Workers’ Compensation
Dedicated personal injury lawyers who aggressively represent accident victims in Pennsauken and throughout South Jersey.
South Jersey Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
If you work in Pennsauken, New Jersey, and you get hurt on the job, the law is on your side. New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system exists to protect you, and understanding how it works can make a real difference in the outcome of your claim. Whether you work near the Betsy Ross Bridge corridor along Route 130, at one of the many warehouses and industrial facilities off Merchantville Avenue, or at a business near the Pennsauken Town Center, a workplace injury can turn your life upside down fast. The good news is that you have legal rights, and a South Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer at Petrillo & Goldberg Law can help you protect them.
Table of Contents
- What Is Workers’ Compensation in New Jersey?
- What Benefits Can Injured Workers Receive?
- Steps to Take After a Workplace Injury in Pennsauken
- Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim: Deadlines and the Legal Process
- Your Rights Against Employer Retaliation
- Special Situations: Minors, First Responders, and Serious Injuries
- FAQs About Workers’ Compensation in Pennsauken, New Jersey
Our Legal Services
OVER
150
YEARS
COMBINED LEGAL EXPERIENCE
What Is Workers’ Compensation in New Jersey?
The New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act, N.J.S.A. 34:15-1, was enacted in 1911 and is often called the “Grand Bargain.” Under this system, injured workers give up the right to sue their employers in exchange for swift access to medical care and lost wage benefits. That trade-off has protected millions of New Jersey workers for over a century.
New Jersey operates a “no-fault” system under the Workers’ Compensation Act, N.J.S.A. 34:15-1 et seq. Virtually all individuals who work in the state are covered, with the exception of longshoremen and employees of the U.S. government. That means you do not have to prove your employer was negligent to receive benefits. You simply need to show that your injury happened at work or arose from your job duties.
New Jersey Rules
For Employers & Workers' Compensation
Most private businesses in New Jersey are required to have workers’ compensation insurance, either with an authorized insurer or through self-insurance. Key exemptions include sole proprietors without employees, partners in partnerships, LLC members, independent contractors, volunteers, and unpaid interns. The program covers employees in the event of a workplace injury or illness, including medical costs, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability, and permanent total disability. Death benefits may also be available to a worker’s family.
Workers across Camden County, from Pennsauken to Cherry Hill, rely on these protections every day. If your employer disputes your claim or refuses to authorize treatment, you need someone in your corner. The team at Petrillo & Goldberg Law is ready to fight for the benefits you are owed. Call us at 856.486.4343.
What Benefits Can Injured Workers Receive?
Workers’ compensation in New Jersey covers more than just a doctor’s visit. The law provides several categories of benefits designed to replace your income and cover your medical costs while you recover.
Workers throughout New Jersey benefit from these protections. Whether you were injured at a distribution center in Mount Laurel, a construction site in Woodbury, or a manufacturing facility in Pennsauken near the Delaware River waterfront, the law covers you the same way.
Temporary Disability
If an injured worker is disabled for more than seven days, they are eligible to receive temporary disability benefits at a rate of 70% of their average weekly wage, not to exceed the maximum rate set by statute. These benefits are provided during the period when a worker is unable to work and is under active medical care.
Medical Benefits
Under N.J.S.A. 34:15-15, an employer must provide all medical treatment necessary to cure and relieve the effects of the injury and to restore the functions of the injured member if possible. Medical benefits cover the cost of treatment related to your work-related injury or illness, including doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription medications, medical equipment, and physical therapy.
Permanent Partial Disability
Do you have a permanent injury that affects your ability to work long-term? Permanent partial disability and permanent total disability benefits are also available under New Jersey law. A South New Jersey workers compensation lawyer at Petrillo & Goldberg Law can evaluate your situation and help you understand exactly what you are entitled to under the current law.
Benefit Rates
As of January 1, 2026, the maximum weekly workers’ compensation benefit rate for temporary disability, permanent total disability, permanent partial disability, and dependency rises to $1,199. That is a meaningful increase that directly affects how much money you can receive while you heal.
Steps to Take After a Work Injury in Pennsauken
What you do in the hours and days after a work injury can directly affect your claim. Acting quickly and correctly protects your rights under New Jersey law.
Workers must notify their employer of their work-related injury or illness as soon as possible. Employers are then required to inform their insurer and file a First Report of Injury form with the Division of Workers’ Compensation. Waiting too long to report your injury is one of the most common mistakes injured workers make.
If an injured employee provides notice of a work-related accident within 14 days of the accident date, workers’ compensation benefits will be allowed. If notice is given within 30 days of the accident, benefits shall be allowed unless the employer can prove they were prejudiced by the delay. Do not assume that missing the 14-day window means you have lost your rights. But the sooner you act, the better.
