Being injured on the job can take a toll on you. Often, that toll can be exacerbated when you return to work while still being treated for your injuries. Bosses and supervisors may be unsympathetic and demand too much of you. If you return to work on light duty, you may be teased or ridiculed by fellow employees. All of this can make you want to quit your job.
So, you may be wondering what happens if you quit your job during your workers’ compensation claim?
Well, just because you quit your job doesn’t negate the fact that you were injured at work and need medical treatment.
Therefore, if you quit during your workers’ compensation claim, the medical care you are receiving for your work-related injury should go uninterrupted. Furthermore, the payment for any permanent disability that you are entitled to receive at the end of your workers’ compensation case should not be affected.
However, depending on whether you are still off work due to your injury or have already returned to work, a few other factors will come into play. These factors will determine whether or not you will continue to be entitled to temporary total benefits after you quit your job.
First of all, if you are not off work due to doctors order at the time you quit, the employer does not have to pay you temporary total benefits or make up any difference in your pay. However, you will continue to receive medical benefits for the injuries related to your work-related accident, even though you are now with a different employer.
Furthermore, once you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), your former employer will still be required to pay you for any permanent total or permanent partial benefits for any permanent disability you have suffered.
On the other hand, if you are off work and receiving temporary total benefits, your employer must continue to pay you temporary total benefits for as long as you are off of work. However, if the doctor releases you back to restricted duty at work, and there are restrictions that your employer is willing to meet, then your employer may have grounds to discontinue any temporary total benefits you had been receiving.
Think Twice Before You Quit Your Job
You should never quit your job unless you have a better one lined up. There is nothing wrong with wanting a better your life and you should not feel like you’re being held hostage by your employer just because you were injured on the job. Filing a workers’ compensation claim does not preclude you from changing your employment.
That being said, quitting is what your employer wants you to do. Quitting may limit your ability to receive benefits and possibly a fair settlement. So, you should never quit your job unless it is absolutely necessary. What’s more, you should always consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney before deciding to quit.
Contact an Experienced New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Attorney
If you have any questions regarding your workers’ compensation claim, contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to help you understand your rights and to ensure that you receive all of the benefits that you are entitled to under the law.
Call Workman’s Compensation for New Jersey at 609-412-4722 for help with finding a qualified workers’ compensation attorney in your area, or contact us online to arrange a free consultation.