In 2022 alone, there were more than 140,000 reported workplace accidents and 31,691 new workers’ comp claim petition filings in New Jersey.
Workers’ compensation claims filed by injured employees can significantly impact an employer, and facing such a claim can be a daunting task for any business. Fortunately, however, you don’t have to navigate this complex legal landscape on your own.
At Weiner Law Group LLP, we offer legal and claims counsel to insurance companies, self-insured corporations, and public entities in Parsippany and surrounding communities, helping them navigate the sometimes murky waters of workers’ compensation defense.
Use our guide below to learn more about workers’ compensation rules and requirements in New Jersey, what to do after an employee files a claim, and how a New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyer at Weiner Law Group LLP can benefit your case.
Contact us today to let our team of experienced professionals help you resolve simple or complex matters involving employee claims, fraud, and more.
New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law: An Overview
Employers in New Jersey must follow certain legal requirements when it comes to workers’ compensation. Here are a few things you should know about workers’ compensation claims in New Jersey.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
In New Jersey, the Division of Workers’ Compensation is responsible for administering the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act. Under the Act, employees may be entitled to certain workers’ compensation benefits when they sustain personal injury or illness in the course of their employment.
Notably, New Jersey follows a “no-fault” system, meaning injured employees may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits regardless of who was at fault.
Further, in exchange for receiving these benefits under the state’s workers compensation insurance program, employees relinquish any right they would otherwise have to bring a civil action against their employer for additional damages, except in limited circumstances.
New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If an injured employee does sustain injuries or illness arising out of or in the course of their job duties, a few different types of benefits are available to them. These include:
- Medical benefits,
- Temporary disability benefits,
- Permanent partial benefits,
- Permanent total benefits, and
- Death benefits.
The amount and duration of any benefits will vary depending on the type and severity of the employee’s injuries or illness, among other factors.
Do I Need to Hire a New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
New Jersey workers’ compensation laws do not require employers to engage legal counsel when defending against claims by employees arising out of their workplace injuries and illnesses.
Nevertheless, having a New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyer in your corner can be invaluable. For example, an attorney can help you:
- Comprehend the relevant laws and regulations governing New Jersey workers’ compensation, enabling you to better understand your rights and responsibilities as an employer in the state;
- Assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case;
- Gather evidence to support your claims and defenses;
- Make legal arguments on your behalf where the legitimacy of an employee’s claim is in dispute or where an employee fails to follow the proper timeline and procedures; and
- Stay compliant with New Jersey workers’ compensation laws to help mitigate risk and prevent future claims.
Even cases that may seem relatively simple on the surface often have complicating factors that may be difficult to address and navigate without the assistance of experienced legal counsel.
Thus, when in doubt, consider speaking with a qualified New Jersey workers’ comp attorney to discuss your rights and options before moving forward.
How to Find the Right New Jersey Workers’ Comp Lawyers for You
Having the right legal representation when defending against a New Jersey workers’ compensation is paramount. Thus, it’s crucial that you hire someone with the tools, resources, and experience necessary to give yourself the best chance of success moving forward.
Finding the right attorney for your case is not always easy, especially with so many other law firms in the area to choose from. To help you narrow down your options, here are a few things to look out for when selecting a lawyer to represent you and your business against such a claim:
- Specialization in workers’ compensation laws and regulations in New Jersey,
- Experience defending against workers’ compensation claims brought by injured employees,
- High ethical standards,
- Effective communication and negotiation skills, and
- Tried and true trial experience in the event litigation becomes necessary.
It’s important to remember that not all attorneys will have the knowledge and expertise necessary to handle the complexities surrounding New Jersey workers’ compensation claims.
Thus, be sure to take some time to carefully evaluate your options and choose a firm that is well-equipped to handle the particular needs of your business.
Claims Defense, Preventative Counsel, And More
Weiner Law Group LLP has successfully represented clients in all 15 workers’ compensation district offices throughout New Jersey, providing the insight and knowledge necessary to help you settle your matter appropriately. Our services include:
- Defending claims filed by injured workers,
- Prosecuting insurance fraud and insurance coverage cases,
- Addressing prelitigation issues, and
- Assisting in recouping compensation payments from third-party recoveries.
Our attorneys’ litigation methodology is to always prepare each case as though it will proceed to trial, allowing us to negotiate favorable settlements and defend our clients appropriately if such settlement cannot be reached.
We are thorough, detailed, and understand that finding the best possible path to protect the interests of our clients is paramount.
When preparing a case strategy, we perform background searches on all claimants and thoroughly review all documents and medical records in search of the strongest possible defense.
We choose subject-matter experts with the highest credentials in their fields and based on their ability to address case-specific issues.
What Sets Weiner Law Apart From the Rest
If you are looking for a team of New Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys who will fight zealously for your rights as an employer, look no further than Weiner Law Group LLP. Here are just a few reasons we are the right team for the job:
- We offer a wide range of legal defense services and have a specific practice area dedicated to defending against claims filed by injured workers;
- Our firm represents a broad spectrum of clients, from startups to Fortune 100 companies, so you can feel confident that we know what it takes to represent your business interests;
- We pride ourselves on developing intelligent legal strategies and recommending practical and timely solutions; and
- More than anything, we are devoted to providing measurable results and building strong relationships with our clients.
When it comes to hiring an attorney for your workers’ compensation needs, it’s imperative that you work with someone you can trust, and at Weiner Law, we hope we can be just that team for you.
By knowing our clients and understanding their goals, we can work to help them get what they want and need.
Weiner Law Group LLP: Your Trusted New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
At Weiner Law Group LLP, we have represented clients in workers’ comp defense cases ranging from simple, single-issue claims to complex matters involving contested issues of compensability and causation.
However, when you hire Weiner Law Group LLP, you will get more than just an attorney to help you defend against a single workers’ compensation claim.
We also understand that the process of workers’ compensation law and litigation in New Jersey isn’t always clear-cut. That is why our team of lawyers is dedicated to assisting with other possible scenarios.
We have regularly helped many of our clients successfully prevent litigation by working with them on policy issues, risk management, protocol discovery, and many other issues beyond just workers’ compensation litigation.
There’s no question that workers’ compensation claims can be complex and stressful to deal with. But, having legal representation can provide you with valuable legal insight and greater peace of mind as you navigate claims and other challenges moving forward.
When you’re ready to get started, contact the attorneys at Weiner Law to discuss your case and see how we can help you fight for your rights today.