Lump sum settlements

January 5, 2026

5 Costly Workers’ Compensation Mistakes to Avoid in Massachusetts

workers-comp-paperwork-construction-worker A new year often brings new jobs, new responsibilities, and new opportunities. Unfortunately, it can also bring new workplace injuries. If you were hurt on the job, the actions you take in the days and weeks that follow can have a lasting impact on your health, your income, and your future.

Every year, we see injured workers unintentionally harm their own workers’ compensation claims—not because they did anything wrong, but because they didn’t know how the system works. Massachusetts workers’ compensation law is complex, deadline-driven, and heavily influenced by insurance company practices.

Below are five of the most costly workers’ compensation mistakes to avoid in Massachusetts, especially as you head into a new year and try to get your life back on track.

December 2, 2020

Fall Protection in the Construction Industry: The “6-Foot Rule”

by Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, LLC

joshua-mancini-6fegAz1Us5U-unsplash-scaled In the construction industry, there is a general rule of thumb often referred to as the “6-foot rule.” The “6-foot rule” typically is applied to major commercial construction projects, as well as smaller residential construction projects, amongst others. Essentially, the 6-foot rule requires employers to implement the use of fall protection when construction workers are working at heights of 6 feet or greater above a lower level.

At the Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, LLC, our attorneys have fought hard and successfully represented injured construction workers who were injured due to a “6-foot rule” safety violation. Recently, Attorneys Jeremy M. Carroll and Brendan G. Carney obtained a jury verdict in the amount of $925,000 for an injured construction worker who fell 10 feet because there was no fall protection.

October 13, 2020

Workers’ Compensation Settlement includes Insurer’s Payment for Service Dog

by Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, LLC

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Recently, Brendan G. Carney of Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, LLC was able to successfully negotiate a lump sum settlement of a Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation claim in the amount of $825,000.00. This settlement was reached on behalf of our client, a forty one year old woman who was working as a bank branch manager when she was involved in a motor vehicle accident while traveling from an offsite bank meeting back to her regular bank office. The employee suffered a life-altering spinal cord injury that would render her permanently and totally disabled. In addition to the lump sum settlement, Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, LLC was able to obtain an additional $218,000.00 in permanent loss of function benefits. The employee had received weekly benefits for over three years prior to the settlement. The total recovery for the employee exceeded $1,200,000.00. Continue reading

September 10, 2020

Factors to Consider in Deciding to Settle A Workers’ Comp Claim

by Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, LLC

Judge gavel, scales of justice and law books in court

Massachusetts’ workers who have suffered serious work related injuries and occupational diseases must often times make the important decision as to whether or not to accept an offer a lump sum settlement of their workers’ compensation claim. Typically when an injured worker is either at or near maximum medical improvement, their employer’s workers’ compensation insurer will contact the injured worker or their attorney to discuss the possibility of settling the claim. There are many important factors to consider when determining if a settlement is in the best interest of the injured worker. Before addressing those important issues, first I want to define some important terms: Continue reading

January 3, 2019

Workers killed when trench at home renovation collapses, floods

by Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, LLC

Employer accused of flouting OSHA regs; $2.2 million settlement

By: Mass. Lawyers Weekly Staff December 27, 2018

The claimant was the spouse of one of two laborers killed when a trench in which they were working collapsed and flooded at a home renovation project in Boston’s South End in October 2016.The deceased was survived by his then-53-year-old spouse, three adult children, and three dependent grandchildren. The insurer initiated payment of weekly Section 31 death benefits.

March 8, 2018

Can my Attorney Force the Insurance Company to Settle my Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Claim?

by Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, LLC

Often times, in the course of a Massachusetts workers’ compensation claim, lump sum settlement negotiations will occur. This typically occurs after the injured worker has reached maximum medical improvement (medical treatment has been completed), the injured worker has permanent physical restrictions that will cause a wage loss, and/or after an Administrative Judge has issued a conference order or hearing decision. However, there is nothing that you or your attorney can do to force the workers’ compensation insurer to agree to a lump sum settlement. Likewise, there is nothing a workers’ compensation insurer can do to force an injured worker to accept a lump sum settlement. A settlement is only achieved if both the insurance company and the employee agree to a certain figure. In most claims, an employer must consent to their insurance company making a settlement offer to an injured employee. A judge cannot order or set a lump sum settlement amount. Continue reading