New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Workers' Compensation Lawyer in New Jersey

On-the-job injuries are, unfortunately, all too common in New Jersey. This is especially true with the increased number of hotels, condominiums, and high-rises that are growing and require individuals to work atop large buildings, equipment, ladders, and scaffolding. Moreover, the large number of commercial vehicles on area roadways, including Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1, lead to numerous work-related accidents.

For this purpose, the state developed its workers’ compensation system back in 1911. Under that system, workers’ compensation coverage became a requirement for all employers in the state.

If an individual sustains an injury or illness while working at their job and while working within the scope of their employment, they may recover benefits, depending on the accident circumstances and their injuries.

If you suffered an illness or injury at your job, the knowledgeable New Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys at Reinartz Law Firm are ready to assist you. Our lawyers have a successful history of settling and litigating workers’ compensation claims on behalf of injured workers throughout the state.

In fact, we have recovered millions of dollars in monetary compensation for our clients through personal injury settlements, workers’ compensation benefit awards, and courtroom jury verdicts.

Our skilled legal team will work hard to ensure you recover the full benefits and compensation you deserve for your work-related injury or illness. If your employer’s insurance company refuses to compensate you fairly, we aggressively pursue a full and fair benefits award.

For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with our experienced New Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys, please contact our office directly.

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When you hire the Reinartz Law Firm, you get experience, resources, and commitment. Richard Reinartz, the managing member of the firm, is a highly recognized and respected attorney who is proud to represent injured clients.

Some of Richard’s recognitions include:

  • Best Lawyers
  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • Super Lawyers
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers in New Jersey

In addition to receiving accolades, Reinartz Law Firm gets results for our clients. We have obtained many six and seven-figure settlements and awards, and these are only some examples of successful outcomes we have achieved.

What Incidents Lead to New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Claims?

New Jersey Workers' Compensation Lawyer

The Workers’ Compensation System in New Jersey provides no-fault insurance. Therefore, an injured worker may receive benefits regardless of how the accident occurred or who caused it.

Many injured workers suffer severe complications after sustaining an injury or illness at work. For example, they may be unable to work for a significant period of time, losing income. Moreover, they may have to obtain ongoing medical treatment and undergo painful procedures, including surgeries that prevent them from working.

Some injury victims suffer such serious injuries that they have to switch jobs—or even entire careers—due to the permanent injuries they suffered in their workplace accidents.

For a worker to receive various workers’ compensation benefits, they must typically suffer their injury or illness while performing a job duty.

You may not know for sure if workers’ compensation insurance covers your injury or illness, so call us today to find out.

We represent clients who were injured in various accidents on the job, including:

Motor Vehicle Accidents and Workers’ Compensation in New Jersey

First, workers who operate motor vehicles as part of their job may pursue a workers’ compensation claim against their employer’s insurer if they suffer injuries in an accident. In the context of a workers’ compensation claim, it does not matter how the accident occurred or who caused it—only that the accident victim sustains their injury while working during their employment.

In t on-the-job motor vehicle crashes, however, workers usually cannot recover benefits if their accident occurs while going to or coming from work. If they pursue a claim with their employer’s insurer under those circumstances, the insurance company will likely deny the claim.

In addition to on-the-job motor vehicle accidents, some workers suffer serious injuries when they work in the construction and building industries. These workers are around heavy and dangerous machinery and equipment daily. Sometimes, workers suffer injuries while physically working on the machines, while at other times, they may sustain a fall injury if they slip on a high ladder or scaffolding.

These are just some examples of situations where a worker may be eligible to file a claim in the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation System. However, this is by no means an exhaustive list.

If you sustained injuries or illnesses in one of these occurrences while you were working, the knowledgeable New Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys at Reinartz Law Firm can help you handle every aspect of your claim, beginning with the claims-filing process.

Once we file a claim for you, we can pursue the benefits you deserve. Finally, if the insurance company refuses offer you favorable benefits, we can represent you at a workers’ compensation hearing and advocate for the best possible result in your case.

