Pennsauken Township Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Even with new and improved safety precautions, many people are injured in workplace accidents in Pennsauken Township. In addition to being frightening, these injuries and illnesses are also exceptionally costly for an afflicted worker. Injuries often result in substantial medical bills and an inability to work.

Fortunately, expenses incurred because of workplace injuries and illnesses are generally covered under federal or New Jersey workers’ compensation laws, but they can be difficult to interpret. In addition, there are precise procedural rules that must be followed in order to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

If you or a family member was hurt in a workplace accident, an experienced Pennsauken Township workers’ compensation lawyer may be able to help you. A local personal injury attorney understands these complex workers’ compensation laws and regulations and could help you follow the proper procedures so that you are able to obtain the benefits that you are rightfully owed.

Workers’ Compensation Laws Explained

State law requires Pennsauken Township employers to carry workers’ compensation policies or to go through the proper approval channels for self-insurance, pending that they are not already protected by Federal programs. New Jersey Revised Statutes §34:15-1 states that if a person is injured by an “accident arising out of and in the course of” his or her job, then that person is eligible for workers’ compensation benefits – as long as the he or she was not acting willfully negligent..

Unfortunately, an employer may try to argue that a worker was not acting pursuant to his or her job’s duties when he or she became injured in order to avoid paying toward benefits. For example, if an employee is harmed while participating in a company outing, a knowledgeable Pennsauken Township workers’ comp attorney could help prove that the injury was related to the worker’s job by establishing that the outing took place during the workday and that attendance was mandatory.

Workers’ compensation benefits are generally exclusive. This means that if an injured employee pursues workers’ comp benefits, then he or she is prohibited from suing his or her employer for additional damages – except for in instances involving an “intentional wrong” by the employer, according to NJ Rev Stat §34:15-8.

Benefits Available to Injured Workers

Following an injury or illness that resulted from work, employees are entitled to receive payment for all related medical costs, including hospitalization and medications. The employer is allowed to select the doctor, except in the event of an emergency.

If the injured worker is unable to perform his or her job duties while receiving medical care, he or she is also entitled to recover temporary total disability benefits. If the workplace injury results in a permanent partial disability, such as the loss of a limb, or a permanent total disability that prevents the injured employee from returning to work, he or she may be entitled to receive permanent payments according to a rate and schedule established by NJ Rev Stat §34:15-12.

Finally, if the workplace injury results in the death of a worker, the surviving family members may be entitled to recover benefits and funeral expenses. While these benefits are available, it could behoove people to work with a workers’ compensation lawyer in the Pennsauken Township area for help filing.

How a Pennsauken Township Workers’ Compensation Attorney Could Help

In order to receive workers’ compensation benefits, an injured worker needs to give his or her employer notice of the injury and follow the proper procedures set forth by New Jersey law. It is imperative that you get in touch with a qualified local attorney immediately to help you understand the complex federal and state laws and regulations involving workers’ compensation benefits. An experienced Pennsauken Township workers’ compensation lawyer could help you decipher those laws and set you on the road to recovery, so call today.