There are three types of benefits available to an employee who is seeking Workers' Compensation. The first benefit is for medical treatment. Usually, the first medical provider is a company doctor, or an occupational health center set up to treat and evaluate work injuries. When an employee has a more serious type of injury, the initial physician will make a referral to a specialist for further treatment. As long as the treatment is being rendered by an authorized caregiver, the employer, or the employer's insurance company will pay for that treatment.

The second type of benefit is for temporary wage loss. When an employee is out of work and treating with an authorized medical provider, he is entitled to temporary wage benefits equal to 70 percent of the average weekly wage at the time of the injury.

The temporary wage rate is subject to a maximum payment amount, which is set by the State of New Jersey. Temporary wage loss payments will be made until the employee has either returned to work, or reached maximum medical improvement.

When an injured employee has reached maximum medical improvement, the obligation of the employer to pay for medical and temporary benefits ends, even though the injured employee may not have fully recovered. As a result, the state has created a third benefit for injured employees, known as permanent/partial disability.

This benefit is based on a chart of disabilities corresponding to the various parts of the body. These benefits are usually not provided voluntarily by the employer or by the employer's insurance company. It is the employee's burden of proof to establish the nature and extent of any permanent/ partial disability.

Workers' Compensation law is very different from the law that controls auto accidents or slip and fall type injuries. When an injured employee is looking for legal assistance, an attorney with experience in the area of Workers' Compensation law should be considered.