Legally Reviewed by Jae E. Lee on September 7, 2026
If you have suffered any type of workplace injury, you have the right to seek workers’ compensation benefits for medical care, lost wages, and other considerations. New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system is a no-fault program, which means you may be entitled to benefits regardless of who caused the accident. The process involved with obtaining those benefits can be quite complex, however, and insurance carriers do not always approve every claim on the first submission.
At Jae Lee Law, personal injury attorney Jae E. Lee and our team provide comprehensive workers’ compensation representation to injured workers throughout Bergen, Passaic, and Hudson Counties. Whether you need help with your initial application for benefits or you have recently learned that your claim was denied, we are prepared to step in at any point to help you pursue the benefits you are entitled to under the law.
Time-Sensitive — New Jersey Law Limits Your Window to File
You Generally Have Only 2 Years to File a New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Claim
Jae Lee Law brings over 30 years of experience and millions in recoveries for injured clients across Bergen, Passaic, and Hudson Counties, and we are proactive, not just responsive, in fighting for your case.
Bergen County Job Injury Lawyers Representing Injured Workers
Our firm represents injured workers throughout Bergen County, as well as clients in Passaic County and Hudson County, in claims arising from construction sites, warehouses, hospitals, retail locations, and every other type of workplace. The type of benefit you receive under New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system depends on the severity of your injury and whether you are expected to make a full recovery.
We regularly review our clients’ progress and evaluate any lasting effects of the initial injury so that we can pursue every benefit available under the law. This includes coordinating with treating physicians, tracking wage-loss documentation, and pushing back when an insurance carrier undervalues a claim.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits Available in New Jersey
New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system provides several categories of benefits, and the type you receive depends on the nature of your injury and your ability to return to work.
Medical Benefits
Necessary and reasonable medical treatment, prescriptions, hospital services, and rehabilitation related to the work injury, generally paid by the employer’s insurance carrier.
Temporary Disability Benefits
Available if you are out of work for more than seven days, generally paid at 70 percent of your average weekly wage, subject to the statutory minimum and maximum rates set annually, for up to 400 weeks.
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits
Available if your injury permanently affects part of your body but you are able to return to work in some capacity.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits
Available if your injury prevents you from returning to any type of gainful employment.
Death and Dependency Benefits
Available to eligible dependents when a workplace accident or occupational disease results in death, generally paid at 70 percent of the worker’s average weekly wage, plus up to $5,000 in burial and funeral expenses under N.J.S.A. 34:15-13.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Claims We Handle
Workers’ compensation claims in Bergen, Passaic, and Hudson Counties arise from many different types of on-the-job accidents and conditions. Our firm handles claims involving:
Construction and Warehouse Accidents
Falls, equipment injuries, and site hazards
Repetitive Stress Injuries
Overuse conditions that develop over time
Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents
At the workplace or job site
Occupational Diseases
Exposure-related illness and hearing loss claims
Denied or Disputed Claims
Claims requiring an appeal
Each of these claim types has its own evidence and filing requirements, and we work to make sure you pursue every benefit you are entitled to under the law. If you were injured in a car, truck, or other motor vehicle accident while performing your job duties, you may also have a related claim under our vehicle accidents on duty page, and in some cases a separate claim against a negligent third-party driver in addition to your workers’ compensation benefits.
Common Reasons Workers’ Compensation Claims Are Denied or Disputed
Even a legitimate injury can result in a denied or reduced claim. Insurance carriers commonly raise the following disputes, and an experienced attorney can help you push back against each one.
Dispute 01
Claiming the Injury Pre-Dated the Job or Is Unrelated
The carrier argues a repetitive-stress or back injury was caused off the job rather than by your work duties.
Dispute 02
Disputing Your Average Weekly Wage
Miscalculating overtime, bonuses, or hours worked to lower your weekly benefit amount.
Dispute 03
Challenging Your Employment Status
Claiming you were an independent contractor rather than a covered employee at the time of the accident.
Dispute 04
Questioning Whether the Injury Happened at Work
Arguing the accident did not arise out of and in the course of your employment.
Deadline to File a New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Claim
Filing Deadline
2 Years From the Accident or Last Payment
Under N.J.S.A. 34:15-51, you generally have two years from the date of your workplace accident, or from the date of your last compensation payment, whichever is later, to file a formal claim petition. For occupational disease and exposure-related claims, this window runs from the date you first became aware of the condition and its connection to your employment. Missing this deadline can permanently bar you from recovering benefits.
New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system is a no-fault system, meaning you may be entitled to benefits even if you were partly responsible for the accident. You should contact our office promptly so we can evaluate your filing deadline.
What to Do After a Workplace Injury in Bergen, Passaic, or Hudson County
1. Report the Accident
Notify your employer as soon as possible, in writing if you can, and note the date and details.
2. Seek Medical Treatment
Get evaluated promptly and follow the treatment plan so your injury is properly documented.
3. Keep Records
Save medical bills, wage statements, and any correspondence with your employer or the insurer.
4. Contact an Attorney
Speak with our firm before accepting a settlement or responding to a denial letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jae Lee Law brings over 30 years of experience and millions in recoveries for injured clients throughout Bergen, Passaic, and Hudson Counties. Our firm is committed to helping injured workers secure every benefit they are entitled to under New Jersey law, whether that means an initial application, an appeal of a denied claim, or a related third-party claim.
If you have been injured on the job, do not wait to protect your claim. Contact our office today for a free consultation to discuss your workers’ compensation case.
