If you need to hire a New Jersey personal injury lawyer to assist you with a workers compensation claim, you may want to speak to Rispoli & Borneo, P.C. Our firm has handled hundreds of workers compensation cases throughout the years. We are prepared to fight hard for our clients and make sure their rights are protected.
Common Causes of Workplace Accidents
Even when employers make sure to take proper safety precautions, accidents can still happen and employees can be injured. Some of these injuries are fairly minor while other are life-threatening. Here are some of the most common causes of workplace accidents a personal injury lawyer in New Jersey may have seen:
- Slips and Falls: This type of workplace accident typically occurs in office kitchens and break rooms. Water and other liquids can spill on the floor and make the area hazardous for employees.
- Hazardous Materials: Employees who work with hazardous materials are required to wear protective clothing and eye goggles — but it’s still possible for employees to be injured or develop illnesses. Contact with hazardous materials could result in burns, skin infections, and other health conditions.
- Machine Entanglement: A New Jersey personal injury lawyer may have represented clients whose injuries resulted from machine entanglement. Employees who work around heavy machinery have to be extra cautious to avoid getting their hair, clothes and body parts stuck in these machines.
- Vehicle Accidents: Workers who must drive a vehicle for their jobs must receive proper training before getting behind the wheel.
- Falling Objects: Workplace injuries can also be caused by falling objects. If heavy objects, likes supplies or file boxes, are stacked on shelves without being secured properly, they can fall down and hit employees.
When It May Be Necessary To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
Simple workplace compensation claims can typically be handled without a lawyer. However, if complications arise, it may be in your best interest to hire a New Jersey personal injury lawyer. For example, if your employer denies your claim, you may want to hire a lawyer to help you file an appeal and get the compensation you deserve.
It may also be necessary to hire a New Jersey personal injury lawyer if your employer retaliates to your workers comp claim in some way. Some employers become angry when their workers file workers comp claims and may demote, fire, or reduce their number of hours. This is illegal treatment and should not be tolerated. An experienced lawyer may help you bring your employer to court for violating your rights while also helping you obtain the compensation you initially filed for.
An experienced New Jersey personal injury attorney understands that when a victim has sustained injuries caused by another party’s actions or behaviors, those injuries can take an overwhelming toll on their financial situation. Not only might injured victims encounter high medical bills, but they might also face lost wages from not being able to work.
The legal team at Rispoli & Borneo, P.C. has been successfully advocating for injured clients for more than two decades. Each New Jersey personal injury attorney at our firm has gained a well-earned reputation for aggressively advocating for injured victims and fighting for the financial damages they deserve.
Some common types of personal injury cases that we might encounter include:
Motor Vehicle Accidents: Motor vehicle accidents are some of the most common causes of injuries. A seasoned New Jersey personal injury attorney may have represented clients who were injured in:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bus, train, or other public transit accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
Premises Liability Accidents: A property owner has a responsibility to make sure their property is free of dangerous hazards for people who come onto the location. This is referred to as “duty of care.” One of the most common types of premises liability accidents are slip and fall accidents.
Work Injury Accidents: Employers have a responsibility to ensure that they are providing a safe workplace for employers. In other types of personal injury claims, your New Jersey personal injury attorney typically negotiates with the at-fault party’s insurance company for a lump sum in financial damages. Work accidents that cause injuries are handled differently and may require an attorney who is experienced in these types of cases.
Employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. When a worker is injured, the insurance carrier is supposed to provide the victim with a weekly benefit amount and cover all medical expenses. Unfortunately, some insurance companies give injured workers a difficult time when paying out those benefits. This is why a personal injury attorney may be critical to the success of your work accident injury case.
What Types of Benefits Are Covered in a Personal Injury Case?
When a victim files a personal injury claim, there are several different types of damages they can pursue. These include medical expenses incurred because of the injury, loss of income from being unable to work, and pain and suffering from their injuries. A New Jersey personal injury attorney may advise you on what types of damages you may be entitled to in your particular case.
What questions will a New Jersey personal injury lawyer ask?
When you call a New Jersey personal injury lawyer for your first consultation, they are likely going to ask you questions to better understand your case. They may inquire about your insurance coverage, the events leading up to your accident or injury, and the relevant events that occurred following the injury. It is a good idea to carefully write out all the details you can remember before you call a personal injury lawyer in New Jersey.
Questions Concerning Your Car Insurance
If you were in a car accident, your New Jersey personal injury lawyer will ask you questions about your auto insurance as New Jersey is a “choice” no-fault car insurance state. Your choice of insurance coverage, with either the limited right to sue or the unlimited right to sue, will likely have a bearing on your options depending on the circumstances of the accident. If you do not have the right to sue, your own insurance may cover your damages up to its limits.
Questions to Determine Fault
If you have the right to sue, your New Jersey personal injury lawyer may ask you to revisit the site of the accident or injury and take photographs that can indicate how the accident or injury occurred. You may also need to take photos of any equipment or vehicle involved in the accident, and of the accident site itself. Depending on the specifics of the injury or accident, there may be skid marks on the road that are relevant; there may be road hazards that you will want to document; or bruises on your body that you will want to capture before they fade. The sooner you take the relevant photographs, the better.
Additionally, you will want to share with your attorney any statements made by witnesses who were present at the scene. While an attorney will guide you through the process, it would be a good idea to outline your experience of the accident or injury in detail, including any interactions with potential witnesses involved. Your attorney will listen for indications of negligence and wrongdoing on the defendant’s part. A New Jersey personal injury lawyer representing the defendant will want to disprove any claims of negligence directed at their client, and redirect those claims at you, so it is very important to recount all the facts of your accident or injury as accurately as possible.
Questions to Determine What Your Claim May Be Worth
Compensation for accidents and injuries is determined by a complex formula. Generally, financial compensation is calculated based on a variety of factors. While some states have begun to institute caps on punitive and noneconomic damages in recent years, New Jersey is not one of them.
Claims are split into economic damages, non-economic damages, and in some cases, punitive damages.
Economic damages: Your personal injury lawyer in New Jersey will work with you to collect information concerning your economic damages. These can include lost wages, medical costs, costs of services that you can no longer do on your own, costs associated with flying in family members to care for you, etc. These are typically relatively easy to calculate.
Non-economic damages: More difficult to determine are the non-economic damages, or pain-and-suffering damages. Insurance companies use proprietary software to determine an amount for these damages, and it is based on a formula that considers many variables. When negotiating with insurance companies, attorneys will typically calculate a total using their own methods.
Punitive damages: Your attorney will also ask you questions to determine if you are eligible for punitive damages. This is rare, but it is a way to send a message to the public or industry that the egregious behavior for which you are a victim, will not be tolerated.
Contact a New Jersey Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you have been injured, a personal injury attorney in New Jersey may be able to get you the compensation you are entitled to. The skilled attorneys at Rispoli & Borneo, P.C. are available to meet and discuss your situation and counsel you on ways to approach a claim.
Call a professional New Jersey personal injury at (908) 353-0800 to set up a convenient time for a free consultation or contact Rispoli & Borneo, P.C. today for a free initial consultation.