If you are injured (or killed) on the job, you or your dependents can receive workers’ compensation benefits. By law, all New Jersey, non-federal employers are required to provide coverage to all workers they employ.
The law provides the following types of benefits:
- Medical Benefits – All necessary medical treatment, hospital costs, and prescriptions that are related to your injury should be covered. In most cases your employer designates the physician. You would only choose your own if the employer refuses medical treatment or there is an emergency.
- Temporary Total Disability Benefits – If you are disabled more than seven days, you can receive temporary total disability benefits. This is an amount of money that equals 70% of your weekly wage as long as it doesn’t exceed 75% or fall below 20% of the state’s average weekly wage.
- Permanent Partial Benefits – When you are injured severely enough to be considered partially and permanently disabled, you may be eligible for permanent partial benefits. These benefits are determined by the nature of your disability.
- Permanent Total Benefits – When your work-related injury is so severe that you will never be able to return to work, you could receive permanent total disability benefits. They are paid weekly for 450 weeks. At the end of this period your condition is reviewed. The amount is, like temporary total disability, determined by your weekly wage and/or the state average weekly wage.
- Death Benefits – New Jersey also requires that workers’ compensation insurance cover fatal work-related deaths. Surviving dependents (generally spouses and children) can receive 70% of the wage of the deceased worker, but the Commissioner of Labor sets a limit on the maximum amount that can be paid. In addition, the employer is responsible for up to $3,500 for funeral expenses.
If you or someone you love has been injured on the job and you need help, please call Gaylord Popp at 609-771-8611 or e-mail me at sgaylord@gaylordpopp.com. We understand the law and will fight to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.
