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Were You Hurt on the Job?

A workplace injury can leave you without a paycheck while medical bills continue to grow. Jim Glaser Law helps injured workers in Boston and throughout Massachusetts pursue workers’ compensation benefits, challenge denied claims, address stopped checks, and respond when an insurer disputes necessary treatment. Contact us for a free consultation with a Boston workers’ compensation lawyer.

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Your Boston Workers' Comp Lawyer

If you were injured or became ill because of your job in Boston, Massachusetts, workers’ compensation may pay for necessary medical care and replace part of your lost wages. You generally do not have to prove that your employer caused the injury.

However, insurers may deny claims, stop weekly checks, dispute treatment, or argue that an employee can return to work before they are medically ready. A Boston workers’ compensation lawyer can gather evidence, respond to the insurer, and represent the worker during the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents process.

Jimmy Knows!® Workers’ Comp: Whether your claim was denied, your checks stopped, or the insurer is challenging your medical care, Jim Glaser Law can help you determine what to do next.

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1

Help With the Claim Process

We can help you report the injury, document your disability, submit the required information, and respond to requests from the insurance company.

2

Protect Your Pay and Medical Care

We help injured workers pursue wage benefits and medical treatment when an insurer delays, reduces, or denies what they may be owed.

3

$0 Upfront

You do not pay an upfront attorney’s fee. Attorney fees in Massachusetts workers’ compensation cases are regulated by law and generally depend on the outcome of the claim.

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Do You Have a Case for Workers’ Comp?

You may qualify for a Massachusetts workers’ compensation claim if you are an employee and your job caused or aggravated an injury, illness, or disabling condition. The condition may result from one accident, repeated physical activity, workplace exposure, or certain work-related mental or emotional harm.

Most Massachusetts employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance, although limited exceptions apply in certain cases. Some of these exceptions include domestic workers working fewer than 16 hours per week and certain business owners.

From occupational illnesses and repetitive stress injuries to severe conditions like brain injuries and spinal injuries, the Massachusetts workers’ comp system provides coverage for a variety of work-related conditions. If you are unsure whether you have a claim, Attorney Jim Glaser can help.

Benefits Available in a Workers’ Comp Claim

If you’ve suffered a workplace injury or illness, knowing how much workers’ comp pays can be confusing. While every case is different, injured workers are typically entitled to the following benefits under Massachusetts law:

Medical Benefits

Employees who experience a work-related injury or illness are entitled to payment of all medical expenses required for the treatment of their condition. This can include doctor’s visits, medication, surgeries, hospital stays, wheelchairs or other necessary equipment, and more.

Without these important benefits, injured workers could be forced to pay their medical expenses out of pocket. If your employer’s insurance company doesn’t want to pay for these necessary expenses, you may need the help of a Boston workers’ compensation lawyer.

Disability Benefits

The Massachusetts workers’ comp system may also provide for the payment of disability benefits should your injury or illness limit or prevent your ability to work. Massachusetts provides several types of incapacity and specific-injury benefits depending on whether the employee can work, how the injury affects their earnings, and whether the condition causes a permanent loss.

BenefitWhen it may apply
Temporary total incapacityThe employee is temporarily unable to perform any work because of the injury.
Partial incapacityThe employee can work but earns less because of injury-related limitations.
Permanent and total incapacityThe employee is permanently unable to perform meaningful employment because of the injury.
Specific injury benefitsThe employee experiences certain permanent losses of function, scarring, disfigurement, or loss of a body part.

Death Benefits

If the unimaginable happens and your loved one dies from a work-related injury or illness, you may be entitled to death benefits under the workers’ compensation system. These benefits are intended to aid the spouse, children, or other related financial dependents of the deceased worker. Funeral expenses may also be covered.

The amount and duration of benefits depend on the employee’s wages, work capacity, medical condition, and applicable legal limits.

Want to know more? Check out our articles, “How Much Does Workers’ Comp Pay” and “Everything You Need to Know About Permanent and Partial Disability Benefits,” then get in touch with an attorney from our office to find out which benefits apply to your unique workers’ comp case.

