When workers in New Jersey get injured or contract an illness on-the-job, they oftentimes have more questions than answers. For starters, they are usually concerned about how they will cover their lost income for the time off of work they will likely miss. They will probably worry about how long it will be before they can return to work, and perhaps they’ll worry about the impact of their on-the-job injury or illness on their employers. Learning the basics about workers’ compensation in New Jersey may help alleviate some of these concerns.
Workers’ compensation basics
Most employees in New Jersey are covered by the workers’ compensation system, since their employers participate in the system. But, probably the most important fact about workers’ compensation in New Jersey is that it is based on a “no-fault” system. This means that it really doesn’t matter how the on-the-job injury or illness occurred – with notable exceptions – for a qualified worker to be covered by the workers’ compensation system.
There is a trade-off in the “no-fault” workers’ compensation system. Since a worker can claim benefits no matter how the injury or illness occurred, the employer is shielded from legal claims by the employee against the employer for the incident. Again, there may be some exceptions to this general rule.
Workers’ compensation claims
Even though, in theory, the workers’ compensation system is supposed to operate relatively smoothly, the fact is that oftentimes there are disputes when it comes to these claims. And, sometimes, claims are denied. When disputes arise or a claim for workers’ compensation benefits is denied, workers in New Jersey will need to be sure that they understand their legal options.