Workers' Compensation Attorneys Who Protect Injured Workers in Boston, MA
If you've been injured on the job in Boston — whether you work in healthcare, construction, the MBTA system, or any other industry — you have rights under Massachusetts workers' compensation law. Those rights include medical benefits, weekly wage replacement, and compensation for permanent disability. They also include the right to have an attorney in your corner when your employer or their insurer disputes your claim or tries to minimize your recovery.
DGK Law's workers' compensation attorneys have represented injured workers throughout Boston, Suffolk County, and Massachusetts for decades. Deborah G. Kohl brings over 40 years of workers' compensation experience, AV Preeminent rating, Super Lawyers recognition, and a 10.0 Avvo score to every case. Our firm also holds recognition as a Best Law Firms firm from 2019 through 2022. We fight for injured workers — not employers, not insurers.
Workers' Compensation Claims Common to Boston Industries
Boston's economy creates specific workers' compensation exposure across several major industries:
- Healthcare workers — Boston's dense concentration of major hospitals and health systems (Mass General, Brigham and Women's, Boston Medical Center) means a high volume of workers' comp claims involving overexertion, needle-stick injuries, patient-handling injuries, and slip-and-fall incidents in clinical settings
- Construction — active development throughout Greater Boston and Suffolk County produces high rates of fall injuries, equipment injuries, and repetitive stress claims
- MBTA — transit workers are covered under Massachusetts workers' compensation law and face specific injury risks including back injuries, assault incidents, and slip/trip hazards in high-traffic station environments
- Restaurant and hospitality — Boston's large service sector generates claims from burns, cuts, overexertion, and falls in kitchen and service environments
- Office and professional — repetitive stress injuries (RSI), ergonomic injuries, and stress-related conditions are compensable under Massachusetts workers' comp
What Benefits Are Available to Injured Boston Workers?
● Section 34 — temporary total incapacity benefits (up to 60% of pre-injury average weekly wage) during recovery
● Section 35 — partial incapacity benefits when you return to work at reduced capacity or wages
● Section 36 — specific compensation for permanent loss or loss of use of bodily parts
● Medical benefits — all reasonable and related medical treatment covered by the employer's insurer
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Vocational rehabilitation — where applicable for workers who cannot return to their previous occupation
The DIA Boston Office and How Massachusetts Workers' Comp Works
Massachusetts workers' compensation disputes are administered through the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA). The DIA has a Boston office that handles Suffolk County claims, located at 1 Congress Street, Suite 100, Boston, MA 02114. The DIA process involves:
- Conciliation — initial informal meeting between the parties to attempt settlement
- Conference — a non-evidentiary hearing before an Administrative Judge where the judge may issue a temporary order
- Hearing — a full evidentiary proceeding where witnesses testify and the judge issues a binding decision
- Reviewing Board — appellate review of hearing decisions, followed by Massachusetts Appeals Court for further appeals
DGK Law represents injured Boston workers at every stage of this process — from the initial claim through DIA hearings and appeals. Internal link: see our workers' comp overview at /workers-comp-ma.
Our Boston Workers' Compensation Process
Step 1: Free Initial Consultation
Call (508) 677-4900. You'll speak directly with an attorney who assesses your claim, explains your options, and answers your questions — at no cost and with no obligation.
Step 2: Claim Filing and Investigation
We file or review your claim with your employer's insurer, preserve medical records and witness information, and identify the full scope of your compensable damages.
Step 3: Negotiation and DIA Process
Most Massachusetts workers' comp cases resolve at conciliation or conference. When insurers dispute claims or offer inadequate benefits, we take the case through DIA hearing.
Step 4: Recovery
Our fee comes from your recovery — you pay nothing upfront and nothing unless we succeed.
Frequently Asked Questions: Workers' Comp Attorney in Boston, MA
Do I need a lawyer for a workers' comp claim in Boston, MA?
You're not legally required to have an attorney — but represented workers consistently recover larger benefits than unrepresented claimants in Massachusetts, particularly when claims are disputed.
What does a workers' comp attorney cost in Boston?
DGK Law handles workers' comp cases on a contingency basis — no upfront cost, and fees come from your recovery, subject to DIA approval.
How long do I have to file a workers' comp claim in Massachusetts?
Generally, you must report your injury to your employer within 4 years of becoming aware of a work-related injury or illness, though earlier reporting is strongly advisable.
Can I be fired for filing a workers' comp claim in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts law prohibits retaliation against employees for filing workers' compensation claims. If you believe you've been retaliated against, contact DGK Law immediately.
Does DGK Law handle workers' comp cases throughout Suffolk County?
Yes — DGK Law represents injured workers throughout Boston, Suffolk County, and all of Massachusetts, as well as Rhode Island.