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Our Results Speak For Themselves

Workers' Compensation

$1,600,000

Work-Related Wrongful Death

$1,450,000

Work-Related Motor Vehicle Accident

$925,000

Workers' Compensation

$550,000

Workers' Compensation

$500,000

Workers' Compensation

$485,000

Workers' Compensation

$465,000

Workers' Compensation

$400,000

Workers' Compensation

$350,000

Workers' Compensation

$346,000

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Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Massachusetts

Learn more about how the claims process works to get started!

This is the first step to filing a workers’ comp claim. In the state of Massachusetts, if you are out of work for 5 or more days, your employer is required to report your work-related injury or illness to its insurance company and the Department of Industrial Accidents within 7 days.

It’s important to notify your employer immediately after your accident. Any delays can cause the insurance company to believe your injury wasn’t work-related.

You should also seek medical attention for your work-related injury or illness as soon as possible. It’s important that your doctor knows your injury/illness is related to your job, so they can include an assessment of your capabilities in the workplace. This information can be vitally important later on if your claim is contested by your employer’s insurance company and you need medical evidence.

Save copies of your accident report, medical records, work restrictions, wage information, insurer notices, and communications with your employer. These records can help document how the condition occurred and how it affected your ability to work.

If you have any questions or concerns about filing your workers’ comp claim, please don’t hesitate to contact a workman’s comp lawyer at Jim Glaser Law. From gathering the right paperwork to speaking with the insurance company, we can help make the complex process much smoother for you and help maximize your workers’ comp settlement.

When Do Massachusetts Workers’ Comp Benefits Begin?

After receiving an employer’s First Report of Injury, the insurer generally has 14 calendar days to begin paying benefits or send a written denial. This doesn’t necessarily mean an injured worker will receive a check exactly 14 days after reporting an accident because the timeline depends on when the report reaches the insurer and whether the insurer accepts the claim.

An injured worker in Boston filling out a workers’ comp claim form.

Common Workplace Accidents

Unfortunately, workplace accidents are incredibly common. However, some injured workers hesitate to start the claims process because they aren’t sure if they’re entitled to benefits. If you’re hurt on the job or develop an occupational illness due to your work conditions, you’re likely entitled to workers’ comp benefits.

Below are some of the most common causes of workplace accidents that lead to serious injuries and even fatalities:

If you’ve experienced one of these accidents or any type of work-related accident, contact us immediately to find out if you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

What Should You Do If Your Massachusetts Workers’ Comp Claim Is Denied?

A workers’ compensation denial isn’t necessarily the end of your case. The insurer should send you a written notice identifying its reason for refusing benefits. Claims may be denied because the insurer disputes whether the condition is work-related, questions the medical evidence, challenges the employee’s eligibility, or believes required information is missing.

Review the denial notice promptly with a lawyer and preserve your medical records, accident reports, wage information, and correspondence. The reason given by the insurer will help determine what evidence is needed to challenge the decision.

You may be able to file a claim with the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) and pursue the matter through its dispute-resolution process. Some deadlines can be short. Read more about how to appeal a denied workers’ comp claim in Massachusetts, or review common reasons workers’ comp claims are denied.

A Boston workers’ compensation lawyer can review the denial, gather supporting evidence, submit the required claim documents, and represent you before the DIA.

Claim denied? Jim Glaser knows how insurers challenge workplace injuries—and what evidence may help move a disputed claim forward. Contact our office for a free case review.

What If Your Workers’ Comp Checks Stop?

If your workers’ compensation check is late, reduced, or missing, first determine whether the problem is a payment delay or a formal attempt to change your benefits. Depending on the status of your claim, an insurer may need your written consent or authorization from the DIA before it can reduce or discontinue your weekly payments.

