If you are hurt on the job in Lynn or made sick by some aspect of the work, you are likely interested in recovering workers' compensation benefits. The workers' compensation system in Massachusetts was designed to allow employees to avoid needing to prove fault and make it easier for them to obtain benefits if they suffer job-related injuries. However, in practice, insurers sometimes deny legitimate claims, and it may be hard to navigate the system on your own. At Pulgini & Norton, our Lynn workers' compensation lawyers may be able to help you obtain the benefits that you need.
Asserting Your Right to Workers' Compensation BenefitsWorkers' compensation benefits in Massachusetts include reimbursement for medical costs, temporary or permanent disability, and a one-time payment for scarring or the permanent loss of function of a body part. Disability benefits are based on your average weekly wage and the extent to which you are disabled.
You may only recover workers' compensation benefits if your injury or illness is work-related. This means that some aspect of the job must have caused it. Establishing that an injury or illness is work-related is straightforward in some cases. For example, if you fall off scaffolding as a construction worker, and your coworker witnesses it, it is probably obvious that the resulting broken bones, bruises, and other injuries are work-related. Although it may be in a less obvious area, if you are a secretary, carpal tunnel syndrome is also easy to link to your work.
However, there are injuries and illnesses for which the relationship to work may be more attenuated. You may need a doctor to provide an opinion that the injury is job-related. For example, in the case of a heart attack, the insurer will likely look for other possible causes of the incident, such as home-related stress or a pre-existing condition. The insurer may also look at additional risk factors for heart attacks like smoking. However, you should not take for granted that you will not be able to get benefits if the insurer asserts that there was another cause for your injury. Work must be a major cause of the injury, but it need not be predominant.
If your job aggravates a pre-existing condition, such that you suffer an injury that prevents you from working, the whole disability is compensable through the workers’ compensation system.
Discuss Your Claim with a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in LynnLynn is the largest city in Essex County with a population of nearly 100,000 residents. A few notable people from the area include football player Jules Archoska, pro wrestler Todd Smith, and actor Alex Newell. If you are filing a workers' compensation claim following a serious accident on the job, you should consult an experienced Lynn workers’ compensation attorney. At Pulgini & Norton, we can provide sound legal advice regarding your options and help you bring a claim for benefits or appeal an insurer’s denial of a claim. Contact our firm at 781-843-2200 or use our online form to set up a free consultation with a work injury lawyer.