Workers’ Comp Lawyer In NYC

Although New York law mandates financial and other benefits for people injured on the job through its workers’ compensation program, employers deny up to one-quarter of the initial claims of injured workers. This only adds more stress to an already uncertain situation.

After a work-related injury, it can feel intimidating to go against an insurance company representing your employer. Discussing your rights with our law firm for work-related injury claims is often the best way to obtain the maximum benefits you are legally entitled to.

The team of Long Island workers’ comp lawyers at Terry Katz & Associates have more than 30 years of experience fighting for the rights of injured workers. Whether you have received a denial of benefits, have been subject to unreasonable delays, you want to see your own doctor, or you are dealing with another common issue experienced by injured workers, we are on your side and would be happy to help.

You may feel small and insignificant right now compared to the vast resources of your employer, but we will level the playing field to ensure you get a fair shot at claiming your rightful benefits.

Eligibility For Workers’ Compensation Claims In New York

Dealing with a job-related injury or illness is difficult enough, but trying to determine if you are eligible for state workers’ compensation benefits can be overwhelming. Like all states, New York creates and maintains strict workers’ compensation laws to prevent abuse of the program.

Unfortunately, you cannot assume that you are eligible to receive financial benefits just because you were injured on the job in New York City. As your NYC workers’ comp lawyer will explain, you must meet the following criteria before you can apply for benefits:

• The company you work for must be mandated to provide workers’ compensation benefits to injured employees by New York law
• Your current disability, illness, or injury must have been caused solely from completing the duties associated with your employment
• You must provide your employer with written notification of the incident within 30 days
• You have obtained a medical report that confirms your disability, illness, or injury happened while on the job

Workers’ Compensation Claims: Eligibility & Filing

One of the most important things to understand about New York’s workers’ compensation system is that it operates under the premise of no-fault. That means the law does not require you to prove that your employer is at fault for causing your workplace injuries.

As mentioned above, you only have 30 days to notify your employer that you sustained an injury on the job. However, our NYC workers’ comp lawyers will tell you to make sure that you report the injury as soon as possible.

o file for workers’ compensation benefits two years from the incidentEven if your claim is valid, you will not be able to collect benefits if you forget to notify your employer in the allotted time. Your report should include the following information at a minimum:

• All factors that caused the accident
• The exact date and time of the accident
• Where the accident took place
• Names and contact information for any witnesses to the accident

Please note that this is only an initial notification of an injury and not a claim for benefits. New York law allows you to file for workers’ compensation benefits up to two years after the date of the incident.

You will need to complete Form C-3, called an Employee Claim Form, and mail it to the nearest Workers’ Compensation Claim Office.

Here are the rest of the steps you need to follow when filing your claim:

• Ask your doctor to complete Form C-4 entitled Doctor’s Initial Report and mail it to the same district office. He or she should also send a copy of the form to you, your employer, and the insurance company representing your employer. This must take place within 48 hours of your injury.
• Ask your employer to complete Form C-2 within 10 days of the incident. This form, called the Employer’s Report of Work-Related Injury or Illness, will go to the district workers’ compensation board and your employer’s insurance company.
• After receiving the C-2 report from your employer, a representative from the insurance company representing your employer will mail you a letter that outlines your rights under New York law. You should receive this within two weeks.
• If the insurer has not approved or denied the claim with seven days, it will begin to pay you benefits within 18 days.
• Your doctor must submit a progress report to the workers’ compensation board every 45 days.
• The insurance company representative will consider whether you are still in the active process of recovery if you have not returned to work within 12 weeks. The representative will also make a recommendation concerning whether you should pursue rehabilitative treatment.

You are eligible to receive specific benefits if the insurance company approves your workers’ compensation claim. This includes receiving a weekly payment that is up to 66 2/3 percent of your typical wage. Other benefits that your employer’s workers’ compensation fund must pay for include the following:

• Difference between your current and former wages if you suffered a permanent or partial disability due to an on-the-job incident
• All medical treatment related to your injury, including services provided by a chiropractor
• Reimbursement for fuel used to travel to appointments, parking fees, medication, bandages, and related items
• Compensation for a facial scar or injury to an extremity, including your arms, hands, legs, and feet even if these workplace injuries do not prevent you from working

As you can see, there is a lot on the line when your employer’s insurance company denies your claim for workers’ compensation benefits. One of the most common reasons for denial is stating that your injury, illness, or disability did not occur at work.

Your NYC workers’ comp lawyer from Terry Katz & Associates will work hard to uncover proof of how your injury happened as well as challenge any other denials or delays that come your way.

Another common point of contention among injured people is feeling like the insurance company controls who they can see for medical treatment. Many people prefer to see their own doctor because they feel like the one provided by the insurer is too biased towards the employer. Whatever your specific issues with your case, we understand your frustration.

What Is A Workers’ Comp ‘Independent’ Medical Examination?

After filing your claim, you must submit to an independent medical examination (IME). The purpose of this exam is for a doctor to determine the extent of your workplace injuries as well as whether you received them at work or not.

