What Is Workers’ Compensation, and How Does It Work in New Jersey?

Almost all states, including New Jersey, require employers to purchase workers’ compensation insurance that will provide medical treatment and other benefits to employees who experience job-related injuries or illnesses. In New Jersey, the workers’ compensation insurance program is considered “no fault,” which means the injured employee will receive benefits under the program regardless of who was at fault. The employer and/or its insurance carrier has the right to choose medical providers for treatment of on-the-job injuries.

Types of Job-Related Health Conditions Covered by Workers’ Comp

There are many types of on-the-job injuries, but some of the most common include:

• Lacerations – Deep cuts and skin tears are especially common in machine shops and food service industries.
• Muscle strains and ligament tears – These injuries often happen in any workplace where lifting boxes or other heavy items occurs.
• Burns and eye injuries – Employees whose work exposes them to steam, chemicals, electrical currents, or radiation face a higher risk of these injuries.
• Fractures – Falls from ladders and other workplace accidents can cause broken bones, but employees can also incur fractures by exerting repetitive force on bones over a long period of time.
• Cumulative trauma disorders – These types of injuries include repetitive strains such as carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist tendonitis, shoulder tendonitis, and hand-arm vibration syndrome.

Although most workers’ compensation claims involve some type of injury, employees may also be eligible for benefits if they develop an illness caused by working in an environment that exposes them to allergens or other harmful substances. Moreover, some workers may have a workers’ compensation claim if they can provide evidence that they contracted COVID-19 in the workplace.

Employees’ Responsibilities Related to Workers’ Comp

If you’ve been hurt while performing your job duties, you should notify your employer right away, preferably in writing. If you intend to seek medical treatment, you should request this treatment through your employer, who should provide instructions about where to seek treatment and any additional steps you need to take.

Employers’ Workers’ Comp Responsibilities

In New Jersey, employers are required to maintain workers’ compensation coverage at all times. When an employee reports an injury, either the employer or the employer’s workers’ comp insurance provider must file a first report of injury with the New Jersey Division of Workers’ Compensation within 21 days. Typically, the insurance carrier then works with the injured worker, the employer, and the medical provider to assess whether the claim is covered and coordinate medical treatment and back-to-work evaluations.

Where to Turn for Workers’ Compensation Services in Cape May County, NJ

If your business is located in southern New Jersey or you have employees there, you can partner with Cape Regional Urgent Care for a wide variety of occupational health services, including workers’ compensation management. We have three locations in Cape May County, which means all residents are within a short drive of our walk-in clinics no matter what part of the county they live in. We’re open during extended hours seven days a week, and we don’t require appointments, even for routine services related to occupational medicine.

Additionally, all of our urgent care clinics are staffed by board-certified doctors who are well-experienced at diagnosing and treating a wide variety of non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses. Our walk-in clinics are also equipped to provide same-day lab testing and X-ray services. All of these factors help make Cape Regional Urgent Care an excellent choice for Jersey Shore employers who need a reliable partner to evaluate and treat on-the-job injuries, as well as provide the additional reports required for workers’ comp insurance claims.

Contact Cape Regional Urgent Care today if you’d like more information.