Why Workers’ Comp Payments May Stop

Workers’ compensation payments may be interrupted or changed for several reasons. The insurer may claim that:

  • A doctor has cleared you to return to work.
  • You can perform light-duty or modified work.
  • You’ve returned to work or started earning income.
  • Your current disability is no longer related to the workplace injury.
  • You failed to attend a required medical examination.
  • You didn’t respond to a request for information.
  • Your temporary benefits have reached an applicable time limit.
  • A DIA order allows the insurer to modify or discontinue payments.

Sometimes, however, a late or missing check results from an administrative or mailing error rather than a formal decision. Don’t assume that your benefits have legally ended until you review any notices from the insurer and confirm why the payment didn’t arrive.

What to Do If a Check Is Late or Missing

If you don’t receive the workers’ compensation payment you expected:

  1. Review every notice you received. Look for letters or forms from the insurer or DIA that mention suspension, modification, discontinuance, an examination, or a scheduled proceeding.
  2. Document the missing payment. Keep copies of past checks, direct-deposit records, benefit statements, pay stubs, and correspondence with the insurer. Record when the payment was due and when you first reported the problem.
  3. Keep following your medical restrictions. Continue attending appointments and following your treatment plan. Ask your provider to document whether you remain unable to work or can return only with restrictions.
  4. Do not ignore examinations or DIA proceedings. Missing an insurer-requested medical examination or failing to respond to a DIA notice could affect your benefits. If you cannot attend, address the issue promptly instead of simply skipping it.
  5. Act quickly if the insurer is trying to end your benefits. The deadline to challenge a decision or appeal a DIA order may be short. A Boston workers’ compensation lawyer can review the notices, determine why payments changed, and explain what action may be available.

Workers’ Comp Checks Stopped? Get a Free Case Review

What If Workers’ Comp Refuses to Pay for Medical Treatment?

If a Massachusetts workers’ compensation insurer refuses to authorize or pay for medical treatment, you may be able to challenge its decision. The dispute may concern whether the treatment is reasonable, medically necessary, and related to your workplace injury—not simply whether your doctor recommended it.

A treatment denial doesn’t always mean that the care is permanently unavailable. Your medical provider may be able to submit additional information, the decision may be reconsidered through utilization review, or you may pursue disputed medical benefits through the Massachusetts DIA.

An insurer may deny, delay, or limit:

  • Physical or occupational therapy: The insurer may argue that additional sessions are unnecessary or that you are no longer improving.
  • Surgery: The insurer may question whether surgery is medically necessary, whether less invasive treatment should be attempted first, or whether the procedure is related to the work injury.
  • Diagnostic testing: Requests for MRIs, CT scans, nerve studies, or other testing may be disputed as unnecessary or unrelated to the workplace condition.
  • Prescription medication: The insurer may challenge the type, dosage, cost, or duration of a prescribed medication.
  • Medical equipment: Braces, wheelchairs, mobility aids, home equipment, or other devices may be denied if the insurer claims they are not medically necessary.
  • The length of treatment: The insurer may argue that treatment has continued too long or that additional care is unlikely to improve your condition.
  • The cause of the condition: The insurer may claim that a preexisting condition, new accident, or non-work activity—not the original workplace injury—created the need for treatment.
  • A particular provider or facility: Questions may arise over your choice of provider, a referral, or whether care should be obtained through a different facility.

The insurer may also rely on an independent medical examination or utilization-review decision that conflicts with the recommendations of your treating provider.

Keep a copy of every document related to the requested treatment and the insurer’s response, including:

  • The written denial or utilization-review decision
  • Your doctor’s treatment request, referral, or prescription
  • Office notes explaining why the treatment is needed
  • Diagnostic test results and imaging reports
  • Records of treatment you have already completed
  • Notes showing whether earlier treatment improved your condition
  • Written work restrictions
  • Medical bills, receipts, and pharmacy records
  • Emails, letters, or messages exchanged with the insurer
  • Appointment cancellations caused by a lack of authorization
  • Notes from calls with the insurer, including the date and the name of the person you spoke with

Ask your medical provider for complete records rather than relying only on an appointment summary. The provider’s explanation of how the treatment relates to the workplace injury and why it’s medically necessary may be important when challenging the denial.

