Workplace Injury Q & A
What should I do if I'm injured on the job?
All employers have workers' compensation coverage to protect you. It makes certain that you get your medical bills paid and that your salary continues until you return to work. The insurance also provides additional money to compensate injured workers when treatment is through and after you are able to return to work. If you are injured on the job, take the following steps:
- Report the injury to your employer. Employers are required to fill out a state form called a "First Report of Injury."
- Fill out an incident report if your employer has one. If not, write down everything you can remember. Be specific about where it happened, along with the names of anybody who was there when it happened.
- Go for medical treatment immediately and provide the doctor with a detailed accounting of what happened.
If you have been injured in any way in an accident that occurred at your workplace or while working for the benefit of your employer, you probably have a claim.
Why would I contact an attorney after being injured on the job?
For three main reasons:
- To make certain you are getting the proper medical treatment from quality medical professionals and not being short changed.
- To ensure that your salary and wages are continued even if you are not able to go back to work.
- To ensure that you are provided additional money to compensate you for the injury. Keep in mind that the residual effects of an injury can last a lifetime and worsen as you get older.
When do I contact an attorney after being injured at work?
As soon as possible. It is good to have a guide to help protect you from job loss and opportunity loss. People who do not find representation are sometimes treated as if they are unknowledgeable and dispensable.
Am I suing my employer by filing for workers' compensation?
No. Workers' compensation is a benefit that you are entitled to. A claim petition is filed and a Department of Labor judge presides over a hearing to ensure that the insurance company is fair in what they pay you, which it is 99% of the time. It takes two short doctors' visits and one short visit to a Workers' Compensation office, and the attorney does all of the work.
Will I get fired if I file for workers' compensation?
No. There are laws that prohibit retaliation as a result of workers' compensation matters.
Should I file a workers' compensation claim, or leave it alone as long as my medical bills are paid?
Medical bills are only a small part of what you are entitled to. The residual effects of an injury can last a lifetime and worsen as you get older. NJ workers' compensation is intended to compensate you for those residual effects that will affect you as you age. Not getting a lawyer can mean leaving significant compensation on the table -- in some cases, tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
To request a consultation, call (800) 709-1131 or use the contact form. The intake team will review the request before any consultation is confirmed.