When someone is injured on the job and can’t return to work because of their injury, they may find themselves in a precarious situation. After all, they need money to pay for the cost of medical treatment and other damages, but they’re unable to continue working (at least temporarily) to collect regular paychecks. Fortunately, there may be a legal avenue for you to recover the compensation you need to stay afloat and pick up the pieces. Please continue reading and contact the seasoned Sussex County workers’ compensation lawyers at Laddey Clark & Ryan, LLP for the help you need.
Though most work-related injuries occur in fields that require physical labor, such as construction sites, oil refineries, and warehouses, they can happen virtually anywhere. If you’ve been injured on the job, Sussex County Workers’ Compensation Lawyers can help you understand your rights and pursue the benefits you deserve. Just some of the places where work injuries are known to occur include:
Depending on a person’s line of work and their surroundings, there are a wide range of injuries they can potentially sustain while on the job. Some of the most common work-related injuries we’ve seen over the years are as follows:
If you’ve sustained an injury while on the job, it’s crucial to act quickly to ensure both your health and your ability to recover compensation. If you can, you should take the following steps after a workplace injury:
If you’ve been injured on the job, Sussex County Workers’ Compensation Lawyers can help you navigate the claims process and ensure you receive the benefits you are entitled to under New Jersey law. Their experience makes a critical difference in protecting your rights and maximizing your recovery.
Virtually all employees in New Jersey are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. This includes full-time, part-time, and even seasonal workers. You may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if you are injured in a work-related accident or develop an illness related to your job. This includes sudden injuries from accidents, such as falls or equipment-related incidents, and occupational illnesses or conditions that develop over time, like repetitive stress injuries or exposure to hazardous materials. Psychological injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may also be covered if they are work-related.
There are three benefits an injured employee is entitled to: (1) temporary benefits, which service as wage replacement; (2) medical treatment; and (3) a permanency award. Each of these benefits is described below.
(1) Temporary Benefits -You are entitled to receive temporary disability benefits if your Workers’ Compensation-approved doctor writes a note saying that you are out of work. This benefit is either 70% of your pay or the maximum amount of $969 per week, whichever is lower. If your doctor releases you to “light duty,” you will be expected to go back to work in that capacity if your job offers “light duty.” If it does not, you will continue on temporary benefits until you are released to “full duty.” You are prohibited from working anywhere while you are receiving temporary benefits, including any “off the books” jobs. You are also unable to collect unemployment while you are receiving temporary benefits. If you become unemployed while you are still receiving treatment and are not receiving temporary benefits, you are also barred from collecting unemployment, as doing so would mean you are “ready, willing and able” to work.
(2) Medical Treatment – At some point you will reach what is called “Maximum Medical Improvement” or MMI. This means that there is nothing more that the doctors can do for you to help improve your health or condition. Regardless of the extent of the injury, you will eventually reach this point, at which time your medical benefits will end. After this point, there is a six-month waiting period before permanency examinations can be scheduled, pursuant to Court Rules.
(3) Permanency Award – Once you have reached the end of your treatment, it will be required that you attend permanency evaluations. These are examinations with both our doctors and the employer’s insurance company’s doctors that will determine how permanently disabled you are. The award you are given at the end is determined by the percentage disabled you have become as a result of the injury and, for some injuries, your wages. The percentage of disability corresponds to a dollar amount as set forth by the State of New Jersey. The amount of attorneys’ fees will be determined, but will not exceed 20% of the recovery. This amount is determined solely through the discretion of the Court. The Court will also determine how much of the attorneys’ fees will be deducted from your permanency award. The award is paid directly to your attorney by the employer’s insurance company. If there is no permanency award, you will not receive a bill for legal services rendered.
Q: “I am a part-time employee. Am I entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if I am injured on the job?”
A: Yes, a part-time employee is entitled to the same benefits a full-time employee would receive.
Q: “If I am taken out of work by my treating doctor, will I receive my entire salary in temporary benefits?”
A: No. Pursuant to New Jersey’s Workers’ Compensation statute, an injured employee will receive 70% of their salary up to $969 per week if the injury occurred in 2021.
Q: “Does filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits mean I am suing my employer?”
A: No. In fact, the reason the workers’ compensation court system was developed was to prevent employees from suing their employers and instead allow them to receive statutory benefits including medical, temporary and permanency benefits.
Q: “Do I have the right to a jury trial?”
A: No. In the New Jersey workers’ compensation system, the judge acts predominantly as a mediator between the parties and makes independent rulings in the form of orders.
Q: “I was injured several years ago but continued to treat with doctors as directed by workers’ compensation until recently. Can I retain an attorney to file a claim on my behalf?”
A: Yes. The statute of limitations is two years from the date of last compensation, which can mean the date of the last temporary benefits check or the date of last medical benefits provided by the insurance company. If the claim is denied and treatment is unauthorized, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of loss.
Q: “Is my spouse entitled to benefits through workers’ compensation for loss of consortium?”
A: No. While some cases through Superior Court allow for spouses to have a claim for loss of consortium, New Jersey does not allow for this in workers’ compensation.
Q: “Do I get to choose the doctors that treat my injury?”
A: No. In the New Jersey workers’ compensation system, the employer or insurance carrier chooses the doctors to treat your injury. There is very little that can be done to change doctors who are authorized to treat you for your injury. Changes in authorized treating doctors can only be done in exceptional circumstances.
If you’ve been injured on the job, you can depend on our knowledgeable and experienced NJ workers’ compensation lawyers to fight for your recovery. Contact Laddey Clark & Ryan, LLP today to schedule your free initial consultation with our workers’ compensation lawyers.
© 2025 Laddey Clark & Ryan, LLP. All rights reserved. Attorney advertising.
