New Jersey Injury Lawyers Obtaining Compensation for Injured Flight Crew
Attention EWR flight crew members!!
I have been representing airline flight crew employees based at Newark Airport in their on-the-job injury claims for almost 40 years. Under New Jersey workers’ compensation law, EWR-based flight crew members injured during the course of their employment anywhere in the world are entitled to three important benefits:
- Medical treatment, paid in full, to “cure or relieve” the crew member of the effects of the injury. However, the insurer controls the choice of physician.
- Temporary Total Disability for time out of work, limited to $1,131.00 per week.
- Permanency award: an award of money for the injury itself.
Unfortunately, most flight crew personnel are unaware of the permanency award, which can help recoup the tremendous wage loss stemming from an on-the-job injury.
An example is helpful. Over my career, many flight crew members have suffered torn rotator cuff injuries which typically keep them out of work for up to a year or more. Although they are entitled to $1,131.00 per week in temporary disability benefits, a one year absence would result in a loss of more than $21,000.00 in wages assuming a yearly salary of $80,000.00, or more than $90,000.00 assuming a salary of $150,000.00. This wage loss, in and of itself, is not compensable under our law.
However, a typical award for permanency associated with this type of injury is in the area of $52,000.00. Thus, the permanency award is critical in helping to replace the loss of wages suffered.
Under our system, for an award of $52,000.00, the flight crew member would pay only $4,460.00 in attorneys fees and report fees while the insurer pays $6,540.00 toward the attorney fees and report fee. The member’s share of these fees comes out of the award, never out of the member’s pocket.
If you’re a Newark-based flight crew member who’s been injured on the job, feel free to call me anytime to discuss getting proper compensation for your injuries. I can be reached at my office at (908) 232-2040, on my cell phone at (908) 309-1926, or via email at vj@kdjlawoffice.com.
— Vincent Jesuele, Esq.