Have you been injured in an on-the-job accident in Burlington County, New Jersey? If so, you may be facing costly medical bills and similar losses.
You may not need to absorb the cost of these losses yourself. In most cases, injured workers can pursue compensation by filing a claim to collect from their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.
However, it is important to understand that the act of filing a claim does not guarantee you will immediately recover the full amount of compensation that you may be eligible for. To improve your chances of your claim being approved, you should strongly consider enlisting the help of a Burlington County workers’ compensation lawyer. A member of our team at Stark & Stark can review your case for free and offer the fierce representation you deserve.
Click here to contact a lawyer
Burlington County Workers’ Compensation Laws: What You Need to Know
Most employers in New Jersey are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance. As the name implies, this form of insurance offers financial compensation to employees who are injured in work-related accidents. Compensation is also available to those who develop illnesses or repetitive stress injuries as a result of their jobs.
Workers’ compensation may compensate a worker for such losses as:
- The cost of medical care, including any ongoing care that may be necessary
- Temporary disability payments in instances when a work-related injury or condition limits an employee’s ability to work temporarily
- Permanent disability payments if an injury or condition prevents an individual from being able to work indefinitely
Workers’ compensation benefits are also available to the family members of workers who are killed in on-the-job accidents or due to work-related injuries and illnesses. If you are unsure whether you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, schedule a free consultation with one of our Burlington County workers’ compensation attorneys.
Click here to contact a lawyer
When Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits Not Available in Burlington County, NJ?
It is not always clear when a worker is eligible for workers’ compensation benefits after an accident. To successfully recover workers’ compensation benefits, you must demonstrate that your injury or condition is genuinely work-related. Your employer’s insurer might try to deny your claim by arguing that you were not operating as an employee when your accident occurred.
This is one of many reasons it is wise to enlist the help of a Burlington County workers’ compensation law firm. An attorney can investigate the cause of your accident and gather evidence showing why you should be properly compensated.
Common Causes of Workplace Accidents in Burlington County, New Jersey
There are numerous potential causes of workplace accidents. The following are among the more noteworthy:
- Failure to provide employees with safety gear
- Failure to offer safety training
- Defective equipment
- Improper use of machinery and equipment
- Stress injuries caused by repetitive motions
Regardless of the cause of your accident, if you were operating as an employee when you were injured or when you were exposed to a hazard that resulted in health complications, you likely have a right to seek workers’ compensation benefits. You do not need to prove that your accident was the result of anyone’s actions or negligence in order to pursue compensation.
Differences Between a Workers’ Compensation Claim & a Personal Injury Claim
There are some limits to the types of damages and losses workers’ compensation benefits may cover. For example, after being injured at work, you may be left with pain, anxiety, and similar challenges that do not have objective dollar values. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation does not cover such losses.
However, even though you do not have to prove negligence to recover workers’ compensation benefits, there is the possibility that your accident was the result of another party’s actions or inactions. An example of this would be a negligent contractor or property owner failing to securely install scaffolding, resulting in you falling and injuring yourself.
This is another reason you should review your case with an expert at Stark & Stark in Burlington County. An attorney’s investigation may yield evidence showing your accident was caused by another party other than your employer. If so, you may be able to file a personal injury claim to collect additional compensation beyond what workers’ compensation will provide. While this is not always an option, it is still a possibility worth considering in certain cases.
How Our Burlington County Workers’ Compensation Law Firm Can Help You
Putting together a claim for workers’ compensation benefits after an on-the-job accident can be a demanding process. You will need to document your injuries and other relevant losses, gather evidence showing you have a right to workers’ compensation benefits, coordinate with medical professionals, complete paperwork, submit this paperwork in a timely manner, and much more.
These are not necessarily tasks you need to be handling yourself during a time when you should be focusing on resting and recovering. Instead, you can hire a Burlington County workers’ compensation lawyer to handle them for you.
Hiring a workers’ compensation attorney may also decrease the likelihood of your claim being wrongly denied. Even if an insurer is unable to find a reason to deny your claim altogether, they may still try to find ways to force you to return to work prematurely or refuse to compensate you for certain losses.
Without a legal background, it can be difficult to navigate these challenges on your own. This is perhaps the top reason to seek legal representation promptly after being injured at work. A workers’ compensation attorney can handle all communications with the insurer and any other relevant parties, helping you pursue the full amount of compensation for which you may be eligible. Your lawyer can also offer guidance to help you avoid making statements or engaging in behaviors that can threaten the success of your claim.
Click here to contact a lawyer
Why Choose Stark & Stark?
Stark & Stark is among the oldest law firms in the region. We have successfully provided legal services to clients throughout New Jersey for decades with our commitment to client satisfaction. For more information about how our Burlington County workers’ compensation lawyers can help you, schedule your free legal consultation today by calling us at 888-241-7424 or contacting us online.
