Infections From Injuries At Work Lawyer in New Jersey

Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Representing Claimants Throughout New Jersey

Under New Jersey law, almost all employers are legally obligated to provide workers’ compensation coverage for their employees. When a worker is injured on the job, he or she may file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, such as medical treatment, temporary disability benefits, or permanent disability benefits. Sometimes, a work injury happens because of an accident, such as a fall, but workers’ compensation claims can also arise due to infections from injuries at work. The knowledgeable New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall handle many types of work injury cases, including those involving infections and post-injury conditions.

Many types of injuries on the job can result in an infection if the skin is broken or if certain medical care is required, such as surgery. Other types of infections can happen without a precipitating event. For instance, some workers, such as people in the healthcare field, are at a heightened risk of developing certain types of infections. Regardless of whether an infection is due to an accident or injury at work or whether the infection occurred due to exposure to bacteria, a virus, or another pathogen in the workplace, a worker’s claim for benefits proceeds in much the same fashion.

Medical Treatment and Disability Benefits Following a Workplace Infection

In claims based on infections from injuries at work, an employee must first give notice to his or her employer. This should happen as soon as the employee is aware that he or she has an infection that is related to his or her employment. If notice is not given within the time required by New Jersey law, the worker may not receive workers’ compensation benefits. Once notice has been given, the employer should work with the employee to see that he or she gets appropriate medical treatment at the expense of the employer or its workers’ compensation insurance carrier. Only if his or her claim is denied should the employee consider seeking medical attention on his or her own, unless there is an emergency situation that demands immediate treatment. The employee may also be entitled to temporary and permanent disability benefits, depending upon the nature and extent of his or her injury.

If the employee’s claim is denied, there is an appeals process through which the worker may seek review of his or her case. It is best that the employee is represented by an attorney during this process (and in fact throughout all of the proceedings pertaining to the case). Employees who suffer from infections such as gangrene, strep, staph, pneumonia, meningitis, cellulitis, and osteomyelitis due to their work may meet resistance from their employer or the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company. A preexisting condition may be blamed, or the employer may deny that the claim was timely filed. Some infections have an extended latency period, which could complicate procedural matters such as the initial filing of a timely claim. Again, a worker suffering from infections from injuries at work should talk to a lawyer about his or her case as soon as possible so that his or her legal rights may be protected.

To find out more about how we can help in your work injury case, call us now at (934) 200-5372 or contact us online.