Worcester Workers' Compensation Lawyers

If you were injured at work in Worcester, you might feel uncertain about your next steps. Workers’ compensation benefits may be available to ease the financial burden of your work-related injury or illness, but securing the full amount you deserve can be challenging.

You don’t have to face the system alone. Our Worcester workers’ compensation lawyers are here to guide you through every step of your claim and pursue maximum compensation while you focus on your health.

Find out what your case is worth.

What Makes Rob Levine Law the Best Choice for Your Workers' Compensation Case

When a work injury turns your life upside down, you deserve a legal team that puts you first. Put our Worcester law firm to work for you. For over 25 years, we’ve helped more than 50,000 injured people across New England recover the compensation they need to move forward.

At Rob Levine Law, we are known for having one of the most aggressive approaches to injury litigation in the tri-state area. Through that determination, he and his team have recovered over $2 billion in disability benefits and injury compensation for those who need it most. We handle each case with the highest ethical standards because our clients trust us with some of the most important matters in their lives.

Our team is available 24/7 to answer your questions and start protecting your rights. And with our Fee Free Guarantee®, you’ll never pay anything out of pocket—we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. The insurance company will pay us directly. 

We have a long track record of obtaining impressive results for injured Massachusetts workers across a range of industries, including:

Over the years, we’ve become proud members of the communities we serve. We’re dedicated to giving back through local initiatives and advocacy programs for the injured.

Who Is Eligible for Workers’ Compensation in Worcester?

In Massachusetts, every employer with at least one employee is required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This applies to most workers from their first day on the job, including full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal, and volunteer workers, but excludes independent contractors.

If your injury or illness arose “out of and in the course of employment,” you’re likely entitled to benefits. You may also qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if you’re a dependent of an employee killed on the job.

State law requires you to report your injury to your employer as soon as practicable. Your employer must notify its insurer if your injury prevents you from working for five or more full or partial calendar days—even if those days do not occur back-to-back. You have up to four years from the date you realized your injury or illness was work-related to file a workers’ compensation claim.

Even if your injury doesn’t cause you to miss work, you may still be eligible for medical-only benefits that cover the cost of necessary treatment. If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies, our Worcester workers’ compensation attorneys can review your case and help you understand your options.

What Injuries Are Eligible for Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Workers’ comp covers nearly any injury or illness that occurs as a direct result of your job duties. This includes injuries that develop over time, as well as those caused by single incidents. It also covers injuries caused by workplace violence, such as nurses injured by patients or delivery drivers bitten by dogs.

Common work-related injuries we see in Worcester workers’ comp clients include the following:

  • Sprains, strains, and tears: These soft tissue injuries often happen when workers slip and fall or lift heavy objects.
  • Bone fractures: Workers may suffer broken bones when they fall from heights, are struck by falling objects, or are involved in machinery accidents. These injuries are particularly common on construction sites.
  • Vehicle accidents: Employees who drive for work may be injured in motor vehicle collisions while on duty.
  • Machinery accidents: Equipment malfunctions or inadequate training can lead to catastrophic machinery accidents in industrial settings.
  • Repetitive strain injuries: Conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and chronic back pain can develop when workers’ job duties involve repetitive motions.
  • Occupational diseases: Long-term exposure to hazardous materials can cause occupational illnesses, including respiratory diseases, skin conditions, and certain types of cancer.
  • Work-related mental health conditions: Conditions such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder due to traumatic events or ongoing stress directly related to their job duties.

Potential Workers' Compensation Benefits

Workers’ compensation in Massachusetts provides various types of benefits to help employees recover from a work-related injury or illness. Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to the following:

  • Medical expenses: Workers’ comp pays for reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your injury or illness.
  • Wage replacement benefits: If your injury keeps you out of work or reduces your hours, you may receive weekly payments that replace a portion of your lost wages. If your condition results in a Permanent and Total Incapacity, you may qualify for ongoing wage replacement equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, which can continue for the life of your injury.
  • Vocational rehabilitation: If your injury prevents you from returning to your former position but you’re capable of performing other work, you may receive assistance with training, job placement, or workplace accommodations to help you reenter the workforce.
  • Death benefits: If you’ve lost a loved one to a work-related injury or illness, you may qualify for weekly payments equal to two-thirds of their average weekly wage and up to $4,000 for burial expenses.

What Factors Could Affect Your Workers' Compensation Benefits?