The problem that many injured workers have with an IME is that the employer chooses an authorized medical provider to complete it. While the stated purpose of the IME is for the injured worker to receive an accurate diagnosis and a customized treatment plan, some insurance companies interpret the doctor’s findings to their own advantage and limit or deny payouts to the injured worker.

One advantage of living in New York City is that state law allows injured workers to choose a certified doctor or one who has received approval from the agency overseeing the workers’ compensation program. Despite this, injured employees can still feel intimidated because the insurance adjuster handling the claim makes it difficult for them to see the doctor of their choice by denying or delaying claim payments.

If you find yourself in this situation, hiring an experienced NYC workers’ comp lawyer is the best way to ensure that you get to see the medical provider of your choice. Having the right law firm on your side will make all the difference.

Appealing A New York Workers’ Comp Denial

Workers’ compensation insurance companies provide other common reasons for denial besides claiming that an employee’s injury occurred outside of work.

One is accusing the injured worker of fraud by misrepresenting an injury and another is claiming that the injury is due to a pre-existing condition instead. Once you receive notification regarding your claim, you can take one of the following three actions:

• Accept the claim as is
• Contest the claim entirely
• Contest one or more parts of the claim

You have the right to request a review from the Workers’ Compensation Claim Board within 30 days of receiving your notice. If the board approves your request, three-panel members will review the case and either modify or rescind the original judge’s decision.

They may also send the case back to the judge for further consideration. You may request a full board review if the three-member panel cannot come to a unanimous decision.

When appealing a board decision, you must request assistance from the Appellate Division of New York’s State Supreme Court within 30 days. You can further appeal this decision to the New York State of Appeals.

Why You Need A NYC Workers Comp Lawyer

People often wonder why they need an attorney to file a workers’ compensation claim in New York. After all, payment is mandated by state law. However, the Workers’ Compensation system is complex, and recent changes have made it even more challenging.

An experienced Workers’ Comp attorney can help you navigate through the claims process and improve your chances of obtaining maximum compensation for your work-related injury or illness.

Even if you did not lose any time from work, you might still be entitled to monetary benefits and medical treatment if you suffered a work-related injury. If you suffered a work-related illness or were injured on the job in any way, no matter how small, you may be entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits.

‍Contact Terry Katz & Associates online or call (516) 997-0997 for a free initial consultation. Our Long Island Workers Comp lawyers are available to advise you of your legal rights.

We've Helped Over 25,000 New Yorkers Obtain Workers’ Compensation Benefits Since 1992

At Terry Katz & Associates, PC, our Long Island lawyers have been advocating for workers who were injured on the job or suffered work-related illnesses since 1992. Our New York attorneys are highly knowledgeable about the legal process and can explain your rights under New York’s Workers’ Compensation system. We aggressively pursue maximum compensation and seek other sources of payment such as Social Security Disability benefits and/or Personal Injury lawsuits.

Handling The Details Of Your Workers’ Compensation Claim

Our New York City Workers Comp Lawyers will manage your case from start to finish. We will ensure that your claim is correctly prepared and timely filed. When you hire Terry Katz & Associates, PC, to be your advocate, you can be confident that we will fight for you throughout the process by:

• Explaining how to report a work-related injury
• Evaluating your Workers’ Compensation claim and explaining your legal rights
• Help you understand how long your benefits will last.
• Handling all hearings in your Workers’ Comp claim, at all steps of the litigation process
• Ensuring that your benefits are accurately calculated
• Negotiating a favorable lump-sum settlement offer with the insurance carrier
• Explaining your entitlement to schedule loss of use (SLU) awards and fighting for the highest possible amount of compensation
• Reopening old cases if you experience medical complications

This is just a small sample of the legal services we provide all of our clients. At Terry Katz & Associates, we understand the Workers’ Compensation claims process can be complicated. We know what your rights are and will protect you throughout the Workers’ Compensation claims process.

Perhaps you have already filed for Workers’ Compensation benefits on your own. If you are currently receiving wage-replacement benefits and medical treatment, you may think that you don’t need a Workers’ Comp attorney to help you.

However, while insurance carriers may provide you with the benefits you need initially without contest, often they resort to contesting Workers’ Comp claims, reducing your benefits, denying your necessary medical treatment, and generally minimizing compensation for your claim.

Entrust Terry Katz & Associates throughout the legal process to protect your rights.

Workers’ Comp Lawyer In Long Island: Free Consultation

Perhaps you are just at the beginning of your journey as an injured worker in New York and want to know more about your rights and how to file a claim.

You could be further along in the process and already received a denial from your employer’s insurance company. We want to assure you that we are here to help no matter where you find yourself in the workers’ compensation process.

If you’ve been injured at work, please contact our law firm near Long Island, New York, at (516) 997-0997 for a free review of your case with one of our Long Island workers’ comp lawyers.

We look forward to assisting with your claim.

Si tú hablas español y fuiste lastimado en un accidente en tu trabado, nosotros podemos ayudarte.