WORKERS' COMPENSATION

New Jersey COVID-19 Lawyer

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way many Americans work. Countless businesses have shifted operations to allow employees to do more work from home, and there are signs that these changes are here to stay. However, workers in many vital industries have had no choice but to continue working in person, despite the risks associated with this arrangement.

As a result, many workers have contracted COVID-19 due to occupational exposure and now suffer a wide range of physical and personal complications. If you were infected with COVID-19 at work, you might be curious about your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits.

Contact the skilled workers’ compensation team at Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman to discuss whether you may be entitled to benefits due to your occupational exposure to COVID-19. The consultation is free and confidential.

How Our Lawyers Help Workers with COVID-19 Claims

If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or a related condition as a result of exposure in the workplace, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. However, you must prove that your illness is work-related to secure these benefits.

At Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman, our dedicated attorneys have been standing up for workers’ rights since 1929. We can support you during this challenging time by:

Determining whether you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits or have grounds to file other types of claims for compensation
Collecting and preserving valuable evidence demonstrating that your condition is indeed work-related
Calculating the potential value of your claim and working with expert medical witnesses to support the claim
Demonstrating that you took reasonable steps to protect your health at work and still became infected with COVID-19 anyway

FAQ

How much does it cost to hire a workers’ compensation lawyer?

We can begin work on your case at no upfront cost. We do not charge for our services unless and until we obtain a successful outcome on your behalf. And even then, the only fees we collect come from a court-approved percentage (up to 20 percent) of the monetary award you receive for your claim

From our clients

I came to PRA with my workmen compensation case . Gary Adams represented me . Gary was recommended to me by a friend and I in turn recommended Gary to another friend. Gary and his paralegal Jennifer are very good with communication and keeping me well informed in regards to my case : answering emails & returning my calls . I have and I will continue to recommend Gary and his staff to my friends .

My experience with Pellettien Rabstein & Altman was a great one! Every step of the way they were there with me, they made sure I got the justice I deserved. Whenever I called there was someone to answer the questions I had, the receptionist and secretary were friendly and very polite. Anytime, any day, I will recommend Counselor Gary Adams to represent any of my family or friends.

I have dealt with this firm for over 7 years on a very complicated Workmans Compensation case.
I have dealt with a myriad of legal firms throughout the country for over 30 years in my positions of CEO. And this firm is by far, the best firm I have ever dealt with.

My attorney at Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman was amazing and I can’t thank the firm enough for their insights and assistance! I would highly recommend them!

It was a very long and arduous time (13 years to bring this before a Judge). Living out of state made it particularly hard. Attorney Monaghan of Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman in New Jersey was diligent in helping through the morass of a very difficult workers’ comp claim resultant from an assault on a flight over international waters. I am permanently disabled from this assault and appreciate PR&A’s help.

Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman has very knowledgeable attorneys who are responsive and professional. Jeff Monaghan is an excellent example of this.

Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman listened to my needs and helped me get a larger settlement than I expected. They were very attentive and kind.

Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman is an outstanding firm.

FAQ

Symptoms and Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 from the Workplace

In most cases, COVID-19 symptoms appear within 2 to 14 days of exposure. Common signs and symptoms of COVID-19 include:

Fever and chills
Congestion
Runny nose
Cough
Sore throat
Shortness of breath
Fatigue and sleep disturbances
Headaches and body aches
Loss of taste and smell
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Chest pain and pressure
Skin rashes
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

If you have any of the following COVID-19 symptoms, you should seek medical care immediately:

Difficulty breathing
Persistent chest pain and pressure
Difficulty staying awake
Unusual confusion and disorientation
Pale or blue skin, lips, and nail beds

Some COVID-19 patients, even if they have only suffered mild symptoms at the initial onset of the disease, experience long COVID or post-COVID-19 complications, such as:

Persistent fatigue

Persistent shortness of breath

Lingering fevers and coughs

Joint and muscle pains

Chest pain and pounding heartbeat

Difficulty with memory and concentration

Persistent sleep disturbances

Persistent loss of smell and taste

Lingering depression and anxiety

Dizziness from standing up

Worsened symptoms after exertion

Does Workers’ Compensation Cover COVID-19 in New Jersey?

Generally speaking, you can claim workers’ compensation benefits any time you suffer an illness, injury, or other condition resulting from occupational trauma or exposure. However, the key sticking point in most COVID-19 claims is whether the condition is work-related.
The exact origin of common, easily-transmissible diseases like the seasonal influenza virus, the common cold, and COVID-19 can be hard to pin down. It can be challenging to prove that you contracted an infectious disease while at work or performing job-related tasks.
Fortunately, as of September 14, 2020, New Jersey Senate Bill 2380 created a rebuttable presumption of workers’ compensation for essential workers who contract COVID-19. That means when workers deemed “essential” contract COVID-19, they are entitled to the presumption that the disease is “work-related and fully compensable.”
If you aren’t an essential worker or are uncertain about your status, get in touch with the knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyers at the law firm of Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman. We can help you demonstrate that you contracted COVID-19 at work and that your specific work duties contributed substantially to your exposure risk.

