How Can a Pemberton Workers’ Comp Attorney Help?
Are you looking for a workers’ compensation lawyer in Pemberton? Stan Gregory is a workers’ compensation lawyer with over 20 years of experience helping employees file workers’ compensation claims and get the benefits they deserve.
Insurance companies deny many legitimate workers’ compensation claims because they only make money for their shareholders on denied claims. At the Law Firm of Stan Gregory, we can help you fight against this conflict of interest.
If you want an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Pemberton that cares about your workers’ compensation benefits, call Stan Gregory at 609-281-5100. We take workers’ compensation cases on contingency, so you won’t have to pay out-of-pocket, and our case consultations are free.
What To Do If You’re Injured On the Job
If you’re injured on the job, you’ll need to do three things: report the accident, visit a doctor, and file a claim. The NJ state legislature created workers’ compensation as a “no-fault” system to help injured workers get paid, avoid clogged courts, and preserve the employer-employee relationship. This means that you don’t have to sue your employer or prove that they are responsible for your injury to receive benefits.
To receive workers’ compensation benefits, you must first report the accident to your supervisor. Be sure to report the injury as soon as it happens because many states have short deadlines. If you don’t report your injury within this timeframe and develop symptoms weeks to months after your accident, you cannot collect workers’ compensation benefits.
Once you report your injury, you’ll need to visit a doctor. The Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) allows federal employees to see a doctor of their choice. If you aren’t protected under FECA, you’ll need to visit a doctor paid for by your employer. After 30 days, you can visit a doctor of your choice.
Your doctor will write a report detailing your injury and the care you will need to recover. This has a significant impact on what workers’ compensation benefits you’ll receive.
Filing a claim is the last step to receiving benefits for your workplace injury. Stan Gregory has years of experience as a workers’ compensation lawyer in Pemberton, helping employees get the benefits they deserve.
Available Workers’ Comp Benefits in Pemberton, NJ
Lost Wages
Between the time of your injury and when you return to work, your workers’ compensation benefits cover missed paychecks. You’ll receive lost wages every week until you return to work. This type of workers’ comp calculates at 70% of your average weekly earnings and, it will not exceed 75% of the Statewide Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) or fall below the minimum rate of 20% of the SAWW.
Medical Expenses
Workers’ compensation covers hospitalization, procedures, therapies, prescription drugs, and other medical expenses related to your workplace injury. You will receive benefits immediately following your injury and until you recover.
You should note that some therapies such as physical therapy and chiropractic treatment limit you to a specific number that workers’ compensation can cover. Your doctor will need to write a report detailing how therapy is still needed for your recovery to get workers’ compensations to cover additional sessions.
Temporary Partial Disability Benefits
Workers’ compensation covers employees who are working reduced hours or completing reduced duties because of their workplace injury. This type of workers’ compensation covers the difference between your income before your injury and what you’re making now. Temporary partial disability benefits calculate at two-thirds of the difference.
Temporary Total Disability Benefits
If your workplace injury has put you out of work until you recover, you’re entitled to temporary total disability benefits. Temporary total disability benefits calculate at two-thirds of your income, and you can start receiving these benefits after three to seven days of being out of work.
Until your doctor says you can go back to work, you can no longer improve your condition, or you have reached 400 weeks of benefits, you can continue collecting workers’ compensation.
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits
Permanent partial disability benefits protect employees who have a permanent disability but can still work. The level of your disability will determine how much compensation you will receive. Disabilities or losses categorize as scheduled or unscheduled.
Schedule losses found in the state laws include disabilities like impairment or loss of a body part such as the leg, hand, or fingers. Unscheduled losses are harder to calculate as state laws do not include them. These include injuries such as back problems and issues with the heart and lungs.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits
This type of workers’ compensation protects employees who can no longer work at their previous job because of their workplace injury. This also protects employees who can no longer work any job because they now have a permanent disability. Some disabilities covered by permanent total disability benefits include blindness and the loss of both legs.
Death Benefits
Workers’ compensation provides benefits to dependents of deceased employees. If your family member died in a workplace accident, you’re entitled to death benefits. This will include a lump sum and $3,500 in funeral expenses. Because workers’ compensation laws in NJ are broad when it comes to “dependents,” call workers’ compensation lawyer in Pemberton, Stan Gregory, to help determine if you are eligible for death benefits.