Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, LLC attorneys have been representing Brockton area injured workers for over 25 years. If you live in or near Brockton and have been injured at work, you should contact one of our Brockton workers’ compensation lawyers immediately. Our attorneys have earned our local and national reputation by obtaining large settlements for our clients.
Brockton is located in Plymouth County, with a population over 90,000. It is the 7th largest city in Massachusetts. Brockton is referred to as the “City of Champions” due to the success of former Brockton residents Rocky Marciano and Marvin “Marvelous” Hagler.
Historically, Brockton was known as a manufacturing and heavy industry city, with the shoe manufacturing industry in the 20th Century providing thousands of jobs. With its prime commuter location on Route 24 about 25 miles from Boston, 43 miles from Providence, and 25 miles to the Fall River and New Bedford area, Brockton residents are employed in a wide variety of jobs available in Massachusetts, including construction, health care, financial services, education, social services, manufacturing, retail trade, transportation and warehousing.
Who is Entitled to Workers’ Compensation?Nearly all Massachusetts employers are required to carry workers’ compensation benefits to those are injured at work. Workers’ compensation benefits available to injured workers in Massachusetts include weekly partial wage replacement and full medical benefits for all medical conditions caused by or related to work. If your work injury prevents you from returning to your previous occupation on a permanent basis, you may be entitled to permanent and total disability benefits which pay two-thirds, or 66.7% of your Average Weekly Wage for the remainder of your life. In order to receive permanent and total disability benefits, you must prove that you are permanently and totally disabled from all forms of gainful employment. The Department of Industrial accidents will consider your age, education, and previous work history in determining if you meet the criteria for permanent and total disability benefits.
Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Death BenefitsMassachusetts workers’ compensation laws provide benefits to family members of those who have been killed on the job. Massachusetts workers’ compensation death benefits include wage replacement benefits (66.7% of the average weekly wage of decedent, up to a maximum of the state average weekly wage on date of work accident which caused death) for as long as the surviving spouse remains unmarried and not fully self-supporting. The employer’s workers’ compensation insurer shall also pay a burial expense to the decedent’s family in the amount of $4,000.00. In the event that the surviving spouse remarries, any minor children of the decedent shall be entitled to $60 per week.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits Seem Limited. How Can I Possibly Get Additional Compensation For My Work Injury?Those who have been seriously injured or killed on the job in Massachusetts may be entitled compensation in addition to workers’ compensation benefits. If the negligence of a third party (a person, entity, or product other than your employer) caused or contributed to the harm caused, then an injured worker can bring what is known as a third party negligence lawsuit against the wrongdoer. While Massachusetts workers’ compensation benefits provide only a limited wage loss benefit and do not allow one to be compensation for pain and suffering, third party negligence lawsuits allow an injured worker to be fully compensation, meaning they can recover 100% of past and future lost wages as well as pain and suffering caused by the negligence of the third party.
If you or one of your family members has been injured or killed at work, you should immediately contact one of our Brockton workers’ compensation attorneys by calling 617-426-9797, or complete our online contact form.