Based on the case results listed below, The Grossman Law Firm has secured workplace injury settlements ranging from $300,000 to $2,500,000 for clients across New Jersey. These cases involve injuries from equipment failures, falls, toxic exposure, and dangerous work conditions.
Workplace injuries can go beyond standard workers’ compensation. When a third party (like a contractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer) is responsible for your injury, you may have a separate personal injury lawsuit in addition to your workers’ comp claim. This third-party claim is where the largest recoveries come from.
Below are real settlement results from workplace injury cases handled by our firm’s workers compensation lawyers.
Our Workplace Injury Case Results
$2,500,000 | Slip and Fall (Foot Crushed Under Equipment) | New Jersey
During his shift, our client slipped and fell on a stainless-steel floor. His right foot became trapped under roughly 40 to 48 pounds of equipment. The injuries required ten surgeries and two steroid epidural procedures. He also pursued a third-party liability suit alongside his workers’ compensation claim.
Injuries: Right foot, right leg, and lower back injuries
Treatment: Two steroid epidural procedures, ten surgical procedures
Outcome: Settlement of $2,500,000.
Key Takeaway: Workplace slip and fall cases with crush injuries can produce multi-million-dollar results when a third-party claim exists. Filing both a workers’ comp claim and a third-party lawsuit maximizes total recovery.
$1,500,000 | Vehicle Struck by Forklift | New Jersey
Our client’s vehicle was struck by a forklift at a worksite. She suffered traumatic injuries to her lower back, liver hematomas, PTSD, a cognitive disorder from a closed head injury, and post-concussion syndrome.
Injuries: Lower back injuries, traumatic liver hematomas, PTSD, cognitive disorder secondary to closed head injury, post-concussion syndrome
Treatment: Extensive pain management, two steroid epidural injections, psychological therapy
Outcome: Settlement of $1,500,000.
Key Takeaway: Forklift accidents involving head injuries and cognitive damage carry high case value. The combination of physical, cognitive, and psychological injuries creates multiple categories of damages.
$750,000 | Forklift Ran Over Foot (Amputation) | Union County, NJ
During work, our client’s left foot was run over and crushed by a forklift. He sustained multiple fractures and ultimately required a partial foot amputation. He now suffers from phantom pain, muscle cramping, and can no longer work or drive.
Injuries: Crush injury to left foot, multiple fractures, left foot tarsometatarsal amputation, phantom pain, muscle cramping, prolonged right hip pain
Treatment: Amputation and follow-up care
Experts Retained: Material handling safety expert, orthopedic surgeon, vocational expert, economist
Outcome: Settlement of $750,000.
Key Takeaway: Workplace amputations are among the most serious on-the-job injuries. A material handling safety expert can prove the forklift operator or employer violated safety protocols, establishing third-party liability.
$500,000 | Struck by Fencing Dislodged by Backhoe | Hudson County, NJ
Our client was moving a PVC pipe at a construction site when a piece of temporary fencing, dislodged by a backhoe, struck him. He suffered crushing and permanent injuries to his left wrist and left shoulder.
Injuries: Crushing and permanent injuries to left wrist and left shoulder
Treatment: Exhausted conservative treatment, two stellate ganglion block injections
Experts Retained: Pain management physician, occupational safety and health expert
Outcome: Settlement of $500,000.
Key Takeaway: Construction site accidents often involve third-party contractors whose equipment caused the injury. An OSHA safety expert can prove which party violated workplace safety standards.
$325,000 | Toxic Chemical Exposure | Union County, NJ
During his shift, our client was exposed to strong toxic fumes from a chemical spill caused by contractors working on the floor above. The exposure caused permanent lung damage and multiple respiratory conditions.
Injuries: Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome, moderate restrictive lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis, anxiety, PTSD, acute bronchitis, pneumonitis, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea
Treatment: Pulmonary treatment and monitoring
Experts Retained: Pulmonologist
Outcome: Settlement of $325,000.
Key Takeaway: Toxic exposure cases at work require a pulmonologist to document the connection between the chemical exposure and the resulting lung damage. These cases often involve liability against contractors or property owners responsible for the spill.
Frequently Asked Questions: Workplace Injury Settlements in NJ
Q: What is the average workplace injury settlement in New Jersey?
Workplace injury settlements in New Jersey vary based on the severity of injuries and whether a third-party liability claim exists. The Grossman Law Firm has secured workplace injury settlements ranging from $300,000 to $2,500,000. Cases involving crush injuries, amputations, toxic exposure, or situations where a third party (not the employer) caused the injury tend to produce the highest results.
Q: Can I sue my employer for a workplace injury in New Jersey?
In most cases, you cannot sue your employer directly because New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system provides the exclusive remedy against employers. However, you can file a third-party personal injury lawsuit against anyone other than your employer who caused or contributed to your injury. This includes contractors, equipment manufacturers, property owners, or other companies on the job site. Third-party lawsuits often result in significantly higher compensation than workers’ comp alone.
Q: What is a third-party workplace injury claim?
A third-party workplace injury claim is a personal injury lawsuit filed against someone other than your employer. For example, if a contractor’s equipment injures you on a job site, you can sue that contractor. If defective machinery causes your injury, you can sue the manufacturer. These claims allow you to recover damages beyond what workers’ compensation provides, including pain and suffering, full lost wages, and future medical costs. The Grossman Law Firm recovered $2,500,000 in a workplace slip and fall case that included a third-party claim.
Q: Can I file both workers’ compensation and a personal injury lawsuit?
Yes. In New Jersey, you can file a workers’ compensation claim against your employer and a separate third-party personal injury lawsuit against any other party responsible for your injury. Workers’ comp covers medical bills and a portion of lost wages, while the third-party lawsuit can recover additional damages including pain and suffering. Filing both claims maximizes your total recovery.
