NY Workers' Compensation Information Center

Call us now

or use the form below.

Name:


Phone Number:


Email Address:


Comments:

 

Click here to provide more information.

Frequently Asked Questions about Workers' Compensation

Q: What is workers' compensation?

A: Workers' compensation laws provide workers injured in the course of their employment with compensation for their injuries without resort to a traditional lawsuit or court proceedings. An injured worker does not have to prove that his or her employer was negligent or at fault for the injury, only that the injury happened in the course of their employment. Unless someone other than the employer is liable for injuries, workers' compensation is almost always the sole remedy for injuries sustained while working.

Q: What kinds of injuries are covered?

A: workers' compensation law provides for the award of specific amounts for different injuries; payment of medical bills that relate to your injury; and payments to make up, at least in part, wages lost because of an injury. In some cases, the cost of training for a new job may also be paid.

Read More

What Are My Employer's Responsibilities under Workers' Compensation Laws?

workers' compensation insurance benefits provide cash and medical care for workers who are disabled because of job-related injuries or illnesses. If death results, benefits are payable to workers' surviving spouses and dependents.

In New York, employers are required to purchase insurance for their employees from a workers' compensation insurance carrier or be self-insured. Larger employers who are clearly solvent are allowed to self-insure or act as their own insurance companies, while smaller companies with fewer than three or four employees are not required to carry workers' compensation insurance at all. When a worker is injured, his or her claim is filed with the insurance company or self-insuring employer who pays medical and disability benefits according to a state-approved formula.

Read More

Workers' Compensation Benefits / Return to Work

Workers' Compensation Benefits / Return to Work

To understand the full range of workers' compensation benefits to which you may be entitled, consult an experienced attorney at Law Office of Robert Koenigsberg in Manhattan, New york.

In New York, an injured employee is entitled to these benefits:

• Medical Care

An injured worker has the right to all reasonable and necessary treatment to cure or relieve the effects of the injury. Included under medical treatment compensation are all medical bills, prescriptions, and roundtrip mileage to the hospital. Workers have the right to choose their doctors in most instances.
• Temporary Disability

Injured workers may need to take time away from work for medical reasons related to the on-the-job injury. Temporary payments that provide partial compensation for lost wages may be available to compensate for lost work time in these circumstances. A worker usually receives two-thirds of salary.

Read More

Can I Recover Workers' Compensation Benefits if I Work for a Government Employer?

State and Local Employees

New York state workers' compensation statutes cover state and municipal employees, although notable exceptions are police officers, firefighters, teachers, and sanitation workers employed by New York City.

In order to determine whether a particular state or municipal employee is within the state's workers' compensation scheme, consult an attorney at Law Office of Robert Koenigsberg in Manhattan, New york who can carefully review the facts of your case.

Read More

Can I Sue My Employer Instead of Filing a Workers' Compensation Claim?

In most cases, the answer to this question is no. Workers' compensation systems were established as trade-offs where employees gave up the right to sue employers in court for their injuries in exchange for the right to receive workers' compensation benefits, regardless of who was at fault for their injuries. Most employers are required by law to provide workers' compensation insurance for the benefit of their employees. In exchange for providing that insurance, employers are protected from defending personal injury claims brought by employees in civil actions.

Read More