Workers' Compensation

You work hard to boost your company's profits—if you suffer an injury while performing your work duties, you are likely entitled to workers' compensation.

Fortunately, Massachusetts has a system in place to make sure that you’re compensated for your workplace injuries. In Massachusetts, all employers are required to have workers' compensation insurance coverage. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that will pay for medical bills and lost wages when an employee is injured at work.
 

It's important to speak to an experienced Boston workers' compensation attorney if you've gotten hurt at work. While you may have the right to file a claim for benefits, it can be a challenge to recover all of the money you need. The insurance provider – and even your employer – may try to undercut or significantly limit the benefits you receive.

The Law Offices of Morgan J. Gray has been helping workers in the Boston area and throughout Massachusetts obtain benefits for nearly 30 years.

If you are injured at work, it is important that you report the injury immediately and preferably in writing. If you are out of work for five or more days, your employer is required to report your work-related injury or illness to its insurance company and the Department of Industrial Accidents within seven days of the injury. This is the official start to your workers’ compensation claim.

Workers' compensation claims must be filed within four years of the date you were hurt. However, the sooner you act, the better. If you suffers from an occupational illness or stress injury, it may take longer to realize that your work caused your condition. 

•  Medical treatment: Your employer is responsible for paying all reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to your industrial injury or occupational disease. This includes emergency treatment, hospital visits, doctors' visits, medical testing, physical therapy, and prescriptions. 

• Temporary disability benefits: Workers are entitled to temporary total disability benefits if they are out of work for five or more days due to their work injury. These benefits are 60% of your average weekly wage at the time of your injury. Temporary total disability benefits can be collected for up to three years. 

• Permanent partial disability benefits: If your condition improves enough that you could still do some work, you can receive permanent partial disability benefits. This compensation is limited to no more than 75% of your temporary total benefits amount, but may be less depending on the nature of your continuing disability. These benefits are typically available for up to a maximum of five years but may be extended for more serious injuries. 

• Permanent total disability benefits: Permanent and total disability benefits are available for workers who cannot return to work in any meaningful capacity. If you qualify, you will receive two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to the same maximum as temporary total disability benefits.

If you are eligible for workers' compensation, you may be entitled to additional benefits as well. Having an attorney who is experienced in all of these types of work can be crucial. Each area of law affects the others, so having one office to handle all of your claims saves time, money, and confusion. 

• Social Security Disability: If your injury disables you from any work at all for a period of at least 12 months, you may be entitled to collect Social Security Disability benefits in addition to your workers' compensation benefits. 

• Personal Injury: If your work injury was caused by a third party, such as a car accident in a work vehicle or due to negligent upkeep of a property, you may be entitled to both a personal injury claim and workers' compensation. 

• State Employee Retirement: If you are a Massachusetts State Employee and your work-related injury permanently disables you from performing your work duties, you should be entitled to Accidental Disability Retirement. 

• Longshore and Harborworkers' Act: In rare cases, if you are covered by the Longshore workers' compensation statute, you may be entitled to collect under that law and/or state workers' compensation coverage. We also handle third party negligence of vessel claims.