Tewksbury, Massachusetts, located in Middlesex County, was first settled in 1637 and later incorporated in 1734 when it separated from Billerica. Unfortunately, Tewksbury has a long history of work accidents. For example, in 1857 a tornado blew through Tewksbury. It destroyed corn fields, orchards, and even killed a team of oxen. Luckily, no one was killed. But, a few residents were injured.
In the 19th century, Workers Compensation was not available to these workers. It wasn’t until the system was established in the early 20th century that injured workers would have some benefits available should there be an unfortunate accident at work.
Today, Tewksbury has a diverse economy. It has multiple office parks that have over 1 million square feet of space for office, light industrial, and research & development. Tewksbury is also home to the headquarters of a major food industry business, as well as the home to a major aerospace defense contractor.
Though these industries are much different, they all have one thing in common: workers are bound to get injured. Whether it’s a warehouse worker at a biotech researcher, injuries happen to workers in every field. Even though the types of these injuries are usually very different, Workers Compensation will cover them all the same.
What Types of Injuries Qualify for Workers Compensation?The short answer is that all types of injuries qualify. However, there are some injuries that are more common:
Ladder and Scaffolding Injuries: Workers in construction trades spend a lot of time high above ground, whether it’s using a ladder to paint or scaffolding to replace siding. These falls from significant height can cause catastrophic work injuries.
Hand and Wrist Injuries: These can occur in many different ways, but what we often see is that the repetitive use of the hands and/or wrists can cause injuries that require surgery.
Patient Lifting Injuries: Nurses, nursing assistants, and many other healthcare providers end up having to lift patients. These often result in significant back, shoulder, and hand injuries.
What Types of Wage Benefits are Available?Beyond paying for your medical bills, the insurance company is required to pay for your lost wages, depending on the nature of your injury. Those lost wage claims breakdown into three categories:
Temporary Total Disability: This is for workers who are unable to do any work, but anticipate getting better and back into the workforce. This coverage will pay 60% of your average weekly wage for a maximum of 3 years.
Temporary Partial Disability: This is for workers who can work, but not in the same way they used to be. This coverage will pay 60% of the difference between your earnings before the injury and your current earnings. This benefit is available for a maximum of 4-5 years, depending on various factors.
Permanent & Total Disability: This is for workers who will never be able to work again. This is for the most serious of injuries, and it is difficult to prove. Again, this coverage will pay 60% of your Average Weekly Wage.
Experienced Workers Compensation AttorneysAt Marcotte Law Firm, our lawyers have decades of experience. We know all the ins and outs of the Workers Compensation process. Most importantly: we’re local. Our offices are in Lowell, Woburn, and Andover, and the firm has been serving the Merrimack Valley for over 50 years.
If you’ve been hurt on the job, email us or call 978-458-1229 for a free, no obligation consultation.