NY Workers Compensation Lawyer

NY Workers Compensation Lawyer

How to file a workers’ compensation claim?

Imagine you are walking through the office with your coworkers. You both are chatting and you don’t notice that the floors are wet in the hallway. Your dress shoes slip on the wet floor and you fall and sprain your wrist. You have to go to the doctor’s office and they put your wrist in a brace making it impossible for you to type for three days. In this situation, you need to file a claim to receive workers’ compensation for your doctor bill and prescription pain medications. In this article, a NY workers compensation lawyer will walk through how to file a simple workers compensation claim.

Report Your Injury

The first step when filing a workers’ compensation claim is to report your injury. This needs to be done in a timely fashion. Many states have time limits on when you can file your claim. For most states the deadline is thirty days, however, some states can be as short as just a few days while others the deadline can be up to a year. Your NY workers compensation lawyer will know what the rules are for any New York work injury claims.

In any case, it is best to report your injury as soon as possible. Reporting right away prevents any issues with your employer question your claim or if the insurance companies for some reason question your claim.  Plus, the sooner you file your claim, the sooner you will receive your benefits.

Regardless of when you report your injury, you need to receive medical attention right away if needed. Don’t wait until you receive your workers’ compensation benefits if your injury requires immediate attention.

File a Claim

Once you’ve reported your injury, your employer will give you the necessary forms you’ll need to fill out. Timeliness is also key when filling out the paperwork. Your employer will generally file these forms for you, but in case they do not, you can file them at your state’s workers’ compensation agency.

What Happens Next?

After your claim has been filed, the insurance company will conduct an investigation to confirm or deny your claim. This is why it’s so important to file your claim in a timely fashion. This investigation can take anywhere from two to four weeks. If approved, you will receive your workers’ compensation benefits. If you haven’t heard from the insurance company in the state time (2-4 weeks), then you can assume your claim was approved and you should start expecting to receive benefits.

If your claim is denied, then you may need to reach out to a workers compensation lawyer in NY to help you file an appeal.

Common Reasons for Claim Denials

If your workers’ compensation claim was denied, or you’re considering filing a claim, you may be wondering why claims are often denied. Understanding what those reasons are and avoiding them can provide your claim with a better chance of being accepted. If you were seriously hurt at work, you can call us at Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. for assistance. A skilled workers’ compensation lawyer from our firm can review your case at no charge and determine if we may be able to help you get the benefits you deserve.

Workers Compensation Claim Submission Deadline

One common reason for an injured worker to have their claim denied is that they file past the deadline. Once a worker gets hurt on the job, they have a limited amount of time in which to file their workers’ compensation claim. That time limit varies by state so it’s important to understand how it will apply in your case. At Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C., we can submit your New York workers compensation claim on your behalf with all of the necessary documentation and make sure that all deadlines and other requirements are met.

Insufficient Documentation

Many injured New York workers are mystified that their claim was denied after suffering a serious injury at work. The workers’ compensation insurance carrier might have told them that there was insufficient proof offered that the injury occurred where and how the worker claimed.

At Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C., we’re very familiar with this scenario. When we accept a client’s case for a workers compensation claim, we make sure that it includes proof of the injury with documentation from a medical expert as well as test results and any other relevant information.

Depending on the nature of the case and the circumstances of the accident, we might also include witness testimony. If the claim is still denied after we submit sufficient documentation, we are prepared to file a damage lawsuit against the parties responsible for our client’s accident and resulting injury.

Minor Injury

If the injury you sustained at work is considered minor by your employer, or their workers’ compensation carrier, your claim may be denied. If you believe that your injury is more serious than they say, you may have to seek expert medical advice to provide proof. However, they will likely require you to see one of their pre-approved doctors and if the doctor determines your injury is minor, you may have to pay for that medical visit.

