If you are injured on the job in New Jersey, your rights include compensation from your employer for past and future medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. In order to promptly and properly receive compensation for your injury from your employer, there are several important initial steps that every injured employee should understand.
The laws for work related injuries are found in the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act, N.J.S.A. 34:15-1 et seq. This Act provides the exclusive remedy available to an employee injured on the job. The Act is also, by operation of law, written into every employment contract in New Jersey.
As a starting point, the following is a quick summary of basic rights and information that you should be immediately aware of following any work related injury.
Injured on the Job in New Jersey? You Are Entitled to Compensation.
When personal injury is caused to an employee by accident arising in the course of the employee’s employment, the employee is entitled to receive compensation from his employer. In New Jersey, an injured employee may be compensated for that injury regardless of his or her fault. Intentional injuries by the employee, however, fall outside the scope of the Workers’ Compensation Act.
Your employer (not you) is required to provide such medical, surgical and other treatment and hospital service as is necessary to cure and relieve the effects of your work related injury. (N.J.S.A. 34:15-15).
You may be entitled to Temporary Disability Benefits.When an injured employee is unable to work for more than 7 days, he or she is eligible to receive temporary disability benefits. (N.J.S.A. 34:15-14). Temporary disability benefits, in layman’s terms, are monetary payments made to the injured employee while that employee is unable to work due to the work related injury.
After all of the medical treatment has been provided and you have been discharged from medical care, you may be entitled to a monetary award for the injury that you have sustained.
You may be entitled to Permanent Disability Benefits.
When the workplace injury results in a permanent disability, benefits are payable to the employee based on a percentage of the employee’s permanent disability. The percentage of disability can range from 1% to 100%.
Your Homeowners’ Insurance Policy and Workers’ Compensation Claims.
Unknown to most of the public is the fact that your homeowners’ insurance policy may, under certain circumstances, provide coverage should someone working at your home incur such a workplace injury. For further information about worker injuries in your home, please contact the attorneys at Puff, Sierzega & MacFeeters.
Injured On the Job in NJ? You Deserve Legal Advice to Pursue Your Recovery.
If you are injured on the job in New Jersey, know your rights and get proper medical attention. There are many different sections of the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Statute. Some sections may apply to your case and others may not.
Do you have questions? Would you like to speak to an attorney regarding an injury sustained on the job? Contact the experienced workers’ compensation attorneys at Puff, Sierzega & MacFeeters today. The attorneys at Puff, Sierzega & MacFeeters have handled hundreds of workers’ compensation cases. We’ve obtained compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. Our attorneys have a track record of receiving favorable settlements on behalf of our clients. We can do the same for you.
Click here to find out more about our personal injury representation.