Massachusetts workers’ compensation insurers use utilization review to evaluate whether proposed or ongoing care is medically necessary and appropriate. Utilization review is generally required for treatment provided more than 12 weeks after an injury, although an insurer may also review care earlier.

A utilization-review professional may approve the treatment, recommend a different course of care, or deny the request. If treatment is denied, your provider may be able to supply additional clinical findings or request reconsideration. You should review the decision promptly because procedural deadlines may apply.

When the parties still disagree, an injured employee may pursue payment or authorization through the DIA dispute process. Depending on the circumstances, the matter may proceed through conciliation, conference, and a formal hearing. Medical records and opinions from treating or examining providers may be used to determine whether the care is reasonable, necessary, and connected to the workplace injury.

A Boston workers’ compensation lawyer can review the stated reason for the denial, work with your medical providers to obtain supporting evidence, and pursue disputed medical benefits through the appropriate process.

Treatment denied or delayed? Jimmy Knows!® that injured workers need more than weekly checks—they need access to care that supports their recovery.

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What If Your Employer Pressures You to Return to Work?

Don’t ignore a return-to-work request, but don’t agree to duties that conflict with your documented medical restrictions either. Ask your treating provider to explain in writing what work you can perform and what physical or scheduling limitations apply.

Before Accepting a Light-Duty Position

Before returning to modified or light-duty work:

  • Ask for a written description of the position, schedule, and physical duties.
  • Give the job description to your treating provider for review.
  • Obtain written limits on lifting, standing, sitting, walking, driving, reaching, and other activities.
  • Confirm whether you need reduced hours, additional breaks, or time for medical appointments.
  • Compare every proposed duty with your medical restrictions.
  • Keep copies of emails, texts, schedules, job offers, and communications with your employer.
  • Don’t sign a statement saying you’re fully recovered if you still have symptoms or restrictions.
  • Document any task that exceeds your restrictions or causes your symptoms to worsen.
  • Report problems to your employer and medical provider promptly.
  • Speak with a workers’ compensation lawyer before refusing suitable work or making a decision that could affect your benefits.

A light-duty job should comply with the restrictions supported by your medical records. If the employer changes the position after you return or assigns duties outside those restrictions, document what happened and notify your treating provider.

What If Light-Duty Work Pays Less?

You may qualify for partial-incapacity benefits if your workplace injury allows you to return to work but limits how much you can earn. This can happen when you work fewer hours, accept a lower-paying light-duty position, or can’t perform the same type of work you did before the injury.

In Massachusetts, partial-incapacity benefits are generally based on a portion of the difference between your average weekly wage before the injury and what you can earn afterward. Benefit limits and duration rules apply, so the insurer may dispute your pre-injury wages, current earning capacity, medical restrictions, or reason for earning less.

Keep your pay stubs, schedules, job descriptions, medical restrictions, and written light-duty offer. These records can help show whether the workplace injury caused the reduction in your earnings. A Boston workers’ compensation lawyer can review the wage calculations and determine whether you may qualify for additional weekly benefits.

Jimmy Knows!® that returning before you are medically ready can threaten both your recovery and your workers’ compensation benefits. Remember, you are not alone. We’re on your side!

Workers’ Comp Claim vs. Work Injury Lawsuit

In most cases, you cannot sue for a work injury. Generally, you’re restricted to the benefits you receive through workers’ compensation, which means you’re not able to sue for non-economic damages like pain and suffering. If your employer intentionally caused an injury or didn’t carry workers’ compensation insurance and you were injured, be sure to contact the Boston injury attorneys at Jim Glaser Law to share the unique aspects of your case. Jimmy Knows!® how to help.

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Can You Sue Someone Other Than Your Employer for a Work Injury?

Workers’ compensation generally limits an employee’s ability to sue their employer. However, you may have a separate third-party injury claim if someone outside your employer—such as a negligent driver, subcontractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer—caused the injury.

