Boston Workers Compensation Lawyer Blog
At Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, LLC, we’ve represented injured Massachusetts workers for decades — including hundreds of construction workers from Boston, Quincy, Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, Milton, Braintree, Plymouth, Taunton, and Bridgewater.
If you were hurt while working on a prevailing wage construction site, you may be entitled to substantially higher workers’ compensation benefits than most injured workers realize.
Here’s what you need to know — and how we can help ensure you’re not leaving money on the table.
What Is a Prevailing Wage Project?
In Massachusetts, prevailing wage laws apply to public construction projects — such as work on schools, highways, police stations, and municipal buildings — in cities like Boston, Fall River, Quincy, and Plymouth.
These laws require workers to be paid a set minimum hourly wage, including fringe benefits, based on their trade and the location of the project. The Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards (DLS) sets these rates, which are typically higher than private sector wages.
How This Affects Your Workers’ Compensation Benefits
When you’re injured on the job — whether it’s on a public project in Taunton or a state-funded build in New Bedford — you’re likely entitled to workers’ compensation. Your weekly benefit is based on your average weekly wage (AWW) at the time of injury.
That means:
Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits are 60% of your AWW (up to a state maximum)
Your AWW includes wages earned in the 52 weeks prior to your injury
If you were working under a prevailing wage at the time, your AWW — and therefore your benefits — can be significantly higher than on a private job.
Example: Why Prevailing Wage Matters
Let’s say you’re a laborer working on a public works job in Quincy, earning $60/hour under prevailing wage. That’s $2,400/week for 40 hours. If you’re injured on that job, your TTD benefit would be:
- $2,400 × 60% = $1,440/week
Now compare that to a non-prevailing wage job in Bridgewater, paying $35/hour ($1,400/week):
- $1,400 × 60% = $840/week
That’s a $600/week difference — or more than $2,400/month in additional compensation. Over a long recovery, that adds up quickly.
Fringe Benefits Count, Too
Prevailing wage laws also require employers to pay fringe benefits, such as health insurance or retirement contributions. If you were injured on a construction project subject to the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage Laws, Chapter 149, Sections 26 & 27, they are counted as part of your AWW — and that can increase your workers’ compensation check.
Many workers in Brockton, Plymouth, and Milton aren’t aware that fringe benefit payments in their paycheck should legally be included in their wage calculation. Insurance Companies and their claims adjusters will not provide this information to you because it costs them more money. They will only pay this additional compensation if you retain an workers’ compensation attorney who files a claim for you at the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents.
At Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, we dig into the construction project and payroll details to make sure your weekly benefits reflect every dollar you earned.
Proving You Worked on a Prevailing Wage Project
To qualify for enhanced compensation, we help establish:
- The job was a public project subject to prevailing wage
- You were paid the correct prevailing rate for your trade
- Any fringe benefit payments were made in cash or included in gross pay
We work with union reps, payroll departments, and public records to obtain certified payroll records and prevailing wage schedules for construction workers throughout Boston, Taunton, New Bedford, Fall River, and surrounding areas.
Construction Workers Trust Us to Maximize Their Benefits
Construction sites are dangerous. A fall, a machinery accident, or even repetitive stress injuries can put you out of work for weeks or months. If your injury happened on a public project, you may qualify for significantly more in weekly compensation — but only if your legal team knows how to prove it.
At Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, we’ve helped injured workers from New Bedford to Brockton, Quincy to Plymouth get every dollar they’re owed under the law. We understand the complex intersection of prevailing wage laws and Massachusetts workers’ compensation regulations.
Contact Us Today – Serving Boston, North Shore, Worcester, South Shore, and Southeastern MA
If you were injured while working on a public job site in Boston, Braintree, Milton, Brockton, Plymouth, Taunton, Bridgewater, New Bedford, Fall River, or nearby areas, don’t settle for less than you’re entitled to.
📞 Call Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, LLC today at 617-426-9797
💻 Visit www.carnlaw.com to schedule your free consultation
Let our team fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
