New York Workers’ Compensation
It’s an unfortunate reality for many New York businesses—despite all of the safety measures that employers and employees take, every year tens of thousands of New York workers suffer job-related illnesses or injuries. In 2007, the latest year for which statistics have been published, the 11 District Offices of the state’s Workers’ Compensation Board reported 139,250 new cases and 181,943 ongoing ones.
The cost of workplace injuries to the state’s economy is staggering, with millions of hours in manpower and productivity lost each year. Equally staggering are the thousands of dollars in medical payments and wage benefits that injured workers are entitled to—but fail to collect.
Employees may not understand how to collect the benefits they need, or they may be misinformed by their employers about their right to file a claim. In other cases, workers do not realize their injury or sickness was caused by their job, or they may believe that their injury is not serious enough to merit benefits.
If you’ve been injured on the job or have fallen victim to an occupational disease, don’t lose the benefits that you’ve worked so hard to earn. You and your family deserve the full range of workers’ compensation benefits—and we can help you make your best possible case. Call the New York workers’ compensation lawyers of Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C. today at 1.800.966.4999 or fill out our online contact form for a free case evaluation.
Or firm has extensive experience with the workers’ compensation system, and our Web site has a wealth of information to help injured workers, including:
- The types of workers’ compensation benefits that could be awarded to you and your family.
- The disability categories that are used to determine your workers’ compensation award.
- Occupational diseases and New York workers’ compensation claims.
- Frequently asked questions we hear from our clients about their workers’ compensation cases.
Nearly all employees in New York are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Under the workers’ compensation system, employers agree to pay medical expenses and lost wages for an employee’s job-related injury or illness—even if the employee is at fault for his or her injuries. In exchange, the employee agrees not to sue his or her employer in court for damages.
While workers’ compensation insurance may be provided by most employers, employees often encounter significant delays and administrative hurdles as they attempt to collect benefits. Even NY’s own workers’ compensation officials acknowledge that the system can be stressful and far from “worker friendly.”
Insurance companies can add to workers’ frustration by delaying, denying or contesting a valid injury claim. In 2007, there were 19,703 controverted cases, meaning insurance companies and employers challenged the award of benefits to thousands of injured workers. Those challenges sent many of those cases to a complex hearing before a Workers’ Compensation Law Judge, where testimony, medical documents and other evidence had to be weighed.
The workers’ compensation system can be so frustrating that many employees decide not to pursue their claims. But there is a better way to deal with those frustrations. Contact the New York workers’ compensation lawyers of Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C. at 1.800.966.4999 for help with your case.
- We can help you collect benefits even if you haven’t stopped working.
- We’ll see that your workers’ compensation benefits continue even if you get a new job, move out of state or retire.
- For certain injuries, we’ll make sure your workers’ compensation payments continue for the rest of your life.
- If you’re entitled to additional benefits, known as Schedule Loss Awards, we’ll help you collect them.
But remember that your benefits can be lost forever if you don’t file on time. If you’ve been injured on the job or have developed an occupational disease, you and your family will need the full range of benefits that are available. Choosing the New York lawyers of Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C. may be the best decision you’ll ever make to secure your future. Please call us at 1.800.966.4999 or fill out our online contact form for immediate attention to your case. We will fight for you!
