If you’ve suffered an injury at your workplace or contracted an occupational illness that prevents you from resuming your work, you should know that according to the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law, you’re eligible to seek workers’ compensation benefits.
These benefits can range anywhere from temporary and permanent disability benefits to death benefits. Since each case is different in its own way, you need to seek the help of an experienced lawyer so they can investigate your case and help you receive full and fair compensation based on the evidence.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about filing a workers’ compensation claim in Vineland, New Jersey.
Work-related injuries can occur anytime and anywhere. You could be consumed in your work at your desk, handling a business matter, or carrying out a survey for your company when you suddenly get into a life-changing accident. The injuries resulting from the accident can be minor or severe and may put your financial future at risk.
You could be a teacher suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome or serious neck and back injuries from grading so many papers in a single day. You could be working at a radio station or performing as an entertainer in a public space. The point is, regardless of your profession and place of work, you can get injured or ill due to your employer’s negligence and unsafe working conditions.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common injuries for workers involved in the media and communications industry:
If you’ve suffered any of the injuries listed above, you need to get in touch with a qualified Vineland workers’ compensation lawyer to discuss your options and seek workers’ compensation benefits.
After you’ve filed a workers’ compensation claim, you can expect a huge variety of disputes, including:
If any of these disputes occur in your case, there’s no need to panic. With the right Vineland workers’ compensation lawyer by your side, you’ll be able to overcome all kinds of challenges concerning your legal rights.
When faced with such claims, business owners may try to refute your claim so they can avoid an increase in their insurance deductible.
If you get injured at work or realize that you’re suffering from a job-related illness, you need to report it to your employer right away. Failure to report your injury within the first 90 days may create complications for you and you may no longer be eligible to collect benefits.
Once you’ve informed your employer, they will then notify their workers’ compensation carrier of the incident. The insurance company will then complete and submit a First Report of Injury form to the New Jersey Division of Workers’ Comp and that’s when your claim will begin.
The insurance company will also notify you if your claim is allowed. If it is, all your medical bills will be compensated for and you’ll start receiving disability benefits. In case your claim has been denied, you can consider appealing the decision.
Selecting the right attorney involves a lot of forethought. In order to create a compelling case against your insurance company, you need an attorney who has your best interests at heart and is willing to fight for your claim.
It’s important for you to keep a record of all your medical expenses and care, including hospitals, physicians, tests, procedures, and physical therapy. This information will help your attorney devise an effective strategy for your case and make sure a denial of the claim can be avoided.
In the event where your claim has been denied by your employer, you can request an appeal through your state’s Division of Workers’ Compensation through a formal or informal hearing.
Informal Hearing
To obtain an informal hearing, you need to complete and submit an application for an informal hearing to New Jersey’s Division of Workers’ Compensation. The Division will then assign your case to a workers’ compensation judge and a hearing date will be set by the court and all the parties involved will be informed.
The hearing is quite like a nonbinding arbitration. Even though the judge would have to issue a recommendation, both sides reserve the right to object to the outcome. Once the outcome is rejected, either party can request a formal hearing.
Informal hearings are known to conclude a lot faster because they provide both parties with an opportunity to discuss settlement. This isn’t always useful when both sides are adamant.
Formal Hearing
A formal hearing can be initiated by filing a Claim Petition. Your case will them be assigned to a judge. It’s extremely important for you to have a skilled lawyer on your side to navigate the appellate procedure.
A formal hearing is quite similar to a civil lawsuit that has strict rules regarding evidence and relies heavily on expert testimony. After both parties have presented their evidence, the judge will then render a decision in writing.
The losing party may appeal the decision to the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court.
Now that you’ve learned everything you need to know about workers’ compensation claims, what are you waiting for? Contact Keith Zaid Law now and get the benefits you deserve. Call us at 856-351-5591 for a free consultation!
Located just southwest of Philadelphia in Cumberland County, New Jersey, the City of Vineland is home to more than 60,000 people and approximately 4,000 businesses. Vineland is a culturally diverse community filled with wonderful, giving people, a friendly business environment, and a cost of living well below the state average. Tradition and pride keep Vineland’s small-town character flourishing, while a commitment to progress has the city poised for continued growth.
Keith Zaid Law has five office locations in major hubs in New Jersey.
Head Office
Site Links
Practice Areas
NJ Law Offices
Ⓒ 2020 Keith Zaid Law – All Rights Reserved