A third-party claim may provide damages that workers’ compensation doesn’t, but any recovery can affect the workers’ compensation case. Learn more about who you can sue for a work injury in Massachusetts, or ask Jim Glaser Law to evaluate whether both claims may be available.

How Long Do I Have to File a Third-Party Lawsuit for a Work Injury?

If your work injury was caused by someone other than your employer or a coworker, you might have the right to file a third-party lawsuit. In Massachusetts, the statute of limitations for these cases is typically 3 years from the date of injury. It’s important to consult with a knowledgeable attorney to ensure all deadlines are met and your rights are protected. For more information, contact Jim Glaser Law to discuss your specific situation.

 

How Can Jim Glaser Law Help With a Workers’ Comp Claim?

Jim Glaser Law can handle the legal and administrative work involved in pursuing workers’ compensation benefits. Depending on the problems affecting your claim, the firm can:

  • Determine why a claim or treatment request was denied
  • Gather medical records, wage information, and employment evidence
  • Review whether weekly benefits were calculated correctly
  • Communicate with the employer and insurance company
  • Respond when checks are reduced or stopped
  • Prepare evidence for DIA conciliation, conference, or hearing
  • Identify a possible third-party claim against an outside business or individual

Jimmy Knows!® Massachusetts workers’ comp. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss what options may be available in your case.

Boston Work Injury Claim FAQs

In Massachusetts, it is illegal for an employer to fire or retaliate against an employee solely for filing a workers’ compensation claim. Employees have the right to pursue compensation for work-related injuries without fear of losing their job. However, some employers may try to find other reasons to terminate or pressure workers into resigning. If you believe you’ve been forced to quit or have faced retaliation because of your workers’ comp claim, seek legal guidance immediately.

In Massachusetts, your employer has the right to choose a doctor for your initial evaluation. However, the decision of who treats your injury or illness is up to you. As long as your medical treatment is fair, reasonable, and medically necessary, you have the right to choose your doctor and still be reimbursed for your medical expenses.

Hiring a workers’ comp lawyer in Boston doesn’t have to break the bank. At Jim Glaser Law, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no upfront cost to hire an attorney. We only get paid if we successfully recover benefits for you. This arrangement allows you to pursue the compensation you may be entitled to without worrying about legal fees piling up.

In Massachusetts, the deadline to file a workers’ comp claim can vary based on the specifics of your case. However, you typically have 4 years to file a claim. To secure your compensation when you need it, notify your employer by filing a work-related accident report immediately after your injury. If you’re unsure about the timeline or need help with the process, it’s crucial to act quickly.

Yes, you may still receive workers’ compensation if your mistake contributed to the accident. Massachusetts uses a no-fault system, so employees generally don’t need to prove that their employer or someone else was negligent. Benefits may be denied in limited situations involving intentional or serious misconduct.

Review any notices from the insurer, confirm when the payment was due, and document the missing check. Contact the insurer to determine whether the delay is an error or an attempt to change your benefits. If the issue isn’t resolved promptly, speak with a workers’ compensation lawyer because a response or appeal deadline may apply.

Yes. Medical benefits may remain available even if you continue working. If injury-related restrictions cause you to work fewer hours or earn less than you did before the injury, you may also qualify for partial-incapacity benefits.

You shouldn’t be required to perform duties that conflict with your documented medical restrictions. Ask for the light-duty offer in writing and have your treating provider review it. Don’t simply refuse the position without explanation, as rejecting work the insurer considers suitable could affect your benefits. Document the conflict and speak with a workers’ compensation lawyer before responding.

Contact a Boston Work Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation

Whether you are filing your first claim, responding to a denial, dealing with stopped checks, or trying to obtain necessary medical treatment, Jim Glaser Law can help you assess the next step. We can handle communication with the insurer and represent you during the Massachusetts workers’ compensation process. We understand what you’re going through. Managing attorney Jim Glaser knows the workers’ compensation laws in Massachusetts, and he knows how to help you through this difficult time.

Jimmy Knows!® what injured workers are facing. Contact Jim Glaser Law today for a free consultation.

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