Our Victories

Workers’ Compensation Medical and Disability Benefits for Life from Mesothelioma Exposure at Out-of-Business Employer

A union electrician employed by an electrical contractor from 1952 through 1980, developed malignant mesothelioma, which is a rare form of cancer frequently associated with asbestos exposure. Our attorneys filed a workers’ compensation claim, but faced the challenge that our client’s employer had gone out of business several years earlier.

Retail Department Store Employee Covered for Degenerative Knee Condition

After years of standing on her feet serving customers, our client’s knees gave out – one and then the other – and the doctor recommended knee replacement surgery to alleviate the pain.

$185K

$185,000 (Partial Settlement) to Electrician for Asbestos-related Cancer

When a union electrician was diagnosed with a type of cancer related to asbestos exposure, our attorneys were able to prove he had, in fact, been exposed at his job sites to sufficient amounts of asbestos to contribute to the cancer.

Salesman Between Appointments Covered By Workers’ Compensation for Auto Accident Injuries

While driving between client appointments, a salesman suffered injuries in an auto accident that landed him in the hospital and led to several procedures and physical therapy. While the damage to his car was covered by his auto insurance, the primary coverage for his injuries were paid by his employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.

Work-at-Home “Telecommuter” Recovers on Auto Accident

Although her primary workplace was at home, our lawyers made the case that our client was traveling on business and that she was not commuting; therefore, our client’s auto injuries were covered under workers’ compensation law.

Benefits Recovered for Dust, Dirt, Fumes at Work That Caused Chronic Bronchitis

Breathing in excessive dust, dirt and fumes – especially those that can be toxic to the lungs – over a period of years can cause chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Now retired and suffering from chronic bronchitis, and prodded by his wife, our client asked his doctor whether his work environment could have caused his condition.

Benefits Recovered for Repetitive Motion Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Office Worker

When our client was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, she was not aware that the repetitive motion of keyboarding on her computer at the office every day over a period of years could be the cause – and that she had the right to workers’ compensation benefits – until a friend convinced her to contact us.

$75K

$75,000 to Technician for Grease Burn Injury

Burns often leave emotional, as well as physical scars. When burning grease splashed our client, a fire safety technician, our workers’ compensation lawyers won benefits for him.

Carpenter Hired by Friends for Renovation Covered by Workers’ Compensation

When friends hired a master carpenter to renovate their historic home and make various other improvements to their property, and he was seriously injured from a fall, the insurance company said that he was an independent contractor and refused to cover him as an employee.

$250K

$250,000 for Widow in Workers’ Compensation Case

The widow of a delivery driver for a local company was awarded $250,000 in widow’s benefits in a Workers’ Compensation case.

105

Combined Years Experience of Lawyers

100%

Kinds Of Comp Cases We Handle

Certified Workers’ Compensation Law Attorneys

We have been representing members of public and private labor unions for almost a century, including state and county workers construction workers, service employees and factory workers.

Contact

Let’s Get in Touch

Types of New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Benefits Available for Employees Exposed to COVID-19

There are four main types of workers’ compensation benefits available to New Jersey workers who suffer from nonfatal, occupational exposure to COVID-19:

Medical benefit

These benefits cover the costs of any reasonable and necessary medical care you require to treat your work-related condition. That includes expenses for ambulance rides, hospital stays, doctor’s visits, prescription medications, and

durable medical equipment.

Temporary disability benefits

If your condition temporarily prevents you from doing your usual job or returning to work at all, these benefits can cover a portion of your lost wages. Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits provide up to 70 percent of your average weekly pre-injury wages. TTD benefits are subject to statewide maximums that fluctuate year to year. You can receive temporary disability benefits for up to 400 weeks or until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), whichever is sooner.

Permanent disability benefit

If your condition prevents you from ever returning to work at full capacity, or your injury affects your activities of daily living, you could be entitled to permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits. PPD benefits are available for up to 600 weeks or certain statutory amounts. If your condition is so severe that you cannot return to work in any capacity, you could be entitled to permanent total disability (PTD) benefits. PTD benefits are paid for life.

Job displacement benefits

If your condition prevents you from ever performing your old job again and your employer does not have any alternative or light-duty work available, you could be entitled to supplemental job displacement benefits. These benefits can help you pay for the education or training necessary to develop the skills you need for other types of work.

Death Benefits in Fatal Cases of Workplace COVID-19 Exposure

The tragic reality is that, in some cases, occupational exposure to COVID-19 ultimately proves fatal. When this happens, workers’ compensation death benefits help surviving loved ones, who often struggle with losing both the worker’s income and other forms of support they provided.

Eligible survivors may be entitled to:

Weekly wage loss benefits of up to 70 percent of the average weekly wages earned by the deceased worker before they died
Up to $3,500 in funeral benefits

Surviving spouses can continue to collect death benefits for the rest of their lives. However, benefit payments may be stopped upon remarriage. Surviving children are entitled to receive benefits until they turn 18 (or 23 for students) or for life if they are disabled.

Get Help from Our COVID-19 Lawyers Today

The long-term effects of occupational exposure to COVID-19 could significantly impact your health and livelihood. Contact the COVID-19 exposure lawyers of Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman today to discuss your legal options if you contracted the disease while on the job or while engaging in work-related activity off-site. We look forward to speaking with you and to pursuing rightful compensation on your behalf.