YOU HAVE
14
DAYS
TO GIVE NOTICE
Seek Medical Treatment
Your employer or their insurance carrier has the right to select your treating doctor initially. Keep records of every appointment, every prescription, and every day you miss work. These details matter when your case goes before a workers’ compensation judge. If your employer denies your claim or your work injury attorney advises that your medical benefits are being improperly withheld, you have legal options to fight back.
Pennsauken injured near major corridors like Route 73 or the industrial areas along Haddonfield Road should document the scene if it is safe to do so. Photos, witness names, and incident reports all strengthen your claim. Call Petrillo & Goldberg Law at 856.486.4343 as soon as possible after your injury.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim: Deadlines and the Legal Process
New Jersey law sets firm deadlines for filing workers’ compensation claims. Missing those deadlines can cost you your benefits entirely.
Initial Claim Petition
You must file a Claim Petition with the Division of Workers’ Compensation within two years of the accident or last payment of compensation or medical benefits under N.J.S.A. 34:15-51. Two years sounds like a long time, but injured workers often wait too long while hoping their employer resolves things informally. Do not make that mistake.
If Disputes Arise
If a workers’ compensation dispute arises, parties can file a formal or informal claim with the Division. They have two years from the injury date or the last compensation payment to file a formal Claim Petition. If a matter cannot be resolved, it proceeds to trial. Parties can appeal formal decisions to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court.
Hearings
The Camden County Workers’ Compensation court handles claims for Pennsauken workers. The process can involve informal hearings, formal hearings, and in some cases, full trials before a workers’ compensation judge. Having experienced work injury attorneys by your side makes a real difference at every stage of that process.
Third Party Claims
Workers’ compensation may not be the only avenue for recovery. If a third party, such as a manufacturer or a reckless contractor, contributed to your injury, you may have a separate personal injury claim. The New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law entitles the employer and its insurance carrier to receive a credit for amounts recovered from a third party causing a compensable work-related injury under N.J.S.A. 34:15-40.
Your Rights Against Employer Retaliation
Some workers fear that filing a workers’ compensation claim will cost them their jobs. That fear is understandable, but New Jersey law prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who file claims. The Workers’ Compensation statute, N.J.S.A. 34:15-39.1, prohibits the termination of an employee in retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim or for testifying at a workers’ compensation hearing. If you feel you were terminated for these reasons, one option is filing a discrimination complaint against your employer with the Division of Workers’ Compensation.
While the law provides for restoration to your former position and payment of lost wages, you must be able to perform the essential duties of that position to use any remedy under this portion of the statute. That is an important detail that many workers do not know.
A Team Approach
After a New Jersey work accident.
Retaliation is not always a termination. Demotion, reduced hours, harassment, or sudden negative performance reviews after filing a claim can all be illegal retaliation. If your employer offers you light-duty work after your injury, you need to understand your rights before accepting or refusing. A work injury lawyer at Petrillo & Goldberg Law can help you evaluate those offers carefully.
Workers across Burlington County, Gloucester County, and Camden County have faced retaliation after filing legitimate claims. The law is clear, and Petrillo & Goldberg Law is ready to hold your employer accountable. Contact us by phone at 856.486.4343. We also serve clients from our Woodbury office at 70 South Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096.
Special Situations: Minors, First Responders, and Serious Injuries
Not every workers’ compensation case is straightforward. Certain workers face unique circumstances under New Jersey law, and understanding those special rules can mean the difference between getting full benefits and walking away with nothing.
Young workers in Pennsauken and across South Jersey deserve the same protections as adults. Understanding workers’ compensation benefits in South New Jersey for minors is an area where many families need guidance. New Jersey law does cover minors injured in work-related accidents, and additional remedies may be available when a minor is employed in violation of child labor laws.
On January 14, 2026, Governor Murphy signed into law S2373/A2145, known as the New Jersey First Responders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Protection Act. It provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with PTSD under certain conditions. The Act applies to a broad range of first responders and prohibits employers from taking various actions against a paid first responder due to a qualifying PTSD diagnosis. This is a significant development for police officers, firefighters, and paramedics across Camden County and beyond.
Industrial accidents, serious falls, and injuries involving heavy machinery often result in permanent disabilities that affect workers for the rest of their lives. These cases require careful legal handling because the long-term financial stakes are high. Workers injured in serious incidents near the Pennsauken industrial corridor or along the waterfront may also have third-party claims against equipment manufacturers or property owners, which connects closely to premises liability principles. Petrillo & Goldberg Law handles the full range of workplace injury claims and will make sure every available avenue for recovery is explored on your behalf.