Workers Compensation Lawyer NYC

Workers' compensation in New York covers medical treatment and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault, but it pays nothing for pain and suffering and it bars you from suing your employer. What it does not bar is a claim against everyone else — the property owner, general contractor, another trade, a driver, or an equipment manufacturer. For injured construction workers in particular, that third-party case under Labor Law 240 is usually worth far more than the comp claim.

• Full authorised medical treatment for the work injury, with no deductible.
• Wage replacement of two-thirds of average weekly wage, subject to the statutory maximum.
• Schedule loss of use awards for permanent loss of function in a limb, eye or ear.
• Permanent partial and total disability classification for lasting impairment.
• Death benefits and funeral expenses for a fatal work injury.

1. 30 days: notify your employer in writing.
2. 2 years: file the C-3 claim with the Workers' Compensation Board.
3. Use authorised providers and attend independent medical examinations — missing them stops benefits.
4. Never let a comp settlement (Section 32) be finalised without checking its effect on your third-party case.
5. Comp carriers assert a lien on your third-party recovery; negotiating it down directly changes what you keep.

"Not work related," "pre-existing condition," late notice, or no witnesses. Lawyers typically build the record with treating physician opinions, contemporaneous reports, co-worker statements and the employer's own incident documentation, then litigate it at hearings before a Workers' Compensation Law Judge.

Nearly all New York employees, including undocumented workers. Independent contractors and app-based drivers often are not — in those cases rideshare and no-fault coverage and third-party liability matter more.

To ask about your situation, use the free enquiry form on this page or book a call. Personal Injury NYC is not a law firm, and an enquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship. Many New York injury attorneys work on a contingency fee, but the percentage and case costs vary, so ask for the terms in writing before you sign.