Workers’ Compensation Insurance Policy for Painters in New Jersey

When working as a painter, whether independently or part of a larger company, it is important that you are covered by a comprehensive Workers’ Compensation policy in New Jersey.

Workers’ Compensation policies for painters cover lost-wage benefits, medical benefits, and death benefits. The carrier, not the employer, pays benefits to an injured worker. Any painting company with employees will need Workers’ Compensation in New Jersey. Painters that work alone as independent contractors do not have to purchase insurance by law. Not getting coverage could make you or your company vulnerable to expensive fines. Furthermore, failing to have insurance when necessary could result in painters having to cover the costs of employees’ injuries in New Jersey.

NPN Brokers can help you find coverage when you call our New Jersey Workers’ Compensation insurance brokers now at (561) 990-3022.

Benefits Provided by Workers’ Comp Policies for Painters in New Jersey

Painters that have Workers’ Compensation can receive benefits when injured at work. These benefits cover a percentage of a worker’s lost wages and all of their reasonable medical expenses. If a painter dies while working in New Jersey, their surviving family members can also receive death benefits through their employer’s Workers’ Compensation policy.

Lost-Wage Benefits

Workers’ Compensation can supplement income for injured painters until they are able to return to work. Painters eligible for temporary total disability benefits can receive lost-wage benefits of 70% of their average weekly wage, provided that amount does not exceed 75% of the statewide average weekly wage in New Jersey. Benefits for these painters also cannot fall below 20% of the statewide average weekly wage. Painters can receive such benefits until they are able to return to work in some capacity or they have reached maximum medical improvement in New Jersey.

Lost-wage benefits differ somewhat for painters with permanent partial disabilities. These injuries typically refer to accidents that cause painters to lose their ability to use limbs, digits, or other body parts. Suppose injuries prevent painters from returning to any type of gainful employment for the rest of their lives. In that case, they may be eligible to receive lost-wage benefits similar to that of painters with temporary total disabilities. Initially, lost-wage benefits will be given for 450 weeks in New Jersey. If, after those 450 weeks, painters can show that they are still unable to return to work, they may continue to receive Workers’ Compensation lost-wage benefits.

Medical Benefits

Medical benefits are more straightforward in that they can cover all reasonable medical expenses related to a workplace accident in New Jersey. That said, employers reserve the right to approve the medical professionals that treat injured employees. Workers’ Compensation might not cover their expenses if painters see non-approved medical professionals. Medical benefits can continue for as long as a painter requires treatment for their work-related injury or illness in New Jersey.

Death Benefits

Death benefits may also be provided to surviving family members in the event that a painter dies because of a workplace injury or work-related illness. Death benefits can be equal to 70% of the deceased painter’s average weekly wage and are divided between dependents, such as a worker’s spouse and children. Death benefits can also cover up to $3,500 in funeral expenses.

Painters in New Jersey that Need Workers’ Comp Policies

Not all painters are mandated to have Workers’ Compensation policies in New Jersey. Their need to get insurance will be based on their eligibility for exemptions.

New Jersey provides few exemptions to the state’s Workers’ Compensation code. Notably, contractors are exempt. This means that if you are an independent contractor painter and have no additional employees outside of subcontractors, you will have to purchase a Workers’ Compensation plan.

Painting companies also need insurance, provided they have any number of employees. Although the cost of coverage typically increases as workforces do, our Workers’ Compensation insurance brokers can get quotes from reliable carriers that offer transparent prices to those in higher-risk industries, such as painting.

Even if you are a painting contractor exempt from Workers’ Compensation, purchasing a policy is still wise. In doing so, you can ensure that you will be able to file a Workers’ Compensation claim if you are hurt at work. This will allow you to evade any unnecessary financial responsibility for your work-related injuries or illnesses in New Jersey.

Risks of Not Getting Workers’ Compensation Policies for New Jersey Painters

Not having insurance is taking a considerable risk, especially if you are in a line of work that puts you at a higher chance of being injured on the job. Not to mention, New Jersey imposes considerable penalties on companies that do not have Workers’ Compensation when required to.

When painters do not get Workers’ Compensation, they risk being penalized. New Jersey fines painters that do not comply with insurance requirements $1,000 for each uninsured worker. Fines will likely continue until a painting company gets the necessary insurance. Painting companies might also be given stop-work orders, which could disrupt projects and irritate clients.

Perhaps the most severe consequence that painters face when they do not have coverage is the cost of a worker’s injuries. Painters are more likely to be injured in certain accidents, such as falls from ladders. Painters might also sustain sprains or other injuries due to repetitive use of the wrists and hands. In these situations, employees can get benefits from the Special Compensation Fund, which employers might have to reimburse, along with an additional fine of up to 65% of the benefits paid to the injured worker. When all things are considered, the financial impact of not getting Workers’ Compensation is severe in comparison to the price of monthly premiums for painters in New Jersey.

Call Our Workers’ Comp Insurance Brokers in New Jersey

Painters in New Jersey can call our Workers’ Compensation insurance brokers at (561) 990-3022 to get a quote from NPN Brokers.