Workers Compensation in Massachusetts
A workplace injury can throw your entire life off balance. One moment, you’re working to provide for yourself or your family; the next, you’re facing medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about your future. What should you do next?
Workers’ compensation helps employees in these difficult situations. Whether you need medical care, wage replacement, or vocational retraining, these benefits can ease financial stress and help you recover.
But navigating the claims process can be frustrating. Insurance companies may delay payments, employers might dispute your injury, and small paperwork mistakes can result in denied benefits. Knowing your rights is critical to getting the compensation you deserve.
This guide breaks down how workers’ compensation works in Massachusetts, what steps you need to take after an injury, and how a skilled attorney can help protect your claim.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Massachusetts?
Workplace injuries are a persistent issue for Massachusetts employees. In 2023, private-sector employers reported approximately 59,700 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses, with an incidence rate of 2.6 cases per 100 full-time employees—slightly above the national average.
Some industries in Massachusetts report higher injury rates, including:
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: An industry with frequent lifting injuries and exposure-related illnesses, reporting an incidence rate of 4.1 per 100 employees.
- Construction: A sector known for falls, heavy machinery accidents, and high physical demands.
- Manufacturing: Common workplace injuries include repetitive strain injuries and accidents involving industrial equipment.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts’ workers’ compensation program is designed to provide financial and medical benefits to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. To qualify, your injury must be directly related to your job duties or workplace conditions.
Massachusetts requires all employers to have workers’ compensation insurance regardless of the size or the number of hours worked by an employee. Only sole proprietors, partners, members of an LLC, or corporate officers with at least 25% interest in a corporation may file for an exemption with the state.
The Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents provides 60% of your average weekly pay for up to 156 weeks. Beneficiaries also receive reimbursement for medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, death benefits, scarring, and permanent loss of function or dismemberment.
Get Medical Attention
After a workplace injury, getting medical care should be your top priority. Prompt treatment not only protects your health but also establishes a crucial medical record linking your injury to your job—a key factor in ensuring your workers’ compensation claim is approved.
In Massachusetts, you may choose your own doctor for treatment, but your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer has the right to require an Independent Medical Examination (IME). This evaluation helps determine the severity of your injury and eligibility for benefits.
Even if your injury seems minor, don’t delay seeking medical attention. Some conditions, such as repetitive stress injuries or exposure-related illnesses, may take time to develop and worsen if untreated.
Document every medical appointment, treatment, and prescription. These records serve as critical evidence if your claim is disputed or if additional benefits are required.
File a First Report of Injury
Once you’ve received medical care, the next step is to notify your employer. Massachusetts law requires workers to report injuries within 30 days, but it’s best to report the incident as soon as possible to avoid complications.
Your employer must then file a Form 101 – Employer’s First Report of Injury with their workers’ compensation insurance provider and the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA). This form includes:
- The date and time of the injury.
- A description of how the accident occurred.
- Information about the medical care received.
The insurance company will investigate your claim and determine whether to approve benefits. Be prepared to answer follow-up questions or provide additional medical documentation.
Massachusetts has a four-year statute of limitations for filing a formal workers’ compensation claim. Failing to act within this period could prevent you from receiving benefits.
Massachusetts does not have a formal waiting period before receiving payments other than the five calendar days you must be out of work. But if the injuries are severe enough, it’s worth considering an application for permanent disability.
Why You Should Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Navigating Massachusetts’ workers’ compensation process can be complicated, especially if your employer or their insurance company challenges your claim. Common disputes include:
- Denials based on pre-existing conditions: Insurers may argue that your injury was not work-related.
- Delays in wage replacement benefits: Some companies may slow down the process, leaving injured workers without necessary income.
- Disagreements over medical treatment: Insurers may push back against costly treatments or extended recovery periods.
An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you:
- Ensure all necessary paperwork is filed correctly and on time.
- Negotiate with insurance companies to secure fair compensation.
- Represent you in hearings before the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents.
- Appeal denied claims and fight for your right to benefits.
If your claim is denied or if you’re struggling to receive the compensation you need, a lawyer can make all the difference.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Massachusetts
Your health and well-being need to come first. If you are hurt while working or find out an illness you are suffering is the result of your job, you will want to seek compensation.
We can connect you with a local attorney or one across Massachusetts state lines.
Submit a request online or call us at (866) 345-6784 to find a workers’ compensation lawyer today!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
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