What Injuries and Illnesses Do Workers Suffer While on the Job?

When workers drive vehicles and work around dangerous machinery and equipment, they are prone to suffering on-the-job injuries. However, individuals who work in an office environment are equally as likely to suffer illnesses and injuries when exposed to harmful chemicals—or when they slip and fall on the ground while at the office.

The specific injuries and illnesses that workers suffer while performing job duties depend significantly upon the circumstances.

Some of the most common include:

  • Traumatic head and brain injuries
  • Soft tissue contusions
  • Broken bones
  • Cuts and abrasions
  • Burns
  • Internal organ injuries
  • Crush injuries from heavy equipment
  • Asthma
  • Allergic reactions
  • Skin reactions
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Irreparable lung and sinus damage

Seek medical treatment for your injuries as soon as possible after a work accident. In New Jersey, an injured worker’s employer has the legal right to assign a treating physician to employees who suffered an occupational disease or injury while on the job.

However, in some situations, workers can select their medical provider. First, workers can choose their own doctor if they are experiencing a medical emergency. Similarly, workers can choose a doctor if their employer refuses to provide them with the medical treatment they need.

If you suffered an injury or illness in a recent work accident or over time, the knowledgeable New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyers at Reinartz Law Firm can discuss your circumstances and determine if you’re eligible to file a claim seeking various benefits. If you are, we can start working on the claim right away and pursuing the full benefits you deserve.

How Do I File a Benefits Claim?

In short, call us.

We can tell injured workers how to their employer immediately after their accident. If you sustained injuries, you should report the incident to your human resources contact person as soon as possible. Your employer can submit a First Injury Report to the New Jersey Division of Workers’ Compensation.

Assuming the Division accepts your claim, the insurance company will send you to a medical provider whom they authorize. Moreover, a seven-day waiting period applies before you can begin receiving your workers’ compensation benefits. However, there is no waiting period for permanent disability benefits or medical benefits.

What Types of New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Benefits Can I Receive?

The first step to pursuing workers’ compensation benefits is to file a claim with the appropriate insurance company. If the insurance company accepts your claim, you can recover various benefits depending upon the incident circumstances and the specifics of your injury or illness.

Medical Benefits

New Jersey Workers' Compensation Lawyer

First, workers who suffer injuries or illnesses while on the job may be eligible to recover benefits to cover their medical treatment costs. For you to be eligible to receive monetary benefits for your medical expenses, the expenses must be related to your work-related accident and injuries. Some workers sustain such serious injuries that they must undergo ongoing medical care, such as surgery or physical therapy. Those expenses may also be reimbursable as part of your workers’ compensation claim.

Workers’ compensation insurance benefits include paid medical treatment up to the point that the injured employee reaches maximum medical improvement. This may include emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, and other treatment costs. Additionally, the medical benefits cover the cost of prescriptions and other therapy costs deemed medically necessary by treating doctors. It is important to note that the employer retains the right to choose which doctor or physician will treat the injured worker.

Disability Benefits

Moreover, if your injuries prevent you from returning to work while you spend time recovering from your injuries, you may be eligible to recover benefits for your lost wages.

Temporary Total Disability Benefits

When an employee cannot work for more than seven days due to their injury or illness, they will be eligible for temporary total disability ("TTD") benefits. This means that they are eligible to receive pay that typically equals approximately 70% of their weekly wage. TTD benefits received may not fall below or exceed certain minimum and maximum levels set by the State. Once the employee returns to work, TTD benefits will cease.

Permanent Partial Disability Benefits

Similarly, they can recover benefits for permanent partial disability, depending on their severity and type of injury. When someone’s injury or illness renders them permanently partially disabled, they may receive permanent partial disability benefits that are paid out on a weekly basis after TTD benefits cease.

The two types of permanent partial benefits are based on whether a disability or loss is scheduled or non-scheduled.

A scheduled loss includes any disability that hinders the use of arms, hands, feet, legs, fingers, toes, ears, teeth or eyes. Non-scheduled losses involve any area that isn’t defined or included in “scheduled” losses. These typically manifest as back injuries, or problems with the heart or lungs.

