New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Fighting For Injured Workers

Our attorneys at Parisi & Gerlanc, Attorneys At Law, are devoted to representing injured workers in Hackensack and throughout New Jersey. We are experienced in overcoming the difficulties many workers encounter when seeking necessary medical treatment and prompt payment of wage-loss benefits.

In New Jersey, workers’ compensation is a highly specialized area of law with many potential complications. Attorney Joyce Parisi is a certified workers’ compensation attorney. Since 1936, we have been representing the needs of workers and laborers in workers’ compensation disputes. We put our hearts into fighting for working people.

Understanding New Jersey Workers’ Compensation And Common Claim Challenges

New Jersey workers’ compensation provides crucial protection for employees who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses. This no-fault insurance system covers medical treatment and wage-loss benefits regardless of who caused the accident. However, navigating the workers’ compensation process often proves more difficult than injured employees anticipate.

How The System Works In Bergen County

When you suffer a workplace injury, New Jersey workers’ compensation requires your employer to provide benefits, including full payment of medical expenses, temporary disability payments replacing a portion of lost wages, permanent disability compensation for lasting impairments and vocational rehabilitation when necessary. New Jersey workers’ comp law mandates that employers carry insurance covering these benefits, protecting injured workers from financial devastation while they recover.

Common Obstacles That Delay Or Deny Benefits

Despite legal protections, insurance carriers frequently create barriers that prevent workers from receiving timely benefits. Claim denials occur when insurers dispute whether your injury is work-related, argue that you failed to report the accident promptly or contend that your condition existed before employment. Delayed benefits represent another frustrating tactic where insurers acknowledge your claim but deliberately slow payment processing, leaving you without income during recovery. Insurance companies also offer inadequate settlements that fail to account for future medical needs, permanent restrictions or reduced earning capacity over your remaining work life.

Medical treatment disputes arise when insurers refuse authorization for recommended procedures, force you to see their chosen doctors or terminate benefits before you reach maximum medical improvement. Workers’ comp claims involving occupational diseases face particular scrutiny as insurers challenge the connection between your job duties and your diagnosed condition.

How Experienced Legal Representation Protects Your Rights

A workers’ compensation attorney levels the playing field against insurance company tactics designed to minimize payouts. We gather medical evidence documenting the full extent of your injuries, obtain statements from treating physicians supporting your need for ongoing care and present compelling testimony establishing how your workplace caused or aggravated your condition. When insurers deny claims, we file formal appeals and represent you at hearings before judges who deal with workplace injury benefits law.

Our experience with New Jersey workers’ compensation enables us to calculate the true value of your claim, including future medical costs and permanent disability ratings that insurers often undervalue. We negotiate aggressively for fair settlements and take cases to trial when insurance companies refuse reasonable offers.

We represent employees in all types of jobs and professions, including:

• Construction workers, including carpenters, roofers, welders, sheet metal workers, flooring installers, cabinetmakers, plumbers, electricians and laborers
• Volunteer and municipal workers, such as firefighters, police officers, law enforcement personnel, sheriff’s department employees, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and other city and county employees
• Factory and manufacturing employees, including assembly line workers, machinists, warehouse employees, heavy equipment operators and packagers
• Utility workers and skilled tradespeople, including cable television workers, meter readers, gas company employees and electric company employees
• Clerical and professional staff, including secretaries, data entry operators, computer programmers, technical staff, engineers, lab technicians, nurses, medical personnel and other office and professional employees

New Jersey Occupational Disease Attorneys

Our lawyers are prepared to put our decades of experience to work to help workers, including volunteer and municipal workers as well as utility workers and skilled tradesmen, obtain the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve when they have been injured in workplace accidents, including:

• Occupational disease
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Industrial, manufacturing and warehouse accidents
• Shoulder injuries
• Back injuries
• Aggravation or exacerbation claims
• Hip and knee injuries
• Chronic pain, CRPS and RSD
• PTSD and mental health

We are also able to work on death and dependency claims, third-party claims and permanent disability claims when applicable.

Schedule Your Free Consultation. No Fees Unless We’re Successful.

If you have questions about getting started with workers’ compensation, please reach out as soon as possible.

In every case, we work on contingency and never collect fees unless we secure the compensation to which you are entitled.

To schedule a free initial consultation to discuss industrial injuries with one of our Bergen County workers’ comp attorneys, call us at 551-587-8915 or contact us via email.

FAQ On New Jersey Workers’ Compensation

What benefits am I entitled to if I’m injured on the job in New Jersey?

Depending on the nature and severity of your injury, you may be entitled to the following benefits:

• Medical benefits: These cover the cost of necessary treatments related to your work injury, such as doctor visits, prescription medications and surgeries.
• Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits: These pay 70% of your pre-injury weekly wages if your injury keeps you out of work for more than seven days.
• Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits: If your injury leaves you with a lasting impairment but you can still perform some job functions, you may be eligible for these benefits.
• Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits: These provide payments for up to 450 weeks if your injury completely prevents you from returning to any form of work.

Insurance companies do not always make it easy to get what you deserve. Knowing your rights and having strong legal representation can make all the difference in the outcome of your case.

Can I see my own doctor for a work injury in New Jersey?

In most cases, no. New Jersey law gives your employer and their insurance company the right to direct your medical care, which means they get to choose your treating doctor. Seeing an unauthorized doctor without approval could put your benefits at risk. If you feel your medical needs are not being met, talking to a workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand your options.

What should I do immediately after getting hurt at work?

The steps you take right after a work injury can have a big impact on your workers’ compensation claim. Here is what you should do:

• Report your injury immediately: Delayed reporting is one of the most common reasons insurance companies dispute claims. Any gap in the timeline gives them room to question whether your injury actually happened at work.
• Seek medical treatment right away: Even if your injury seems minor, getting it documented by a medical professional creates an important record for your claim.
• Document everything: Write down what happened. Include details like the date, time, location and how the injury occurred while the facts are still fresh in your mind.

If you run into problems or feel uncertain about what to do next, reaching out to a workers’ compensation attorney can help you stay on track.

What if my employer blames me for the accident or denies my claim?

New Jersey workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, which means you can still receive benefits even if you made a mistake that contributed to your injury. Your employer or their insurance company may try to deny your claim, but you have the right to appeal and present evidence that supports your case.

What if my work injury was caused by a negligent third party?

If someone other than your employer or a coworker caused your work injury, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against them in addition to your workers’ compensation claim. This includes injuries caused by negligent subcontractors, defective machinery, unsafe property conditions or careless drivers. A third-party claim can help you recover damages that workers’ compensation does not cover, like pain and suffering.