In most cases, if you file a workers’ compensation claim without providing proof from their own doctor that your injury deserves benefits, your claim will be denied. If your own medical doctor provides a diagnosis that your injury is indeed serious, give our office a call. We may be able to file a claim that encompasses alternate proof that your injury should be covered by their insurance. Our New York workers compensation lawyers work with a number of experts, including medical doctors, who can provide testimony in support of our client’s claims, when appropriate.

Hiring a NY workers compensation lawyer might seem like an intimidating process, but if you’ve been injured on the job, it’s something to seriously consider. Workers’ compensation policies are intended to protect both injured employees and their employers. When a workers comp program operates as intended, it certainly can provide protection. However, as a seasoned NY workers compensation lawyer would be able to attest, injured workers may have trouble navigating the regulations and protocols of their employer’s workers comp plan.

Injuries and Illnesses Sustained on the Job

Certain industries and professions inherently present higher risks for workers — it’s no surprise that workers in these jobs often have the highest number of workers comp claims. Individuals working in the construction and manufacturing industries are more prone to injuries sustained from falls, collisions with large objects, and contact with hazardous materials.

It’s still very common for individuals in other industries to sustain injuries in accidents or through repetitive motions. Any business that contains a storage room or small warehouse, for example, might present risks if items are stacked on high shelves. Carpal tunnel syndrome is typically defined as a repetitive stress injury and it’s something that often affects office workers. Even if your profession is not inherently dangerous, there’s no reason to hesitate to contact a NY workers compensation lawyer if you’ve been injured on the job.

Not All Job Injuries Are Caused by Accidents

While many people imagine injuries from work accidents when they hear about workers’ compensation claims, there are also benefits available to those workers who suffer health conditions or diseases that were caused by job-related duties. One of the most common injuries that a NY workers comp attorney knows occurs to workers is carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that develops in the hand and wrist. It occurs when one of the major nerves that run through the hand – the median nerve – becomes compressed or stretched and becomes damaged. Carpal tunnel syndrome is classified as a progressive injury. This means that if the condition is not addressed and treated, it will continue to worsen over time. If the worker receives no treatment for the condition, permanent damage can occur to the nerve.

Some of the more common symptoms of the condition include the following:

• Burning sensations
• Numbness
• Pain that runs up the forearm to the shoulder
• Tingling that runs up the forearm to the shoulder
• Weakness in the hand
• Clumsiness in the hand

What Type of Work Can Cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel develops when a person does the same motion repeatedly. That repetitive motion ends up causing trauma to the nerves. Therefore, any occupation that requires a worker to move their hands and/or wrist in the same motion over and over again throughout their work shift puts that worker at high risk of developing carpal tunnel.

Our NY workers comp attorney has successfully represented many clients who have come to our firm after developing carpal tunnel syndrome because of their job. Some of the more common job duties required by the clients that we have represented include:

• Assembling parts in a manufacturing plant
• Cutting hair
• Keying or typing on a computer
• Painting and other types of construction work
• Scanning at a cash register
• Scrubbing motions, such as custodial and/or housekeeping
• Sewing

New York workers’ compensation law does recognize carpal tunnel syndrome and other types of repetitive motion injuries as valid injuries that entitle workers to receive benefits for medical expenses and wages if the worker is unable to work or the condition limits the type of worker the employee can perform.

The amount of time the worker can collect benefits depends on a number of factors, depending on how extensive the damage is, whether the condition will heal and whether the worker has suffered permanent damage. In some cases, the worker may not be able to return to the type of work they were doing and may also be limited to only occupations where there will not be the same type of motion required. A NY workers comp attorney from our firm can determine what type of benefits you may qualify for based on the circumstances of your particular case.

Questions about Workers’ Compensation

If you need a NY Workers Compensation Lawyer, the professionals at Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. are standing by to help you file your claim and get the compensation you need to get your life back on track. You shouldn’t have to suffer if you were hurt on the job, and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions. Read on to learn more about workers’ compensation, and see how the right workers’ compensation lawyer can make all the difference.

Where do workplace accidents happen?

