When you have been hurt on the job in New Jersey, you have the right to seek certain benefits. It’s all a part of what’s known as the “grand bargain,” designed to benefit workers and employers. Workers who qualify can often start receiving benefits within a few weeks of an injury, and employers don’t have to worry about exorbitant awards from a sympathetic jury. Here are the different types of benefits available.
Medical Benefits
After a workplace injury, you are entitled to reimbursement or payment of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses, including treatment, prescriptions and hospital services. Your employer retains the right, though, to choose your primary caregiver.
Temporary Total Benefits
Total benefits are payable if you cannot work at all because of your injury. You won’t be eligible for these benefits until you have been unable to work for more than seven calendar days. Payments, though, will be retroactive to the date of your injury. The amount payable is based on your average weekly wage for the 52 weeks prior to your injury. You will be entitled to up to 70% of that average weekly wage.
Permanent Partial Benefits
If you have a temporary disability that involves some degree of permanent bodily impairment, you will be entitled to weekly payments for the permanent disability, once your temporary disability ends.
Permanent Total Disability
If you cannot return to work, you will be entitled to total disability benefits (up to 70% of AWW) for up to 450 weeks. Benefits may continue after 450 weeks if you can show that you are still totally disabled.
Death Benefits
Surviving family members may have a claim for workers’ compensation benefits for the statutory period (up to 450 weeks) after a worker’s death. There’s also a right to reimbursement for death and funeral expenses, up to $3,500.
Contact Us
To arrange a private meeting, contact us by e-mail or call our office at 609-771-8611. Evening and weekend meetings are available upon request. We take all major credit cards.
We handle all workers’ compensation cases on a contingency basis. There will be no attorney fees unless we get compensation for your losses.
