If you have been hurt as a result of a workplace accident, there are several steps you need to take in order to begin a workers’ compensation claim. You are required to notify your employer of any injury that happened while you were working. You must report this injury to your employer within 90 days in order to become client with New Jersey law. Your employer will likely have an accident report that they will ask you to fill out regarding the incident in which an injury occurred.
One common question regarding a job injury is who is responsible for the medical treatments required for your injury. Part of the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation act stipulates that the employer must pay for all medical treatment required as a result of your injury. That being said, your employer also retains the right to select the doctor from whom you will receive care. If you decline to be treated by the doctor chosen by her employer, you can be held responsible for the medical bills resulting from your injury. During this process, you may be released and eligible to return to work as a result of your doctor’s orders.
Another question for many people beginning a workers compensation claim regards the time laying that their case will take to resolve. It is difficult to estimate the total length of a workers compensation case, but working with a qualified attorney in the state of New Jersey can help you expedite your case as quickly and effectively as possible. Each case will have its own unique dynamics, but you can help to reduce delays by maintaining all proper documentation and requesting medical records early. Since there is a statute of limitations in place for workers compensation claims in the state it is critical that you file your case as soon as possible.
Your case can only be started after you finish treatment with your physician. At this point we will file a claim petition. From this point, your employer will have a 30-day period with which to respond. The discovery process will then begin. This process can take several weeks or months and you should communicate with your attorney regularly during this period. You will then expand one visit with your doctor and another visit with your employer’s doctor. The next step is a status conference. The status conference will either result in a settlement or with your case moving forward to a trial. Your attorney can guide you in trial preparation, which is why it is so important to select an experienced professional to help you navigate the workers compensation claim process.
