A workday that starts like any other can change in an instant when industrial machinery fails or safety measures fall short. If you have been hurt by a press, conveyor, saw, lathe, or any other piece of equipment on the job, a New Jersey machine injury lawyer from Reinartz Law Firm can help you understand your rights.
Our Hackensack-based personal injury practice represents workers across the Garden State who have suffered serious harm because of dangerous machines, and we are ready to fight for the recovery you and your family need.
Machine injuries are often life-changing. A single moment can mean lost fingers, crushed limbs, severe burns, or permanent disability that keeps you from returning to the work you love.
We understand that you are not just dealing with physical pain. You are also worried about lost wages, mounting medical bills, and what comes next for the people who depend on you. We see you, we hear you, and we are here to listen. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Why Choose a New Jersey Machine Injury Lawyer from Reinartz Law Firm
When your future is on the line, the lawyer you choose matters. Our team brings a rare combination of trial experience, local knowledge, and personal attention to every case we accept.
- Trial-tested advocates who have handled high-stakes cases for both plaintiffs and Fortune 500 companies, giving us insight into how the other side thinks
- Recognized excellence including AV Preeminent ratings, Super Lawyers selection, and Million Dollar Advocates Forum membership
- Hands-on case handling where Richard Reinartz and Thomas McKinney are personally involved in building your case
- Hackensack roots with deep familiarity in Bergen County courts, factories, and warehouses across northern New Jersey
- No fee unless we win so there is no financial risk to getting strong legal representation from day one
You should not have to fight insurance carriers, employers, or equipment manufacturers alone after a serious workplace accident. Call 201-289-8614 today for a free consultation, and let us start building your case while you focus on healing.
Common Types of Machine Injuries We Handle
Industrial and commercial machines come in countless shapes and sizes, and so do the injuries they cause. Whether you work in manufacturing, construction, food processing, warehousing, or any other industry that relies on heavy equipment, we have seen the kinds of harm these machines can cause.
Our New Jersey machine injury lawyer team regularly represents workers hurt by:
- Power presses, punch presses, and stamping machines
- Conveyor belts and assembly line equipment
- Industrial saws, cutters, and grinders
- Forklifts, hoists, and other lifting equipment
- Meat slicers, dough mixers, and food processing machines
- Printing presses and paper-handling equipment
- Lathes, milling machines, and drill presses
- Plastics injection molding and extrusion machines
- Wood chippers, planers, and shop tools
- Agricultural and landscaping equipment
Every machine carries its own risks, and every injury tells its own story. We take time to understand exactly how your accident happened so we can pursue every source of recovery available to you.
How Machine Accidents Happen on New Jersey Job Sites
Most machine injuries are not freak accidents. They happen because something went wrong with safety practices, training, maintenance, or the equipment itself.
Federal law requires employers to provide proper safeguards, and the OSHA machine guarding standard sets clear rules about protecting workers from points of operation, nip points, rotating parts, and flying debris.
Workers at warehouses near the Meadowlands, manufacturing plants in Newark, food processing facilities in Bergen County, and construction sites along Route 17 are all entitled to the same basic protections. When those protections fail, people get hurt.
Some of the most common causes we see include:
- Missing or removed machine guards
- Defective safety switches, sensors, or emergency stops
- Inadequate lockout/tagout procedures during maintenance
- Poor training on equipment operation
- Pressure to work faster than is safe
- Worn-out parts that should have been replaced
- Design flaws built into the machine itself
- Lack of proper personal protective equipment
Behind each of these failures is usually a person, company, or manufacturer who could have done better. Our job is to find out who and hold them accountable for the harm you suffered.
The Serious Harm Caused by Machine Accidents
Machine injuries tend to be severe. The forces involved are tremendous, and even a brief moment of contact with moving parts can cause damage that lasts a lifetime.
Some of the most common injuries our clients face include amputations, crush injuries, deep lacerations, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, severe burns, eye injuries, and permanent nerve damage.
These injuries do not just affect your body. They affect your ability to work, to care for your family, to enjoy hobbies you once loved, and to feel like yourself again. The medical care you need may stretch for months or years, and the cost of that care adds stress on top of everything else you are carrying.
We work closely with medical professionals, vocational experts, and life-care planners to understand the full picture of how your injury affects you today and how it will affect you in the years to come.
Building that complete picture is how we make sure no part of your loss is overlooked.
Two Paths to Recovery After a Workplace Machine Injury
When you are hurt by a machine on the job, you may have two separate legal claims working in parallel—a workers’ comp claim and a third-party lawsuit. Here’s a closer look at each:
Workers' Compensation Benefits
Almost every employee in New Jersey is covered by workers' compensation under Title 34, Chapter 15 of the state statutes. This system provides benefits regardless of who was at fault for your injury.
You generally do not have to prove your employer did anything wrong to receive payment for medical care, a portion of your lost wages, and disability benefits if you cannot return to work the same way.
