While work injuries can occur in any profession, they occur more often in professions that involve the operation of machinery with moving parts, the moving of materials, and the operation of motor vehicles. Methuen is home to several manufacturing companies that produce a wide array of products. One of Methuen’s largest employers manufactures touch screens used in a variety of industries. Another company provides bus transportation for students and employs many residents as well. There are several retail companies that sell products to the public with Massachusetts workers dedicating themselves to their jobs. While companies located in Methuen and Northern Massachusetts provide employment opportunities to residents and people in the surrounding areas, these jobs also pose a risk of injuries. A Methuen workers’ compensation lawyer can help you pursue benefits if you have been injured on the job.
Recovering the workers’ compensation benefits that you are owed can be an overwhelming and complex process. The attorneys at the Stephen Law Group can assess the circumstances surrounding your work-related injury or illness and work diligently to assist you in obtaining the compensation that you are owed. We have several office locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, including an office in Methuen.
In Massachusetts, all employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for the benefit of their employees. If you suffered a work-related injury or illness, you should notify your employer as soon as possible. If your injury or illness caused you to be disabled for less than five days, your employer will submit a claim for medical benefits only to its workers’ compensation insurer. Individuals with illnesses or injuries that caused a disability lasting five or more days may be eligible to recover weekly compensation indemnity benefits. Your employer must submit a First Report of Injury or Illness to its workers’ compensation insurer and the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) within seven days of the fifth day of your disability. Your employer’s insurer then must either begin paying you benefits or notify the DIA within 14 days that it is contesting your claim.
If your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer denies your claim, a workers’ compensation attorney in Methuen can assist you with an appeal. The first step is a conciliation, during which the parties will attempt to come to a resolution. If that is not successful, an administrative judge will hold a conference with the parties, after which the judge will either deny the claim or order the payment of benefits. If either party disagrees with the judge’s decision, they can appeal. The administrative judge will then hold a hearing at which both parties can submit evidence. The judge will issue a written opinion after the hearing. If either party believes that the judge ruled in error, they can then appeal to a reviewing board.
Recovering workers’ compensation benefits is a detailed and complicated process. If you suffered a work-related injury or illness, you should seek the assistance of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to guide you through each step of your claim. We take away your legal headaches so that you can focus on getting better so that you may provide for you and your family. At Stephen Law, our Methuen workers’ compensation attorneys fight for you, the injured worker!
An employee who suffers a work-related injury or illness is entitled to the full cost of his or her medical treatment and, if the employee is disabled and unable to work, disability benefits. The amount of disability benefits paid depends on whether the employee is partially or totally disabled and whether his or her disability is permanent or temporary. Whether a disability is total or partial is determined based on several factors, including age, work experience, and physical impairments caused by the injury or illness.
An employee who is temporarily and totally disabled will receive 60 percent of his or her weekly wage, while an employee who is temporarily and partially disabled will receive 60 percent of the difference between his or her wage before the injury or illness and the wage that he or she is capable of earning after the injury or illness. For permanent and total disabilities, employees receive two-thirds of their average weekly wage before the injury. The length of time for which an injured employee receives benefits depends on the nature and duration of the disability. Additionally, all disability payments are subject to a weekly maximum and minimum. A knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney can help you determine the full amount of benefits to which you are entitled.
If you sustained a work-related injury or illness while working in Methuen or any Massachusetts location, you likely will be able to recover workers’ compensation benefits. At the Stephen Law Group, our seasoned workers’ compensation attorneys have the knowledge and experience to help you recover the benefits that you are owed. We can advise you on each step of the process and work tirelessly to help you recover the appropriate benefits. Set up a consultation today by contacting us at 877-663-1007 or using our online form.