Workers’ compensation can be a complicated matter. Laws governing the benefits you can receive vary by state. Also, the compensation you receive varies depending on whether your case is open or closed and whether your disability is temporary or permanent. It is partially because these benefits can vary so significantly based on circumstance that it is important to contact experienced Long Branch, New Jersey work injury attorneys from Rispoli & Borneo P.C. in the wake of an accident. Understanding your legal options is key to making informed decisions about your situation.
Temporary Total Disability
It sometimes takes a while to determine whether you will recover completely from your injuries and be able to return to work at full capacity. Often, your doctor requires you to stay off work entirely to give your injury a chance to heal. While you are off work for recovery, you will likely receive temporary total disability payments on a regular basis, whether monthly, weekly, or bi-weekly. These payments typically represent a percentage, usually 66.67 percent, of your regular wages. In other words, you will receive two-thirds of what you would have normally received when you were working. You will probably not receive any compensation for days that you would have had off from work anyway. Depending on the state where you live, you may receive more than two-thirds of your wages in temporary disability payments because they may include your employer’s contributions to your employee benefits. With that said, some exceptions apply to this general rule, so be sure to clarify your eligibility and restrictions with experienced Long Branch, NJ work injury attorneys instead of making assumptions about your coverage. That way, you will not receive any negative surprises down the line in regards to your benefits.
Permanent Disability
The ultimate outcome that everyone desires in a workers’ compensation case is that you recover fully from your injuries and are able to return to your old position without restriction. Unfortunately, this is not always what happens. Work-related injuries can have permanent effects that may affect your job performance or prevent you from working altogether. If that is the case, you may be eligible for permanent disability benefits and/or alternative benefits. This arrangement is wholly dependent upon the restrictions imposed by your state. Experienced Long Branch, NJ work injury attorneys can explore how your unique situation will be handled accordingly.
A permanent disability may be total or partial. A total disability may prevent you from returning to the same industry. It sometimes renders you unable to perform any type of job at all. If that is the case, you may receive a pension as compensation for your total and permanent disability. The amount of your payments will likely be less than your temporary disability payments and almost certainly less than the amount of wages you would receive if you were still working.
Sometimes you have only a partial permanent disability. This means that you may be able to go back to work in the same industry, and perhaps even in the same position, but your injury limits what you are able to do. If that is the case, you may have the choice of receiving partial permanent disability compensation in a lump sum or in weekly payments.
Experienced Long Branch, NJ work injury attorneys can explain the options that apply to your particular situation. Contact our office today to make an appointment to speak to a member of our legal team. We look forward to speaking with you about your unique circumstances.