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New Jersey COVID-19 Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Workers' Comp for Essential Workers Who Contract COVID-19

Under New Jersey Law, it is not necessary for essential workers who developed COVID-19 to prove how it was that they contracted the virus. Instead, there is a legal presumption that any essential worker who contracted the virus, and worked with the public, contracted it through work and are therefore eligible for Workers Compensation benefits. These benefits can include payment of medical expenses, reimbursement for lost wages, and compensation based upon degree of disability. Should an essential worker have passed away from COVID-19, there are also long-term survivor benefits available for their families.

Essential workers include not just emergency and healthcare workers, but also grocery and retail workers, transportation and delivery personnel, workers in the restaurant and service industry, and others who provided needed goods, services or assistance to the public during the pandemic.

You may be entitled to benefits if:

  1. You are an essential worker who contracted COVID-19; or
  2. You are the surviving family member of an essential worker who died as a result of COVID-19.

Thanks to legislation passed by the efforts of advocates like Partner Rich Marcolus, New Jersey has a legal presumption that an essential worker’s contraction of COVID-19 is work related, thereby entitling them to benefits. New Jersey has a broad definition of “essential worker” and many workers quality.

Levinson Axelrod, P.A. can evaluate if you qualify for benefits and fight for the compensation you deserve. We serve clients across New Jersey from multiple offices and offer FREE consultations.

Leaders in Essential Workers COVID Exposure Cases

Levinson Axelrod, P.A., P.A. is a leader in litigating occupational exposure cases related to workers’ compensation and COVID-19:

  • We helped pass the state’s essential worker COVID-19 presumption law.
  • We won New Jersey’s first court order awarding workers’ compensation to an essential worker.
  • We’ve handled some of the first occupational exposure cases arising from the pandemic.

In addition to helping pass the state’s COVID-19 presumption law, our firm secured benefits for a corrections officer who contracted the coronavirus in what is believed to be the first court order in New Jersey awarding workers’ compensation benefits to an essential worker.

New Law Entitles Essential Workers in New Jersey to Workers' Comp for COVID-19

A new law now makes it is easier for essential workers who contract COVID-19 to collect benefits under New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system. Some key facts about the law:

  • The law was signed by Gov. Murphy in September 2020 and is retroactive to March 9, 2020.
  • It creates a legal presumption that an essential worker’s COVID-19 is work-related.
  • The only way to defeat the presumption is to prove a worker was not exposed to COVID at their workplace.

In workers’ comp cases, claimants must typically prove their injury or illness is job related in order to receive benefits. Because it is largely impossible to prove when or where a person contracts an airborne virus like COVID-19, the law presumes an essential worker’s exposure to COVID is related to their work.

This means that if you’re an essential worker, you only need to prove that:

  1. You contracted COVID-19; and
  2. You meet the broad legal definition of “essential worker”.

Changing the law to create a presumption of causation was a major victory for essential workers and the product of advocacy efforts from our firm and Partner Rich Marcolus.

Mr. Marcolus, a NJ Supreme Court Certified Workers’ Comp Specialist, testified in support of the essential worker COVID presumption bill before a state lawmakers and helped pass the Canzanella Act, which protects first responders. Both of these laws now protect the hard-working men and women who put their bodies at risk to provide our communities with essential services during the pandemic.

Who Qualifies As an Essential Worker?

The law broadly defines “essential worker” as:

  1. An employee considered essential in emergency response and recovery operations; or
  2. A public or private employee with duties and responsibilities essential to public health, safety, and welfare.

This broad definition means many different types of essential workers may qualify for benefits after contracting COVID-19. Some examples include:

  • Public safety workers / first responders such as firefighters, police, EMTs, and other emergency service workers.
  • Health care providers and employees who provide emergency transportation, social services, and other care services in health care facilities or homes.
  • Employees who work in physical proximity to the public and are essential to public health, safety, and welfare, such as workers in transportation, hotels and hospitality, residential services, financial services, and the production, preparation, storage, sale, and distribution of essential goods such as food, beverages, medicine, fuel, and supplies for conducting essential business and work at home; or
  • Other persons deemed essential workers by the authority declaring the state of emergency.

If you are unsure if you qualify as an essential worker under New Jersey workers’ compensation laws, Levinson Axelrod, P.A. can evaluate your case, job duties, and eligibility for benefits.

