Important information about worker’ s comp
2018 NJSPBA Mini-Convention
Briefing
The unknown of what’ s waiting for officers when responding to a call has made worker’ s compensation a reality of the job. Attorney Ricky Bagolie, who has represented law enforcement officers for more than 20 years, helped PBA members understand the growing need with a brief presentation of tips to pursue potential cases.
Bagolie noted that three main benefits of worker’ s comp are 100-percent coverage of medical treatment, wage replacement or temporary disability and compensation for the injury.
“ The first two, most people get,” added Bagolie of the firm Bagolie-Friedman Injury Lawyers.“ The law allows you to get paid for permanent disability to a body part, sprain or strain up to a 100-percent loss.”
For a worker’ s comp claim, he advised members that:
• They should report every injury to every body part right when it happens. Put it in a report. Get it on the record.
• Doctors control all the medical treatment, not the municipality. If the doctor says you need it and the township challenges, 99 times out of 100 you will win.
• You can fight bad care. Towns control the care and can pick providers who want to avoid expensive tests.“ You have a right to fight that,” Bagolie said.
• There is a misconception about prior injuries. A new injury to a previously injured body part can still be a case.
• Worker’ s comp is not just about injuries. Occupational diseases due to exposure to fumes or dust, repetitive stress and repeated exposure to noise on the job can be viable cases. d www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ MARCH 2018 59