UPS Workers’ Compensation Claims in New Jersey

United Parcel Service or UPS was founded in 1907 in Seattle, Washington. When the company first got started, it mainly offered package delivery to retail stores. Twelve years later, the rapidly growing company expanded into California and by 1975 it was offering services across the nation and going international as well. UPS boasted $71.9 billion in revenue in 2018 and employed 481,000 workers worldwide.

UPS and workers’ compensation

Workers’ compensation is insurance that offers benefits to workers hurt while they are on the job. Employees may be eligible for workers’ compensation if they are involved in an accident while at work or they have been exposed to working conditions that cause an illness.

Workers’ compensation is designed to assist injured employees recover financially and physically and get them back to work whenever possible. To that end, the benefits help to cover lost wages and medical expenses incurred for treatment. If the accident has left you permanently disabled, you may be eligible to obtain additional compensation.

UPS workers’ compensation for on-the-job accidents

Working all day handling parcels of various weights and sizes, sorting packages, getting in and out of a truck and climbing up and down ladders can result in a personal injury accident on-the-job. Additionally, workplace conditions may also create safety concerns for employees and bad weather conditions faced by drivers who deliver packages.

State workers’ compensation laws are different, but the overarching commonality is that injured workers receive benefits to help them recover from a work related accident. The accident does not have to be serious or catastrophic to qualify for workers’ compensation.

Filing for workers’ compensation benefits is not always easy. Be aware there is generally a requirement for those injured on-the-job to report the injury to their supervisor as soon as possible and file a claim. If any of the deadlines mandated by the employer are missed, a claim may be automatically denied.

Knowing what is required to file a workers’ compensation claim, and all supporting documentation required to file a claim, can be confusing, and this is why it is important to contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney from the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm. We are here to help you navigate the process, get the right paperwork filed and be your advocate along the way to obtaining fair and equitable compensation that you deserve under the law.

Workers’ compensation for a back injury while working at UPS

No matter what safety precautions are in place for UPS workers, accidents can and do happen. Those accidents can result in severe, disabling injuries. A back injury could leave a worker struggling for months, unable to work.

Many UPS workers have back problems, whether it is due to repeating the same motion over and over, or lifting, pushing or pulling objects, which are often heavy. By applying for workers’ compensation, you would have the funds to sustain you during your recovery period. New Jersey law stipulates you are entitled to receive 70 percent of your wages while on temporary disability. If your injuries are permanent, New Jersey workers’ compensation provides you with an award for permanent disability based on the extent of your functional loss to the affected body part and your wages.

If you sustain a back injury while working at UPS during the normal course of your work activities, report the accident as soon as possible and make sure you get a workers’ compensation claim started as well. At this point, hiring a workers’ compensation attorney from the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm can help ensure your rights are protected and you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Back injuries

There are several types of back injuries:

• Spondylolisthesis: slipping of vertebra at the base of the spine
• The lower back is the most common site for injuries and may include: fractured vertebrae, strains/sprains, bulging or herniated discs. The pain and discomfort can originate from sore, pulled or torn tendons, ligaments, and muscles. The effects may be felt instantly or not manifest until later.

Knee injuries

There are a number of things you need to do if you have injured a knee while working at UPS. They include:

Seek medical treatment ASAP from an approved UPS workers’ compensation doctor. If you do not see a doctor authorized by your company’s workers’ compensation carrier, you would be responsible for the cost of that treatment.

In most instances, notifying UPS of your accident ASAP, either in writing or verbally, so that a claim can be opened on your behalf. If you fail to timely notify UPS of your work injury, it can be a basis for denying your claim. When in doubt, ask your supervisor who you need to talk to and what you need to do.

Document your accident and the injury in as much detail as possible for the accident report. Include names and contact information for any witnesses you may have.

Pinched nerve injuries

Pinched nerve injuries may be the result of persistent heavy lifting, standing or sitting in a restricted position for a number of hours, or a slip and fall, trip and fall accident.

Make sure to file a claim as soon as possible and provide all relevant documentation and information to the company’s approved doctor. However, there are many instances when employers deny workers’ compensation claims, even if you meet all the requirements. This is why you would need an experienced New Jersey workers’ compensation attorney to protect your rights.

It is important to reach out and talk to an experienced New Jersey workers’ compensation attorney and find out what your legal rights are as an injured worker.

The Todd J. Leonard Law Firm has over 35 years of experience handling all types of serious personal injury accidents, including workers’ compensation claims. Todd J. Leonard is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney, and has successfully handled all types of serious accidents, representing thousands of clients throughout New Jersey.

Our attorneys will fight for your rights, which includes getting the medical treatment you need, any wages you are legally owed and compensation for your injuries. Additionally, our team of trial lawyers will be in contact with your employer’s insurance carrier to ensure you receive timely authorization for your medical treatment, and when you can return to work, if at all. Our personal injury lawyers provide compassionate yet relentless personal injury representation, offering both exceptional service and proven results. To learn more about how we can help you pursue a claim for compensation, call today at (973) 920-7900 to request a free and confidential consultation. There is never a fee unless we win. We have offices conveniently located in Denville, Morristown and Newark.