Resources for Workers

Oakhurst, Howell and Toms River Offices Serving All of New Jersey

Workers’ compensation in New Jersey can be complicated. You may not realize that you are entitled to benefits in some situations, so you may not recognize when your employer or insurance company is acting inappropriately.

Workers CompensationLearning all you can about the system can be extremely beneficial for you and your family in the long run. There are resources available to workers who have been injured that provide need-to-know information about workers’ compensation benefits in New Jersey.

One of those resources is Schibell Law, LLC’s website and blog. Our team puts together answers to some of the most frequently asked questions and lots of other information as well in our blog.

We encourage you to use our website as a resource and give us a call if you have additional questions or need help with your claim.

New Jersey Law Basics on Workers’ Compensation

Most employees are covered under New Jersey workers’ compensation laws. There are very few employers that are not required to carry workers’ compensation insurance.

Workers’ compensation insurance covers injuries that occur at work or while you are engaging in work-related activities. Most work accidents occur on the employer’s premise, but this is not always the case.

The most common workers’ compensation injuries include:

  • Strains, lacerations, and bruises
  • Back injuries
  • Crush injuries
  • Injuries to your hands or feet
  • Broken or fractured bones
  • Head injuries
  • Repetitive stress injuries

Workers’ compensation will generally cover these types of injuries as long as they occurred while you were doing something for your employer. There are exceptions, however, and your workers’ compensation lawyer can help you determine whether your injury should be covered.

Your employer is required to let you know whether they have workers’ compensation insurance coverage. There should be a poster or other sign about it in or near your work area. These required postings can be a great resource for injured workers.

Benefits Available under Workers’ Compensation in New Jersey

There are several types of benefits available to those who are injured on-the-job. Medical benefits are perhaps he first type of benefit that injured workers deal with.

As long as your injury is caused by your job, your employer should be paying all of your medical bills related to treatment for your injury. This includes situations where the first doctor refers you to another doctor or to a specialist.

Other benefits available under workers’ compensation in New Jersey include:

  • Death benefits
  • Permanent partial disability benefits
  • Permanent total disability benefits
  • Temporary disability benefits

Each type of benefit is slightly different. The benefit that is appropriate for your case will vary depending on your unique circumstances.

What Happens If There Is a Dispute?

If there is a dispute between the employer and the employee or insurance company, the employee can file a claim petition or an application for an informal hearing with the Division of Workers’ Compensation.

An informal hearing is available as a way to avoid the sometimes long and costly litigation process. The informal hearing involves a judge of compensation, and the employee, employer, and their insurance company.

This type of hearing can only address certain workers’ compensation disputes, such as the amount of temporary benefits or issues regarding medical treatment.

A formal claim is much more drawn out and complicated, but it is often the only way to address a wide number of claims in New Jersey. Usually, employees can expect that the hearing will take place in roughly six months from the date of the formal claim petition filing.

How to Learn More about New Jersey Workers’ Compensation

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development offers some great resources for employees who may have been injured at work.

They describe the benefits available in detail and explain the general function of the New Jersey workers’ compensation system. You can visit their website here.

Schibell Law, LLC has many great resources for workers available to them as well. The best way to get your specific questions answered is to set up a free case evaluation with our workers’ compensation team. Call 732-774-1000 for more information.