It’s a common misconception that if you’re injured on the job, you need to be working in a high-risk field such as construction, manufacturing, or anything else that requires heavy machinery. Many workplace accidents happen in offices and retail spaces, and with 54% of Americans trying to continue working from home after the pandemic, workplace accidents even happen in your own home.

What is the coming and going rule?

The coming and going rule means you can’t file a workers’ compensation claim if you were injured coming to work or going home after work. However, with more and more people working form home, the home can qualify as a second workplace. If you’re driving back from work to continue working at your house, you could be covered by workers’ compensation for any injuries you experience during this commute.

Are dog bites covered by workers’ compensation?

Yes. This question may seem strange, but with dog-friendly offices quickly becoming the norm, it’s important to remember that dog bites can cause serious injury – and you shouldn’t be left paying out of pocket because of someone else’s poorly trained dog. Dog bites in the office are covered by workers’ compensation, but you still need to prove you were clocked in and performing company-related tasks at the time of your injury.

What happens if I didn’t report my injury?

As with a car accident, it’s important to report your workplace injury as soon as possible. There’s always the chance of an injury fading away, only to resurface in a couple of months. The more time that passes between your accident and your accident report, the harder it will be to secure workers’ compensation. Fortunately, you can count on a NY workers’ compensation lawyer to help you move forward with your case.

What should I look for in a workers’ comp lawyer?

Sadly, most lawyers are only in it for a paycheck. When you’re shopping for workers’ compensation lawyers, you need to make sure you’re getting in touch with a lawyer who really has your best interests in mind, rather than how much you can pay them. Make sure a workers’ compensation lawyer offers free consultations and personalized case management, and you’re already halfway there.

Questions about Workers’ Compensation Infographic

How a NY Workers Compensation Lawyer May Be Able to Help

Workers who are injured on the job have legal protections to ensure that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to their injury. While it’s never required to hire a workers compensation lawyer in NY to assist with a workers comp claim, there are many reasons why individuals choose to do so.

Injured workers may reach out to an attorney simply to learn more about the protections they may have through workers’ compensation. Each state has its own legislation that regulates workers comp policies, and it’s easy to get confused about which regulations may apply in your own case.

In other situations, an injured worker might run into problems with his or her employer. Employers with workers comp policies are required to file all necessary paperwork when an injured employee wishes to make a claim. Employers are also required to provide fair treatment to their employees who have made claims. It may be wise to seek an attorney for counsel when an employer disputes a claim.

If a claim is completely denied, it still may be possible to file an appeal. An attorney may be able to help with the appeals process by filling out all necessary paperwork and by collecting supporting evidence.

Get in touch Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. Today

At Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C., we understand how frustrating it can be to suffer from a workplace accident. Fortunately, we also understand how you can secure the money you need to make a full recovery. Get in touch with us today, and see how a NY workers comp lawyer from our office can help.

Contact Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C.

If your workers’ compensation claim was unfairly denied, or you would like assistance from a legal professional to file a claim, call us for a free consultation with a trusted NY workers’ compensation lawyer.

If you would like to speak with a workers compensation lawyer NY residents trust, call Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. today. Our team of lawyers is experienced when it comes to handling workers’ compensation cases for individuals throughout the New York metro area. Our four locations make it easier for our clients to speak with an attorney close to them, and our team is equipped with a diverse array of litigation experience.

To schedule a case evaluation with a NY workers compensation lawyer from Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C., call us today.

Client Review

“Polsky , Shouldice and Rosen is a competent law practice that delivers results. The office is always clean and inviting, and the staff is pleasant. They have parking in the back which makes things that much easier. I was lucky enough to have Adam L Rosen represent me in a workers compensation case. Adam Rosen is a pleasant, down to earth and respectful individual. As for my case, he and his staff took care of everything, kept me informed and made the experience stress free along the way. Most importantly, he and his law firm delivered a relatively good result. I hope this review helps someone looking for a good lawyer.”
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