Are you looking for workplace injury lawyers in Long Island, NY?
At Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C., we are a workplace injury firm with recognition from the Nassau County Bar Association and over 30 years serving the Long Island community.
If you've been hurt on the job in Long Island, you're likely facing medical bills, lost income, and a complicated insurance process. Our Long Island, NY workplace injury lawyers represent injured workers exclusively, and we've done so for over three decades. Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. offers free consultations, and we take on workers' compensation and related claims without any upfront cost to you. Our attorneys have handled these cases since the 1980s and 1990s, and that history shapes how we approach every new client. Contact us to talk through what happened at work.
Workplace Injury Lawyers Long Island, NY
A workplace injury lawyer represents employees hurt on the job, whether the injury came from a single accident or developed over time from repeated physical stress. Depending on how the injury happened, a claim can move through the workers' compensation system, a separate lawsuit against a negligent third party, or both at once.
Transportation incidents accounted for 35% of workplace fatalities in New York outside New York City in 2023, and the construction sector recorded more fatal injuries than any other industry statewide, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workplace injury attorneys in Long Island, NY see both patterns regularly, since this region combines heavy commuter traffic with substantial construction activity across Nassau and Suffolk counties. Nonfatal injuries add up too: private employers statewide reported over 138,000 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in a recent year, according to the same federal data source.
Types of Workplace Injury Cases We Handle in Long Island
Workplace injuries come in different forms, and the right legal path depends heavily on how the injury occurred and who caused it. A workplace injury lawyer's first job is often just sorting out which system, or systems, actually apply to what happened. Below are the case types we handle most often for workers across Long Island.
- Construction accidents. Falls, scaffolding failures, and equipment accidents remain some of the most serious injuries we see. We pursue workers' compensation benefits and, where a party other than the employer bears responsibility, a separate claim against that party.
- Workers' compensation. We handle claims, hearings, and appeals for injured workers, including cases where an employer or insurance carrier has denied benefits outright.
- Motor vehicle accidents. Delivery drivers, commercial drivers, and anyone injured in a car crash while performing job duties may have both a workers' compensation claim and a separate claim against the at-fault driver.
- Repetitive stress injuries. Carpal tunnel syndrome and similar conditions develop gradually rather than from a single incident, which changes how the claim gets documented and filed.
- Slip and fall accidents. A fall at a workplace, whether from a wet floor, uneven surface, or cluttered walkway, is a workers' compensation matter, and a third-party claim may also apply if a non-employer party maintained the hazard.
- Uber and rideshare accidents. Drivers and passengers injured in a work-related rideshare accident face a mix of workers' compensation questions and insurance coverage issues specific to rideshare platforms.
Why Choose Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. as my Workplace Injury Lawyer in Long Island, NY?
Decades of Experience Serving Injured Workers
Mark Polsky has practiced workers' compensation law exclusively since 1987, earning his J.D. from Hofstra Law School. He serves as President of the Nassau County Bar Association's Workers' Compensation Committee and received a Humanitarian Award for his contributions to union members and the community, along with a citation from the Town of Hempstead. As a workplace injury lawyer in Long Island, NY, he has also long been involved in a scholarship fund supporting union families.
Advocacy That Shapes Policy
Donald Shouldice has focused exclusively on workers' compensation law since 1992, after earning his J.D. from the University of Miami. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Workers' Compensation Alliance and regularly meets with legislators in Albany to advocate for stronger protections for injured workers. Adam Rosen, who became partner in 2000 and earned his J.D. from Hofstra Law School, chairs the same Nassau County Bar Association committee and regularly educates workers about their rights through union meetings and community centers.
Understanding Workplace Injury Cases
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Workplace Injury Cases
Workplace injury claims in New York can run through two different legal systems depending on the facts of the case.
- Workers' compensation is a no-fault system, meaning an injured employee generally doesn't need to prove the employer did anything wrong to receive benefits
- A workers' compensation claim in New York must be filed within two years of the accident, or two years after death if the injury proves fatal
- When someone other than the employer, such as a negligent driver or a property owner, caused the injury, a separate personal injury claim against that party is usually available
- New York's general personal injury statute of limitations gives an injured person three years from the date of the accident to file that separate claim
- Workers' compensation benefits typically cover medical treatment and a portion of lost wages, while a third-party claim can also recover for pain and suffering
- New York follows a comparative negligence approach in third-party claims, meaning a worker's own partial fault reduces, but doesn't necessarily eliminate, their recovery
What Are Important Aspects of a Workplace Injury Case?
A few details tend to shape how smoothly a workplace injury claim moves forward. Reporting the injury to your employer promptly matters more than most workers realize, since a delayed report often becomes the first thing an insurance carrier questions. Seeking medical treatment right away, and being specific with the treating doctor about how the injury happened, creates a record that supports the claim later. And when a third party may share responsibility, preserving evidence from the scene, whether that's a driver's information or photos of a hazardous condition, becomes important before it disappears. A workplace injury lawyer who gets involved early can help make sure none of this gets missed.
What Is the Workplace Injury Case Timeline?
Most workplace injury cases move through a fairly predictable sequence, though the pace depends on whether the case involves workers' compensation alone or a third-party claim as well. A straightforward claim can resolve within months, while a contested or third-party case often takes longer.
- Initial consultation and case evaluation
- Filing the workers' compensation claim and reporting the injury to the employer
- Medical treatment and documentation of the injury's severity
- Hearings before a workers' compensation law judge, if the claim is contested
- Pursuing a separate third-party claim, if one applies, through negotiation or litigation
What Should You Bring to Your Workplace Injury Consultation?
Coming prepared helps us evaluate your case accurately from the first meeting. Consider bringing the following.
- Any accident report or incident report filed with your employer
- Medical records and bills related to the injury
- Pay stubs or wage records showing your earnings before the injury
- Contact information for any witnesses to the accident
- Any correspondence you've received from a workers' compensation insurance carrier
Most consultations work through these details and outline what filing or appealing your claim would involve. A workplace injury attorney can usually tell you within that first meeting whether a third-party claim exists alongside the workers' compensation piece.
Long Island Job Sites and Local Resources
Workers' compensation claims for Long Island residents are handled through the Long Island District Office, which relocated from Hauppauge to Islandia in 2024.
Workplace safety concerns can be reported to OSHA's Long Island office in Westbury, and public-sector employees can find additional protections through the state's safety and health division.
Construction workers on Long Island job sites face particular risks, including trench collapses that occur with some regularity across Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Reach Out to Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. to Schedule a Consultation
A workplace injury shouldn't leave you guessing about your legal options. We offer free consultations and represent injured workers on a no-upfront-cost basis, and we respond quickly once you reach out. There's no obligation to move forward. Contact us to talk through your case and what comes next.
