It’s the question that every injured worker wants answered: “What is my workers’ compensation case worth?”
In New Jersey, there are three kinds of payments in a workers’ compensation case:
- Payment of medical bills necessary to “cure and relieve” you of the effects of your injury. However, your employer or its workers’ compensation insurer controls the choice of physician.
- Temporary disability, paid while you cannot work because of your injury. It is paid at 70% of your weekly wage before taxes, and tops out at $1,131 a week.
- Permanency awards are paid for lasting disability due to work injury. They depend on the part of the body that is disabled, the level of disability, the medical treatment required, and other factors.
There are lots of factors which can affect the amount of a permanency award, but here is a rough guide with some ranges of values for 2024:
- Sprain of upper or lower back with conservative treatment (physical therapy): $9,060 - $22,650
- Herniated disc, neck or upper back with conservative treatment (physical therapy): $22,650 - $45,000
- Herniated disc, neck or upper back with epidurals: $33,465 - $51,600
- Herniated disc, neck or upper back with discectomy surgery: $58,788 - $66,528
- Herniated disc, neck or upper back with fusion: $105,600 - $110,880
- Sprain of shoulder with conservative treatment (physical therapy): $13,590 - $22,650
- Tear of internal structures (rotator cuff, labrum etc) with surgery: $33,465 - $66,528
- Sprain of knee with conservative treatment (physical therapy): $7,135 - $11,891
- Tear of meniscus, ACL of knee without surgery: $11,891 - $16,648
- Tear of meniscus, ACL of knee with arthroscopic surgery: $16,648 - $26,161
- Tear of meniscus, ACL of knee with open surgery: $23,783 - $28,607
- Carpal tunnel injury to one hand without surgery: about $7,852
- Carpal tunnel injury to one hand with surgery: about $13,741
- Carpal tunnel injury to both hands without surgery: about $18,120
- Carpal tunnel injury to both hands with surgery on both hands: about $33,465
If you’ve been injured on the job and you want to know what your workers’ compensation case is worth, contact me. I’ve been handling these kinds of cases for nearly 40 years and I can give you a good idea of how much you can expect to get paid. Visit my firm’s webpage, email me at vj@kdjlawoffice.com, or call me at (908) 232-2040.