Rights of a longshore worker who is killed or injured on the job
Longshore workers and harbor construction workers have dangerous jobs, working around cargo cranes and huge containers. A New Jersey man was killed while working on a ship docked in the Delaware River when two steel planks fell on him. What compensation is available to the family of a longshore worker killed while working in a […]
Injured workers in rural area more likely to be given opioids, study says
A study conducted by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that workers from areas classified as rural or very rural were 25 percent more likely to be prescribed an opioid pain medication after a work injury. The study also showed that those in the construction and mining industries and those who are employed at smaller […]
Court rules injured man cannot sue coworker over prank gone awry
A firefighter in Linden, New Jersey was injured on the job in a coworker’s prank gone wrong. He went on to sue the man, but his case was dismissed. Now, an appeals court has upheld the previous dismissal and confirmed that an injured party may not sue for damages over an incident covered by the […]
Winter weather brings snow, ice and increase in work injuries
During the winter season, it is important to be mindful of safety during inclement weather. Cold temperatures, snow and ice can all be dangerous. Experts say that these conditions create an increase in work injuries every year. Winter precipitation and icy surfaces caused over 42,480 people to miss at least one day of work due […]
New Jersey transit granted sovereign immunity
New Jersey Transit has successfully won an appeals case which granted it sovereign immunity and rescinded an earlier award to a former employee who was injured at work. Quitman Robinson was hurt on the job in 2011 while he was doing railroad maintenance for New Jersey Transit in Morristown. Robinson sued New Jersey Transit for […]
New Jersey Supreme Court to decide no-fault medical payments limits
Two related cases in which car accident victims seek medical costs beyond chosen personal injury protection (PIP) limits could impact future payouts for New Jersey accident victims based on the state’s no-fault auto insurance laws. The New Jersey Supreme Court last October heard oral arguments in a combined case in which accident victims were seeking […]
Workplace illnesses can be hard to prove
Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation law provides coverage for workers who suffer illnesses due to workplace conditions, but those illnesses and their causes are not always apparent. Filing workers’ compensation claims in such instances can threaten job security. Six former workers at a Philadelphia shooting range in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas recently accused the […]
Ensure proper compensation for lost appendages at work
A South Jersey pretzel factory faces up to $206,019 in penalties arising from the partial amputation of a worker’s finger at its Pennsauken plant. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in September ruled J&J Snack Foods Corp. is liable for injuries to the worker due to improper energy-control procedures used while the worker […]
Lack of workers’ compensation benefits for workers in the gig economy
The fatality of a bike messenger has revealed the potential perils of working in the gig economy, in which workers are not classified as employees, and thus, are ineligible for workers’ compensation. As reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Pablo Avendano, who worked as a bike messenger, was in the midst of making a food delivery […]
Report work injury promptly to your employer
Usually, when an employee does not report a claim in a timely fashion, the employer can use such failure as a defense in a workers’ compensation court. However, lack of timely notice is rarely one of those defenses in New Jersey. It would appear as though lack of timely notice should be the first defense […]