We help injured workers in Hackensack and across New Jersey by:
- Filing your claim petition properly and on time
- Securing authorized medical treatment with qualified doctors
- Pursuing temporary disability payments while you recover
- Building the case for permanent partial or total disability benefits
- Fighting denials, delays, and lowball settlement offers
- Representing you at hearings before the Division of Workers' Compensation
Workers' compensation is meant to be a straightforward safety net, but in practice insurance carriers often resist paying what is owed. Having a lawyer in your corner makes a real difference in what you actually receive.
Third-Party Personal Injury Claims
Workers' compensation is not the end of the story. If a party other than your employer caused or contributed to your injury, you may have a separate personal injury claim against that third party.
New Jersey law specifically preserves this right under N.J.S.A. 34:15-40, which addresses third-party liability in workplace cases.
Common third-party claims arising from machine injuries include:
- Product liability cases against the manufacturer of a defective machine
- Claims against equipment maintenance or repair contractors
- Lawsuits against property owners who failed to keep premises safe
- Cases against general contractors at multi-employer construction sites
- Claims against staffing agencies or other employers sharing the worksite
Third-party claims are powerful because they can include damages that workers' compensation does not cover, like pain and suffering, full lost wages, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Pursuing both claims at once requires careful coordination, and that is exactly the kind of work we do every day.
Compensation You May Be Entitled to Receive
The damages available in your case depend on which type of claim applies and the specifics of what happened. We pursue every category of recovery the law allows.
Through workers' compensation, you may be entitled to:
- All reasonable and necessary medical treatment
- Temporary disability payments while you cannot work
- Permanent partial disability awards based on your injury
- Permanent total disability benefits if you cannot return to gainful employment
- Death benefits for surviving family members in fatal cases
Through a third-party personal injury claim, you may also recover:
- Full lost wages, both past and future
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of consortium for spouses
- Punitive damages in cases of egregious wrongdoing
Every case is different, and the value of yours depends on factors like the severity of your injury, your age, your work history, and the strength of the evidence. We give every client a clear-eyed assessment of what their case is realistically worth, with no false promises.
Acting Quickly Protects Your Rights
Time matters after a machine injury. Evidence disappears, witnesses move on, and legal deadlines pass. New Jersey law sets strict time limits for both workers' compensation claims and personal injury lawsuits, and missing those deadlines can mean losing your right to recover entirely.
Just as important, the machine that hurt you may be repaired, modified, or scrapped before its condition can be properly documented. Maintenance logs, training records, and witness memories all fade with time.
Getting an NJ machine injury lawyer involved early gives us the best chance to preserve what we need to prove your case.
Your free consultation costs nothing and creates no obligation. We will listen, answer your questions, and tell you honestly whether we believe we can help.
FAQs Answered by a New Jersey Machine Injury Attorney
Here are answers to some of the questions we hear most often from people considering a machine injury claim in New Jersey.
Can I file a lawsuit against my employer if a machine caused my injury at work?
In most situations, workers' compensation is the exclusive remedy against your employer, meaning you generally cannot sue them directly.
However, you can pursue a third-party claim against other parties who contributed to your injury, such as the machine's manufacturer, a maintenance company, or another contractor on the site.
How long do I have to file a workers' compensation claim in New Jersey?
You must report your injury to your employer promptly, generally within 90 days, and file a formal claim petition with the Division of Workers' Compensation within two years of the accident or last payment of benefits.
Acting sooner rather than later is always better, as memories fade and evidence can be lost.
What if the machine that hurt me had its safety guards removed?
A removed or missing safety guard is a serious red flag and may strengthen both your workers' compensation claim and any product liability or third-party case you have.
We investigate exactly when, why, and by whom guards were removed, and we use that information to identify everyone who may share responsibility.
Do I have to pay anything upfront to hire a machine injury lawyer?
No. We handle machine injury and workers' compensation cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Your initial consultation is also completely free.
What if I was partly at fault for my own machine injury?
Workers' compensation benefits are generally available regardless of fault, with very limited exceptions. In a third-party personal injury case, New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence rule that may reduce but not eliminate your recovery, depending on your share of fault.
What if a loved one died because of a machine accident at work?
Surviving family members may be entitled to death benefits through workers' compensation as well as a wrongful death claim against any third parties who contributed to the accident.
We handle these cases with the care and sensitivity they deserve, and we help families pursue every avenue of recovery available.
Speak With a New Jersey Machine Injury Lawyer Today
You do not have to figure this out alone. The team at Reinartz Law Firm is ready to listen to your story, explain your options in plain language, and start building the strongest possible case for your recovery.
We have the trial experience, the resources, and the genuine commitment to your well-being that a serious machine injury claim deserves.
Call us at 201-289-8614 for your free, no-obligation consultation. We can meet by phone, in person at our Hackensack office, or by video conference, whichever works best for you.
There is no fee unless we recover compensation for your case, so reaching out costs you nothing but a few minutes of your time. Let us carry the legal burden so you can focus on healing.