Permanent Total Disability Benefits

If the illness or injury is so severe that the employee is unable to return to any type of gainful employment, then he or she may be eligible to receive permanent total disability benefits. Permanent total benefits are paid out on a ratio based on the employee’s former level of pay. They are entitled to receive approximately 70 percent of their former weekly average pay. Like TTD benefits, their weekly compensation may be subject to certain minimum and maximum amounts.

Workers may receive these permanent total benefits for a period of up to 450 consecutive weeks. After those first 450 weeks, they must again prove that they are unable to return to work in order to continue receiving these benefits.

Death Benefits

Death benefits are paid to the dependents of a worker who was killed on the job or whose work-related injuries or illness led to their untimely death. These benefits are divided among the individual dependents based on a judge’s determination after hearing the case. Only spouses and children who were living with the deceased worker at the time of death are considered to be eligible dependents.

Any additional family members who were not living with the decedent at the time of death must prove actual dependency to the court before being able to collect a portion of death benefits. This may include parents, grandparents, siblings or half- or step-children.

Additionally, state mandated death benefits include up to $3,500 to be paid to cover funeral expenses. These funeral expenses are paid to whoever is responsible for paying the funeral bill, whether it is an individual or the estate of the deceased.

If your employer’s insurance company fails to award you the benefits you feel you deserve, you may pursue a hearing through the Workers’ Compensation System. The skilled New Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys at Reinartz Law Firm can help you pursue and recover the full benefits you deserve for your work-related illness or injury.

What if a Dispute Arises About my Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

From time to time, disputes will arise regarding the types and amounts of benefits that an injured or ill worker deserves to recover. These disputes typically arise because insurance companies and their adjusters want to pay out as few benefits to injured workers as possible. After all, insurance companies are big businesses, and they want to save themselves as much money as they can.

Therefore, they may deny your claim for benefits, or they may point out that you suffered a pre-existing illness, injury, or medical condition that limits your benefits eligibility.

When a benefits dispute arises, a hearing may go forward before the New Jersey Division of Workers’ Compensation. Most hearings resolve the dispute in favor of one party or another. The injured worker can also appeal the New Jersey Court System hearing result.

If your employer’s insurance company has raised a dispute over your eligibility for benefits, the skilled New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyers at Reinartz Law Firm can represent you at your hearing or, if necessary, file an appeal on your behalf to help you recover the benefits that you deserve.

Richard Reinartz
Richard Reinartz, Worker's Compensation Lawyer

If you suffered a work-related illness or injury while performing a job duty, you should talk to a knowledgeable New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyer as quickly as possible. If you wait too long to file a claim for benefits, your claim may become time-barred.

The skilled legal team at Reinartz Law Firm can begin advocating for you right away and pursuing the full amount of workers’ compensation benefits you deserve to recover. If the insurance company refuses to compensate you for certain benefits that you deserve, we can take your case to a hearing and advocate for your legal interests there. We can also help you negotiate a full and final settlement of your workers’ compensation claim with your employer’s insurer under certain circumstances.

Regardless of what happens, you can rest assured that the skilled legal team at Reinartz Law Firm is looking out for you and fighting for your legal interests at all stages of the workers’ compensation process.

For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with an experienced New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyer, please call us today at (201) 778-4878 or contact us online for more information.

The Reinartz Law Firm - Hackensack Office

Court Plaza South - West Wing
21 Main St Suite 205,
Hackensack, NJ 07601

+12012898614

Testimonial

David Mendez

"Richard Reinartz has been my lawyer since 2014 and has helped me out with a couple of workers compensation cases, a car accident and a family members personal injury. In my personal opinion he is a great lawyer, keeps you informed of how your case is going and which direction is going, he is aggressive with his abilities to get you the best possible outcome in the end, he is compassionate to your injury or the situation your are in to help you out. I would recommend my lawyer to anybody and I have."

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