Monmouth County Workplace Injury Lawyer
Accidents occur every day in the workplace. Even if you do not work in a particularly dangerous or hazardous position you can still be injured by something as simple as tripping over a loose piece of carpet in the office. And while many workplace accidents only cause minor injuries, in more serious cases you may require extensive medical care and lose substantial time off from your job.
New Jersey has certain laws in place to compensate workers who are injured on the job. But these rules do not cover every work-related accident scenario. That is why it is important to consult with a qualified Monmouth County workplace injury lawyer. At Poulos LoPiccolo PC, we can review your case and advise you of your rights under both workers’ compensation and New Jersey personal injury law.
Does Workers’ Compensation Always Protect Me?
You probably know something about workers’ compensation. It is a state-mandated system that requires employers to insure their employees against injuries or illnesses contracted in the course of their employment. Basically, workers’ compensation provides you with certain “no-fault” medical and wage replacement benefits following a work-related accident or occupational illness. This means you do not have to prove your employer was negligent, nor can your employer deny benefits because it holds you responsible.
While workers’ compensation may be a no-fault system, that does not mean employers–and more commonly, their insurance companies–will not deny or question your claim. To the contrary, savvy employers and insurance companies may still try to minimize or absolve their responsibility under the law. This is one reason why it is important to work with an attorney who will safeguard and represent your interests in pursuing a workers’ comp claim.
But a workplace injuries lawyer can do more than assist you with workers’ compensation. There are certain types of injuries that workers’ compensation does not cover. For example, if you are injured in an auto accident while commuting to or from work, that is not covered. And even where your accident was on the job there may be third parties who can be held legally responsible outside of workers’ compensation. For example, if you are hit by a drunk driver while making a delivery for your employer, workers’ compensation does not prevent you from pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver. Similarly, if your injury was the result of a dangerous or defective piece of equipment on your job site, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
NJ Workplace Injury Lawyers Serving Ocean, Monmouth & Middlesex County
As you can see, there are a number of legal issues that may arise following a workplace injury. You should never assume that your employer will simply “take care of you” or that workers’ compensation will automatically cover all of your losses. It is important that you take action to preserve and assert your rights. The first step is to work with a skilled New Jersey workplace injuries lawyer. Contact Poulos LoPiccolo PC today to schedule an initial consultation with a member of our staff.