Several state laws and legal principles can impact the amount of workers’ compensation benefits you may recover. The Department of Industrial Accidents applies these rules when evaluating claims and resolving disputes.

Massachusetts Workers' Compensation Act

Massachusetts law requires every employer with at least one employee to carry workers’ compensation insurance for job-related injuries and illnesses. Thus, employees who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses can access medical care and wage replacement without filing a lawsuit. For example, if a Worcester Public Schools teacher develops a repetitive strain injury from writing on the whiteboard, the school system’s insurer must provide benefits under the law.

No-Fault System

Workers’ comp in Massachusetts is a no-fault system, which allows injured employees to receive benefits without proving who caused the accident. You only need to show that your injury happened in the course of your job. If a Worcester manufacturing employee accidentally cuts their hand while operating equipment, they may be eligible for workers’ comp benefits, even if no one is directly at fault.

There is an exception to this rule. Workers’ compensation will not cover an injury when it results from an employee’s serious and willful misconduct, such as intentional violations of safety rules or dangerous behavior beyond the scope of the worker’s job duties.

On the other hand, if an employee is injured by the employer’s serious and willful misconduct, the employee may be entitled to receive double the compensation. Such misconduct includes a reckless disregard for workplace safety or an intentional violation of safety regulations.

Going and Coming Rule

Workers’ compensation does not cover injuries that happen during your normal commute to and from work. However, it does cover injuries that occur during travel that’s part of your job duties. If a Worcester HVAC technician is injured in a traffic accident while driving between service appointments, that injury would likely qualify for benefits.

Third-Party Liability

Sometimes, someone other than your employer may share responsibility for your injury. When that happens, you may be eligible to pursue both a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party liability claim. If a privately owned vehicle hits a Worcester Department of Public Works employee in a work zone, the worker could seek personal injury compensation from the driver’s auto insurance in addition to workers’ comp.

Reporting and Filing Deadlines

Massachusetts law requires you to report your workplace injury to your employer “as soon as practicable,” or as quickly as is reasonably possible under your specific circumstances. This typically means notifying your employer immediately after the injury occurs or as soon as you realize your condition is related to your work. Additionally, you may file a workers’ comp claim no later than four years from the date you discovered that your condition was work-related.

What Our Worcester Workers' Compensation Lawyers Can Do for You

Dealing with a work injury is hard enough, and navigating insurance challenges only adds to the stress. Our attorneys can take on that burden for you by managing your claim from start to finish and working diligently to secure the benefits you deserve.

When you turn to us for help, our attorneys will guide you through each stage of the process, handle communication with the insurance company, and push for the maximum compensation available. If the insurer denies your claim, we’ll file a formal claim and work to obtain a fair outcome.

We’re also here to step in when the insurer fails to meet its legal responsibilities—such as refusing to start your workers’ comp payments, denying responsibility for your injury, paying you at the wrong wage rate, or failing to approve necessary diagnostic exams or medical treatment. Our workers’ compensation lawyers in New England are familiar with the tactics insurers use to avoid paying claims and know how to effectively counter them. 

Rob Levine Law is available 24/7 to help you with your case, and you pay nothing unless you win. Call us at 800-742-3920 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Hear from Our Satisfied Clients

Our Worcester Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Workers' Compensation FAQs

Below are our answers to some of the most frequent questions we receive from our Worcester clients about filing workers’ compensation claims or recovering benefits.

What Should I Avoid While Receiving Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Avoid returning to work without medical clearance while on workers’ compensation. You’ll also want to avoid skipping doctor’s appointments, ignoring treatment plans, or posting about your injury on social media.

The most common mistakes include waiting too long to report your injury, failing to follow your doctor’s treatment plan, and not keeping detailed medical records. Additionally, your claim may be delayed if you submit incomplete paperwork or provide inconsistent information about how the injury occurred. Trying to manage the claims process without a workers’ compensation attorney can also jeopardize your claim.

You may have a third-party liability claim if someone other than your employer contributed to your injury. For instance, a personal injury lawsuit may be an option if you were in a crash with a negligent driver while working. You may also seek third-party injury compensation if a manufacturer supplied defective equipment or a contractor created unsafe working conditions that caused your injury.

Yes. If your claim is denied, you have the right to file a claim with the Department of Industrial Accidents.

Yes. Certain unpaid public service workers, such as volunteer firefighters and first responders, are covered under Massachusetts workers’ compensation laws.

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Office Location

Worcester, MA

61 Harvard St,
Worcester, MA 01609

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