If you are a doctor, nurse, or any other type of medical professional and you’ve sustained a work injury or occupational illness, a New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyer can guide you through the confusing claims process and aggressively advocate for your best interests.
Shebell & Shebell, LLC has been fighting for injured workers since 1927 and knows what it takes to get you the benefits you need and deserve. See what an experienced New Jersey workers’ compensation attorney can do for you. Contact us today for a free consultation. We have an office conveniently located in Shrewsbury, and we can accommodate video appointments based upon the often grueling schedules our health care workers are experiencing.
Doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers are among the hardest working groups of people in the workforce – unsung heroes who are under constant stress and are at risk of being exposed to many different occupational hazards. Some of these hazards were contemplated by the Legislature here in New Jersey in the Thomas P. Canzanella Twenty First Century First Responders Protection Act, which became law on July 8, 2019. This law protects workers like you by creating a presumption in favor of the nurses, doctors or other public safety workers, including when you are exposed to a virus during epidemics. Our attorneys are familiar with the added protections provided to you, and are experienced in advocating on your behalf throughout the state.
The Public Safety Workers Included in the 21st Century First Responder Protection Act
- Member, employee, or officer of a paid, partially-paid, or volunteer fire or police department
- Member of a Community Emergency Response Team approved by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, or a correctional facility
- Basic or advanced medical technician of a first aid or rescue squad
- Any other nurse, basic or advanced medical technician responding to a catastrophic incident and directly involved and in contact with the public during such an incident either as a volunteer, member of a Community Emergency Response Team or employed or directed by a health care facility.
It’s been shown that hospitals are some of the most dangerous places you can work, with the work injury and occupational illness rate being higher than the rates seen in construction and manufacturing, which are two of the most traditionally dangerous industries for workers. This includes all employees of these facilities ranging from maintenance staff, personal care givers or nurse’s aides.
Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals working in hospitals and other types of healthcare facilities may be exposed to many different hazards, including:
- Muscle strains and sprains from lifting, moving, and repositioning patients (e.g., back injuries)
- Injuries from slip and fall accidents
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Patients with contagious diseases and viruses
- Exposure to toxic medical materials
- Sharp devices that may be contaminated with blood-born pathogens (e.g., needles, syringes, etc.)
- Attacks from violent patients
- Occupational stress from irregular hours and understaffing
Getting hurt at work can have a major impact on your life from a physical, emotional, and financial standpoint. You may need to miss time from work while you are treated and recover from your injury or illness – and your expenses can add up fast. How are you supposed to make ends meet if you can’t return to work?
Get the workers’ compensation lawyers who care about caregivers
The workers’ compensation system in New Jersey is designed to help injured workers cover the cost of all reasonable and necessary medical treatment for their work injury or occupational illness – and that includes work injuries or exposures sustained by doctors and nurses. Workers’ compensation can also provide certain wage benefits to injured workers, but sometimes trying to get approved for all these benefits can be a challenge.
That’s because the insurance company will often do everything in its power to pay you as little as possible, just to reduce their costs and increase their profits. They may question the severity of your injury or claim certain medical treatments – such as surgery – aren’t necessary. Worse yet, they might even try to say you had a pre-existing condition or that your injury/illness isn’t work-related.
Don’t let your loss become their gain. Our New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyers have the knowledge and experience to handle every aspect of your claim while you focus on your recovery. We know the games some insurance companies play, and we will stand by your side and fight to get you the benefits you’re entitled to.
Take command of your claim with a New Jersey workers’ comp attorney
At Shebell & Shebell, we realize how daunting it can be to navigate the process of getting workers’ compensation benefits on your own and without any help. After representing injured workers for over 90 years, we have experienced all the games insurance companies try to play to reduce the benefits you are entitled to under the law. Our legal team is dedicated and determined to help you through every step of the process – whether you’re in the initial stages of filing a claim, have hit a dead end with your treatment, or you need to challenge the insurance company’s denial of your claim.
Let our law firm fight for you. Our New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyers can meet with you, listen to what happened, discuss your options, answer your questions, and give you honest advice on the best way to move forward. Find out how an experienced New Jersey workers’ compensation attorney can help you get the benefits you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.