Hurt on the Job?

Our New Jersey Workers Compensation Lawyers Are Here for You

In 1911, New Jersey became the first state to enact ongoing workers compensation laws. Though they have gone through many revisions and additions since that time, these laws still require all New Jersey businesses, no matter how small, to have workers compensation insurance in case of a workplace accident. If you are injured at work, your employer’s workers comp insurance will cover things like your medical bills and a portion of lost wages until you are back on your feet. However, you should act quickly to ensure that you get all the benefits you deserve.

An accident at work might not only cause you a painful personal injury, it might prevent you from returning to your job for an extended period of time, especially if your work involves a lot of physical activity. Even though all businesses are required to have workers comp insurance, some companies will try to give you a low settlement or deny your rightful claim. If that happens, you need a trusted Atlantic City attorney on your side. The New Jersey workers compensation lawyers at Pender & Strickland, P.C. have more than 30 years of combined experience helping people with their workers compensation claims and third party lawsuits for work injuries.

What Injuries Does Workers Compensation Cover?

Workers comp insurance covers any injury you might sustain while at work, regardless of whether you were hurt while actually performing your job. This means that any accident that happens on a jobsite, on the premises of your company and even on business trips for your job are covered. Some of the most common work injuries that are covered by NJ workers comp insurance are:

• Muscle strains and tears – Sprains and other muscle issues are the most common kind of workmans comp claim. They can be caused by overextending yourself or by consistent lifting, carrying or bending.
• Slip and fall injuries – Spilled liquids can result in broken bones as well as serious spine and brain injuries. Slip and fall injuries are usually much more serious for construction workers or others who are at risk for falls from great heights.
• Injuries from falling objects – Loose debris can fall and crush a worker in a construction accident, but any heavy box or object stored on a high shelf can potentially cause workplace injuries.
• Car accidents – Your commute to and from work is generally not covered by workers comp, but any errand you run for work purposes or business trip you take for the company that results in a car accident does qualify.
• Repetitive motion injuries – Sometimes your work injury does not happen all at once. Performing the same movements for months or even years can cause painful conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome. Since these conditions are a direct result of your work, your treatment expenses are usually covered by workers compensation.
• Occupational illnesses – Similar to repetitive motion injuries, occupational diseases are conditions that you can develop as a result of chemicals or situations you are exposed to at your job. For example, a construction worker who develops a lung condition as the result of inhalation of dust at his job may be able to file a worker’s compensation claim.

Workers compensation will cover the cost of your workplace injury regardless of who is at fault. You do not have to prove that your injury was caused by the company’s negligence or that you had nothing to do with the accident. If you are hurt at work, you have the right to workers compensation benefits.

How Long Do I Have to File a Workers Comp Claim in Atlantic City?

It is best that you tell your employer as soon as possible after a workplace accident. Even if you feel fine right after the accident, symptoms may develop after days or even weeks. If you do not inform your employer that you might have a workplace injury, you may not be able to file a workers comp claim later. In general, you must report your injury within two weeks of the workplace accident in order to be eligible for benefits, though you may have up to two years in some cases.

In New Jersey, your employer has the right to select which doctor you see for treatment. This means that if you see you are diagnosed with a work injury by your own doctor before you file your workers comp claim, you will probably not be reimbursed for those medical bills and will likely have to be reexamined by a doctor of your employer’s choosing.

Once you have informed your employer of your injury, he or she will contact the workers comp insurance agency to submit your claim. The insurance company will determine whether your claim meets the workers compensation requirements in New Jersey. If you are approved, you can start collecting benefits, which include compensation for medical treatment, lost wages and even partial or permanent disability coverage. In order to ensure that you have the best chance of your case being approved, make sure you get help from an experienced NJ workers comp attorney.