Workers' Compensation Benefits for COVID-19

Essential workers and families who suffer losses due to COVID-19 are entitled to benefits such as:

  • Medical expenses for needed treatment
  • Temporary benefits for lost wages
  • Compensation upon a finding of permanent illness
  • Death benefits

The presumption of causation clears many obstacles for essential workers who file for workers’ compensation after contracting COVID-19, but it doesn’t mean you will automatically awarded sufficient benefits. Our New Jersey COVID-19 workers’ comp attorneys at Levinson Axelrod, P.A., P.A. can help you build the strongest possible claim to protect your right to benefits and recover the amount you need.

Why Choose Levinson Axelrod, P.A., P.A.

Levinson Axelrod, P.A., P.A. has led the charge in advocating for workers who put their lives on the line during the pandemic. We’re trusted by workers and families statewide because we have the resources to win.

  • We’re a U.S. News’ “Best Law Firms” Tier 1 Workers’ Compensation firm.
  • We have won over $1 billion for clients and more than $350 million in the past five years.
  • Our team includes Workers’ Comp and Civil Trial Specialists Certified by the NJ Supreme Court – a distinction earned by less than 3% of attorneys.

If you are an essential worker who contracted COVID-19 or have an essential worker family member who died from COVID-19, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Call or contact us online to discuss your rights with a New Jersey COVID exposure lawyer from Levinson Axelrod, P.A., P.A.

Only the Best Possible Result

Helping Clients Get the Compensation They Need
  • Work Injury Settlement $1,000,000

    Client reaggravated a preexisting back injury that prevented him from returning to work.

  • Worker's Compensation Settlement $1,000,000

    A 33-year-old sanitation worker suffered severe and debilitating injuries when he was caught in a garbage compactor while working for the City of Linden. The garbage compactor had insufficient warning devices, so our client was unaware that the tail gate was descending. It was alleged at the time of trial that the lack of sufficient warning devices made the garbage compacter a defectively designed product under New Jersey Products Liability law, and therefore our client was entitled to compensation.

  • Worker's Compensation Settlement $1,000,000

    A worker fell from a roof, resulting in severe back injuries and future disabilities. Through expert testimony, it was established that the defendant should have provided workers with fall protection to prevent this type of accident. Settlement was agreed to during trial.

  • Personal Injury Settlement $975,000

    A carpenter working as an independent contractor was injured at defendant’s refinery when he was improperly exposed to dangerous fumes. Ronald Grayzel handled this occupational exposure case and ultimately settled the matter for $975,000.00.

  • Workers' Compensation Settlement $850,000

    Partner Rob Cook secured an $850,000 settlement in a third-party personal injury case for a worker who suffered arm and back injuries after slipping on ice.

  • Personal Injury Settlement $750,000

    Partner James Dunn, Esq. settled a case for an EMT injured while working for $750,000.00. The EMT was injured at Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morris County while performing EMT functions in the back of the ambulance. Suddenly and unexpectedly, the driver of the ambulance moved the vehicle without warning the client. As a result of this action, the client was thrown to the ground while inside the vehicle and sustained a herniated disc of the neck requiring surgery.

  • Work Injury Verdict $739,034

    Workplace accident verdict secured for a client who fell in the parking lot of her workplace and required surgery to treat her injuries.

  • Work Injury Settlement $575,000

    Client was injured at work when he slipped and fell on a wet floor as the result of a negligent outside contractor.

  • Third-Party Work Injury Settlement $550,000

    Plaintiff, a 30-year old warehouse manager, sustained a severely lacerated arm with resulting scarring when a strap he was using ripped apart during a loading procedure.

  • Work Injury Settlement $310,620

    The client suffered multiple injuries in an accident involving a pallet jack and endured multiple surgeries to his shoulder, wrist, and arm.

Trusted by Clients

Levinson Axelrod, P.A. is committed to helping good people through difficult times. We build real relationships and make communication a priority to provide the best possible service and results.

  • “Thank you for your quick response and for the information. Most importantly, thank you and your team for fighting so hard for me. I am grateful to have had such a caring and diligent team representing ...”

    - M.F.
  • “Adam I would like to thank you for everything it was a pleasure to have you as my attorney and I would recommend your services to anyone that I know that would need legal services.”

    - D.L.
  • “Fran, Just want to say thanks for all that you guys did for me. I really appreciate it. Thank you!”

    - G.W.
  • “Because of everything they did for my family, I will be able to rest a little easier knowing I have a cushion to fall back on.”

    - Anonymous
  • “I would also recommend you to those who like to work with a professional and WIN! You are Levinson Axelrod’s shining star!”

    - G.A.

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