Calculating Permanent Partial Disability Benefits Using The Chart Provided Under New Jersey Workers’ Compensation System

The New Jersey Workers’ Compensation statutes have designed a chart that details the weeks of compensation (and ultimately the damages award) to be provided to workers injured on the job for 23 specific parts of the body.

Based on your specific injuries, your New Jersey workers’ compensation attorney will utilize this chart to determine how much compensation you are entitled to.

Summary of Compensation For The 23 Different Body Parts

Below is a summary of workers’ compensation for the 23 different body parts listed in the chart under subsection c of N.J.S.A. 34:15-37:

1. Loss of Thumb: awarded 75 weeks of compensation

2. Loss of First finger (index): awarded 50 weeks of compensation.

3. Loss of Second finger: awarded 40 weeks of compensation.

4. Loss of Third finger: awarded 30 weeks of compensation.

5. Loss of Fourth finger (pinky): awarded 20 weeks of compensation.

6. Loss of Great toe: awarded 40 weeks of compensation.

7. Loss of Other toes: awarded 15 weeks of compensation.

8. Loss of Hand, or thumb and first finger and second finger on one hand OR 4 fingers on one hand: awarded 245 weeks of compensation.

9. Loss of Arm: awarded 330 weeks of compensation.

10. Loss of Foot: awarded 230 weeks of compensation.

11. Loss of Leg: awarded 315 weeks of compensation.

For any of the above losses, if you lose only a percentage of loss in that particular body part, you get that percentage of your week’s salary. However, if you lose the entire body party, you get the full amount of weeks allotted.

12. Loss of first section of thumb or any finger: For the loss of your first phalange, or the space from the tip of your finger to the first joint), you get compensation for ¼ of the specific finger (based on # 1-5 above). Any portion thereof gets reduced accordingly.

13. Loss of second section of any finger: For the loss of any second phalange, or tip of your finger to the second joint, you will be entitled to compensation for the entire finger specified above.

14. Loss of first section of any toe: If you lose the first phalange of any of your toes, you will be entitled to compensation for half of the period of time specified above.

15. Loss of second section of toe: If you lose the second phalange of any of your toes, you will be entitled to compensation for the loss of the entire toe, as specific above.

16. Loss of vision of an eye: If you lose complete vision in one eye, you will be entitled to compensation for 200 weeks of pay. Each eye is compensated separately, in that you can get compensation up to 400 weeks if you lose sight in both eyes.

17. Enucleation of an eye: If your eye is enucleated, or is removed out of the socket due to a work related injury or illness, you get the compensation awarded under section 16 (200 weeks) plus an additional 25 weeks.

18. Loss of a natural tooth:  You are entitled to 4 weeks of compensation for the loss of each natural tooth.

19. Loss of hearing in one ear: If you lose hearing in one ear, you are entitled to 60 weeks of compensation. For the loss of hearing in both ears by one accident, you are entitled to 200 weeks of compensation.

20. Loss of both hands/arms, both feet, both eyes: For the loss of any of these     limbs due to one accident, you are entitled to total and permanent disability.

21. Amputation: If you need amputation between the elbow and wrist, you will be entitled to compensation equivalent to loss of a hand, as described above. Amputation at your elbow entitles you to compensation for the loss of an arm. Amputation between your knees and ankles entitles you to compensation for the loss of the foot and amputation at the knee entitles you to compensation for the loss of the leg, as described above.

22. This section deals with all lesser or other cases involving permanent loss, which entitles you to 600 weeks, or a portion thereof depending on the percentage of loss.

Contact an Experienced New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Attorney

For more information about the amount of compensation that you are entitled to based on injury to a specific body part or for general information regarding filing a workers’ compensation claim in New Jersey, call the Law Offices of Dan T. Matrafajlo at (908) 248-4404.

We will schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our experienced New Jersey workman’s compensation lawyers to provide you with the information you need and assist you in getting the maximum benefits to which you are entitled. We have offices in Elizabeth, North Brunswick and Newark, New Jersey to better serve you.