New Jersey Closed-Head Injury Lawyer
Workplace Accident Attorneys Helping New Jersey Employees
Closed-head injuries can cause devastating and immediate harm, but some head injuries cause subtle symptoms that may go unnoticed for some time. As a result, although employees who suffer closed-head injuries in the workplace are often entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, the process of recovering benefits can be complicated. At New Jersey Workers Compensation Lawyer of JFM Law, a New Jersey closed-head injury lawyer is proficient at handling complex workers’ compensation claims, and we will aggressively pursue any benefits that you are eligible to recover.
Symptoms Of Closed-Head Injuries
Closed-head injuries are injuries that occur when a person’s head strikes another object with such force that it causes the person to sustain a brain injury, but it does not cause the person’s skull to fracture or his or her skin to break. One of the most common closed-head injuries is a concussion, which is a traumatic brain injury that disrupts brain function. Hematomas, which occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and causes blood to accumulate in the tissue of the brain, and hemorrhages, which cause bleeding in the brain as well, are other closed-head injuries commonly caused by trauma.
Closed-head injuries will not always result in a loss of consciousness. However, they will typically cause pain, cognitive deficits, headaches, dizziness, nausea, memory issues and mood disturbances. In some instances, the symptoms of a closed-head injury will appear immediately, while in other cases, they may take days or weeks to appear. Thus, it is not uncommon for an employer to dispute that a closed-head injury was sustained in the workplace, and the employee may be required to undergo a physical examination to determine whether his or her injury is work-related. It is important for employees who suffer a blow to the head in the workplace to advise the employer of the injury as soon as possible and to document any symptoms that may arise. A head injury attorney can help New Jersey employees build a strong claim based on this evidence.
Benefits Recoverable For A Closed-Head Injury
Employees who establish that their closed-head injury is work-related may be entitled to recover medical benefits, in the form of any treatment that is deemed reasonable and necessary to treat their injuries. Typically, this includes diagnostic tests, hospitalization, surgery, and occupational and physical therapy. The employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier is obligated to cover the cost of the treatment, but the employer generally has the right to choose the treatment provider. The treatment provider will typically be the person who determines whether the employee suffered a disability due to his or her injury.
If an employee is deemed disabled, and the disability lasts for a minimum of seven days, the employee may be eligible for temporary disability benefits, which typically are paid at a rate of 70% of the employee’s weekly wage within state-defined limits. Our New Jersey head injury attorneys can assist employees with pursuing these benefits. An employee will continue to receive temporary disability benefits until he or she reaches maximum medical improvement, or until the employee returns to work. If the employee is still disabled at the end of the temporary disability period, however, he or she may receive permanent partial or total disability benefits.
Contact A Skillful Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Closed-head injuries can cause significant and lasting harm, and they may impair a person’s ability to earn an income. If you sustained a closed-head injury in the workplace, it is advisable to confer with an attorney regarding your potential workers’ compensation claim. The skillful workers’ compensation attorneys at New Jersey Workers Compensation Lawyer of The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall will zealously pursue the full amount of benefits that you may be eligible to recover. From our three offices, we represent people in workers’ compensation matters throughout New Jersey, including employees in Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, and Union counties. You can reach us via our form online or at 866-916-3549 to set up a meeting with a head injury lawyer in New Jersey.