Worker’s Compensation insurance must be carried by all employers in New Jersey to pay for an injured worker’s medical treatment, temporary disability benefits and an award for the amount of permanent disability arising from an injury.

The injury must arise out of the course of employment in order to receive worker’s compensation benefits. There can be an injury caused by a specific accident or event in which the date of the onset is clear, or there may be occupational disease at which time the claimant must know the nature of the disability and its relationship to the employment.

The injured worker must go to the medical providers authorized by the Worker’s Compensation carrier in order for the treatment to be paid for. After the worker has received the maximum medical benefit, there is a 26 week waiting period before permanency evaluations can be done. Once these are done there are percentages of disability attributed to the injury, which will be the basis for determining the amount of permanent injury which has occurred. An award is based upon the permanent injury.

Helfand & Associates provides representation to the injured worker as a petitioner for a Worker’s Compensation claim. There are no up-front fees and the Worker’s Compensation Judge will determine the fee at settlement or trial.

Worker’s Compensation benefits protect the injured worker by providing treatment and benefits where needed.