was negligent to receive benefits for an injury or occupational illness arising out of and in the course of employment.

Depending on the circumstances, workers’ compensation may provide:

• Authorized medical treatment for the work-related injury or illness.
• Temporary total disability benefits when an injury keeps you from working.
• Permanent partial disability benefits for a lasting impairment.
• Permanent total disability benefits in qualifying cases.
• Dependency benefits when a work-related injury or illness results in death.

In exchange for these benefits, an employee generally cannot sue the employer for pain and suffering arising from the workplace injury, except in limited circumstances involving intentional conduct.

Workplace Injuries We See in Newark

A work injury does not have to occur on a construction site or factory floor. Employees can be hurt while driving for work, lifting merchandise, caring for patients, operating machinery, making deliveries, or performing repetitive tasks over months or years.

A Newark workers’ compensation attorney may assist with claims involving:

• Back, neck, and shoulder injuries.
• Falls from ladders, scaffolds, stairs, or elevated surfaces.
• Broken bones and joint injuries.
• Head and traumatic brain injuries.
• Repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Burns, lacerations, and crush injuries.
• Machinery and equipment accidents.
• Occupational illnesses caused by chemical, respiratory, or other workplace exposures.

Some injuries are immediately apparent, while others become more painful or limiting over time. Reporting symptoms and obtaining authorized medical care creates documentation that may become significant if the insurance carrier later questions whether the condition is work-related.

Temporary Disability Benefits for Lost Wages

If a compensable injury keeps you from working for more than seven days, you may be entitled to temporary total disability benefits. New Jersey calculates these benefits at 70% of the worker’s average weekly wage, subject to statutory minimum and maximum amounts.

For injuries covered by the 2026 rates, the maximum weekly temporary disability benefit is $1,199, and the minimum is $320. The applicable rate is based on the date of the accident or, for an occupational condition, the applicable exposure or manifestation date.

Our legal team can review whether wage benefits were calculated correctly and whether an insurer had a valid basis for delaying or stopping payments.

Permanent Disability Benefits After a Work Injury

Some employees reach the end of treatment with lingering pain, reduced range of motion, weakness, scarring, or other permanent limitations. New Jersey workers’ compensation law provides permanent partial and permanent total disability benefits in qualifying cases.

Permanent partial disability benefits are based in part on the type and degree of impairment. Permanent total disability generally applies when a work-related condition leaves a person unable to perform any gainful employment, subject to the standards set by New Jersey law.

Medical evaluations often play a substantial role in determining the extent of permanent disability. We review treatment records, medical opinions, job demands, and the lasting effects of the injury when presenting a claim for permanency benefits.

What Happens if Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Denied?

An employer or insurance carrier may dispute whether an accident was work-related, whether medical treatment is necessary, or whether temporary disability benefits should continue. 

New Jersey allows injured workers to seek review through the Division of Workers’ Compensation when these disagreements cannot be resolved informally.

Common disputes include:

• Whether the injury arose out of and during employment.
• Whether the employer received proper notice.
• Whether an occupational condition is related to the job.
• Whether additional treatment is medically necessary.
• Whether you remain unable to work.
• Whether you have a permanent impairment.
• Whether you were properly classified as an employee.

A formal Claim Petition may be filed with the Division of Workers’ Compensation, and disputed cases are assigned to a workers’ compensation judge. The case may involve medical evidence, testimony, hearings, and settlement discussions before it is resolved.

How Long Do You Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in New Jersey?

New Jersey generally gives an injured worker two years to file a formal workers’ compensation Claim Petition. The two-year period generally runs from the date of the injury or the date of the last payment of compensation, whichever is later. Employer-authorized medical treatment may qualify as compensation for this purpose.

Occupational illness claims follow a different starting point. The petition generally must be filed within two years from when the worker knew the condition existed and understood its relationship to the employment.

An informal hearing request does not stop the statute of limitations from running. Because filing deadlines depend on the claim’s history, it can be useful to have an attorney review the dates rather than assume there is still time.

Why Injured Workers Choose Our Newark Workers’ Comp Lawyers at Grungo Law

A workers’ compensation case can affect whether you receive treatment, whether income continues while you are unable to work, and what compensation is available for a lasting disability. We approach those issues with a focus on preparation and direct communication.

Richard Grungo Jr., Esq., and Jose Hernandez are certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as Civil Trial Attorneys. Less than 2.5% of New Jersey attorneys hold this certification. Our broader personal injury practice also enables us to identify potential third-party claims when a workplace accident involves someone other than the employer.

Our team is accessible when clients have questions, including the ability to speak with a live person. We also have Spanish-speaking team members, including attorneys, who can assist workers who prefer to communicate in Spanish.

Talk to a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Newark

Grungo Law represents workers facing denied benefits, treatment disagreements, disability disputes, and workplace accidents involving possible third-party claims. We can review your employment situation, explain which benefits may apply, and identify the legal options available under New Jersey law.

Contact us for a free consultation with a workers’ compensation attorney in Newark.