The spinal cord is the main pathway all nervous system signals travel on their way to and from the brain. Any damage to this part of the body invariably causes a significant loss of bodily function. Unfortunately, trauma of this nature may not only happen in the course of normal employment but also prevent the injured person from returning to that job later or potentially holding any job whatsoever.
If you have sustained spinal cord trauma through a workplace accident or as a direct result of your working conditions, you likely have grounds to file a workers’ compensation claim and seek benefits for certain injury-related losses. However, claims of this nature can be challenging to pursue without a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney’s help. You should make sure to speak with a New Jersey workplace spinal cord injuries lawyer from the Law Office of Lloyd E. Bennett Esq., P.C. before seeking benefits on your own.
Given how much any form of spinal cord injury can interfere with every aspect of daily life, there is no question that spinal cord trauma is a serious enough injury to justify seeking workers’ compensation benefits. However, demonstrating that your spinal cord injury was directly work-related can be more difficult than you might expect in some circumstances, particularly if your work involves traveling between multiple worksites.
In general, if you sustain spinal cord trauma at work through any means other than horseplay or your own negligence, you should be covered by workers’ compensation. However, injuries caused by incidents like a car crash while commuting to work are typically not covered by workers’ compensation. If you were hurt in a wreck while driving as a part of your normal job duties, a New Jersey workplace spinal cord injuries attorney from our team can still likely help you seek benefits.
If you suffer any kind of workplace spinal cord injury resulting in you being physically unable to perform your normal job duties for at least seven consecutive days, you are eligible under New Jersey law to receive temporary total disability benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, as our attorneys can explain. These benefits are typically equal to 70 percent of your average pre-injury weekly wage, but they are also subject to statutory maximum and minimum rates.
If you suffer a permanent loss of working capacity due to spinal cord trauma, you may be eligible for up to 450 weeks of permanent total disability benefits, which can be extended indefinitely after that if you can continually prove total disability. Depending on the nature of your injury, however, you may only be eligible for permanent partial disability benefits if you retain some amount of working capacity.
Nobody deserves to suffer a permanent loss of sensation and motor control due to an accident, especially not one that happens while they are trying to do their job. However, if you have been injured in this way, you have help available from compassionate legal counsel with pursuing the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve.
When you seek support from a New Jersey workplace spinal cord injuries lawyer, you greatly improve your chances of case success. Contact the Law Office of Lloyd E. Bennett Esq., P.C. today to learn more.
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