The majority of employees in New Jersey are covered by workers’ compensation insurance, which ensures that employees are financially compensated if they sustain an injury in the workplace or while performing work duties. After a work incident that causes injury to an employee, the injured employee can file a claim with New Jersey’s Department of Labor to receive coverage for their medical expenses. However, there are some cases where injured workers don’t receive enough coverage for their medical bills or are even rejected from receiving any coverage at all. If either of these scenarios has happened to you, you might wonder whether you can appeal your workers’ comp award in our state. Our knowledgeable law firm has all the answers you’re looking for! Keep reading to learn more about this topic, or reach out to a Morris County Workers’ Compensation Attorney who can provide individualized legal counseling.
CAN YOU APPEAL A WORKERS’ COMP AWARD?
Yes, you are allowed to submit an appeal for a workers’ comp award in New Jersey if your original claim is denied by your employer’s insurance company. Keep in mind that your workers’ compensation claim must be filed within 90 days of the date that you sustained your work-related injury. You could be denied compensation if you don’t meet this deadline. Within 30 days of reporting your injury, your employer’s insurer should send you a letter notifying you if you were approved for workers’ comp coverage. Make sure to read the reasons that you were denied coverage because you might need to argue against this in court.
SHOULD I HIRE A WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAWYER?
Our law firm highly recommends hiring a workers’ comp lawyer, especially if you were wrongfully rejected from receiving coverage. You have two options for the appeal process. You can either request an informal hearing or file a formal claim petition. In an informal hearing, a judge will review your case outside of a courtroom. It’s not like a regular trial; the judge might ask you questions about your case, but there are no official witness testimonies or such. On the other hand, filing a formal claim petition would result in an official trial in which your employers’ insurer and you argue the claim in front of a judge using evidence. Speak with a lawyer to find out which option is better for your case.
Have you recently been injured on the job in New Jersey? If so, you might be seeking a dedicated personal injury attorney who can fight for your best interests. Look no further because our highly experienced legal team is on your side every step of the way! Contact Lutz Injury Law today for an initial consultation.