Suffolk County Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Accidents, injuries, and illnesses in the workplace are very common and can happen at any time, under a variety of circumstances. If you have sustained an accident, injury, or illness while you were working on the job, you may be entitled to monetary compensation under New York’s workers’ compensation laws.
Insurance coverage in a New York workers’ compensation case is provided by the injured worker’s employer and insurer. The insurance company is, in effect, representing the employer, and its primary interest is not providing you, the claimant, with monetary compensation for the injuries you sustained in your work-related accident.
If you or someone you love has suffered personal injuries as a result of an accidental injury or injuries sustained while on the job, an experienced Suffolk County workers’ compensation lawyer may be able to help. A tenacious personal injury lawyer can fight to ensure the best outcome for you. En Español.
Availability of Workers’ Compensation Coverage
In order for the New York workers’ compensation laws to come into play, all three of the following requirements must be met:
- The injury must be an accidental injury (i.e. without regard to fault)
- The injury must have occurred while the worker was on the job
- The injury must have occurred while the worker was acting within the scope of (or in the course of) the worker’s employment
Even when there is a basis for a workers’ compensation case, the injured worker may also have a cause of action in tort for negligence against the employer. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney could help an injured individual pursue a civil case against a negligent employer in Suffolk County.
Maximizing Recovery in a Suffolk County Workers’ Compensation Case
When a work-related injury falls within the ambit of workers’ compensation, injured workers should take the following steps as soon as possible after the accident occurs.
Reporting and Recording Injuries
An individual should report the accident and injuries to the employer. As soon as possible after the accident occurs, the injured worker should report the accident and injuries to a supervisor. This will allow the employer to report the accident to the insurance carrier, thereby initiating the workers’ compensation claims process.
They should also document all missed time from work. In every workers’ compensation case, it is important for the injured worker to keep good records about medical treatment and any time missed from work, in case there is a dispute later on.
Medical Attention
Individuals should seek immediate medical care at a hospital or urgent care facility. As soon as possible after sustaining injuries in the accident, the injured worker should seek emergency medical care at a hospital or other urgent care facility. By seeking treatment immediately after the accident, the injured worker sends an implicit message to the insurance company that the injuries are serious.
They should follow through with all of the emergency room physician’s treatment recommendations. Prior to discharge from an emergency room or urgent care facility, the examining physician will typically instruct the injured worker to follow up at another treatment facility with another physician or specialist – or to follow up with a primary care physician. It is important for the injured worker to follow through with all of these treatment recommendations. In New York, injured workers can choose their own treating doctors.
It is also important to avoid any significant gaps in treatment. Avoiding gaps in treatment means making every effort to continuously treat for the injuries sustained in the accident, beginning treatment immediately after the accident occurs, and continuing treatment until a level of maximum medical improvement is attained.
Contact a Suffolk County Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today
Soon after beginning your treatment for the injuries you sustained in your accident, one of the most important steps you can take is to contact an experienced Suffolk County workers’ compensation lawyer who can represent you throughout your case.
An experienced Suffolk County workers’ compensation attorney will be able to negotiate with the employer’s insurance company, file a claim or raise issues with the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board when disputes arise, represent you at hearings, and/or assist you with settling your workers’ compensation case.
