Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Hamilton Township, NJ
Did you suffer an injury on the job? Have you contracted a disease or illness from exposure or repetitive stress or strain at work? You need a workers’ compensation lawyer in Hamilton Township, NJ. With over two decades of experience pursuing justice for the workers of New Jersey, Stan Gregory has the experience and skill to help injured workers like you get their due compensation.
Like any other type of business, insurance companies want to make a profit for their shareholders. The only way they do that is to collect premiums and deny, delay, or underpay workers’ comp claims. Stan Gregory understands how insurance companies work and how their tactics to turn a profit can negatively affect you, and he has dedicated his career to fighting for New Jersey workers and their rights.
Insurance companies have a team of lawyers on their side – aren’t you entitled to legal representation too? There is no substitute for having a trusted and experienced advocate by your side. For a free consultation with a workers’ compensation lawyer in Hamilton Township, NJ, call the offices of Stan Gregory today at 609-281-5100. We accept cases on a contingency fee basis to minimize out-of-pocket costs to you.
What a Workers’ Comp Attorney Does
Filing a claim for workers’ comp benefits can be complicated, confusing, and frustrating, especially when you are not feeling your best. You should be spending your time and energy healing and recovering. Let an experienced worker’s compensation attorney in Hamilton Township, NJ, help you prepare your case and represent you at hearings and in negotiations with the insurance company.
What to Do When You Suffer a Workplace Injury
If you’re injured at work, follow these three steps:
- Immediately Report the Incident
- Visit a Doctor
- File Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
Immediately Report the Incident
Report the incident or workplace condition that caused your injury as soon as you can to your employer or supervisor. Even if you are uncertain you sustained an injury, report the accident or workplace exposure, because some illnesses and injuries take time to manifest. Because the workers’ compensation process requires a great deal of detailed documentation, reporting the incident immediately helps support any future claims that result from it.
Visit a Doctor
You will need to see a doctor paid for by your employer first unless the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) covers you. FECA allows you to see a doctor of your choice instead.
The doctor’s report is critical for your case because it is the document all parties will rely on to negotiate your due compensation. A workers’ compensation lawyer can counsel what types of evidence you should request from the doctor.
File Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
Once the incident has been appropriately reported and you have obtained the doctor’s report and medical evidence, you are ready to file your workers’ compensation claim. A workers’ compensation attorney can assist you to ensure your claim is accurate, complete, and compliant with the law.
New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system is “no-fault,” meaning that an injured worker does not need to sue the employer or prove that the employer was at fault or otherwise negligent to receive workers’ compensation benefits. This can make the process more expedient and less negative for everyone involved.
Be aware of your employer’s policy regarding “on-the-job” injuries, and be certain to follow the steps. Your Human Resources Department should have a copy of the policy readily available.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If your claim is approved, the workers’ compensation benefits you may be eligible for in Hamilton, NJ, can include:
Lost Wages
The New Jersey workers’ compensation system ensures that your income is steady during your recovery by paying you 70% of your average weekly earnings each week until you recover or have reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). Your total lost wages cannot exceed 75% of the Statewide Average Weekly Wage (SAWW), nor can it fall below 20% of it. Lost wages are applied from the date you start missing work to when you return.
Medical Expenses
Workers’ compensation benefits cover medical expenses you incur due to your illness or injury. Examples of commonly covered expenses include hospitalizations, medical procedures, surgeries, physical and occupational therapy, and prescription drugs. It may also include modification to one’s home or car to accommodate a disability. The coverage window for compensable medical expenses opens at the time of injury and closes when a doctor reports a full or partial recovery.
Temporary Partial Disability Benefits
You may be able to work at your former job, but at reduced hours due to your condition. In that instance, you could be eligible for temporary partial disability benefits. This benefit reimburses an injured worker for two-thirds of the difference between previous earnings and current earnings.
Temporary Total Disability Benefits
Temporary total disability benefits are available to injured workers who cannot return to work until fully recovered. Injured workers can receive two-thirds of their regular income beginning as early as three days from being out of work due to the injury/illness. Payments end if you reach the maximum of 400 weeks of payments or when a doctor clears you to return to work.
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits
Permanent partial disability benefits are available if you are permanently disabled but can still work. Both scheduled and unscheduled disabilities can be covered. Examples of scheduled disabilities include visual or hearing impairments or the loss of limbs, while unscheduled disabilities, although more difficult to label, can include heart, lung, or back issues.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits
Permanent total disability benefits are available to an injured worker who can no longer work at their former job due to their disability. Even if a worker is able to perform some other type of work, if they can no longer perform their former job, they are eligible for permanent total disability. Loss of both arms and complete blindness are examples of permanent total disability.
Death Benefits
The dependents of an employee who dies due to a workplace injury can also receive workers’ compensation benefits. The definition of “dependants” is broadly construed in New Jersey workers’ compensation law. Call Hamilton workers’ compensation lawyer Stan Gregory to determine if you may be eligible for death benefits due to the death of your loved one.