The New York State workers' compensation law was enacted in the early 20th Century to address an increasing frequency of workplace injuries associated with industrial development. Prior to the enactment of the workers' comp law, workers injured on the job often times did not get adequate medical care and certainly received no wage replacement benefits if out of work. The proliferation of work place injuries had a devastating effect on working families throughout New York. The New York State legislature decided in reaction to this situation that employers throughout New York should carry no-fault "workman's compensation" insurance coverage.
The idea behind the original "workman's comp" law was to make sure that workers injured on the job receive adequate medical attention, contemporaneous with the time of injury so as to increase the likelihood of full recovery from that injury. The other intention of the original "workman's compensation" law was to insure that displaced workers receive wage replacement benefits for any periods of time they were out of work or were working at reduced earnings as a consequence of disability or physical restrictions associated with their workplace injury. Injured workers were not required to show that someone else was responsible for their injuries merely that their injury "occurred within the scope of their employment," and herein lays the "no-fault" aspect of the then enacted "New York State Workman's Compensation Law." In this regard, the current New York State Workers' Compensation Law has not changed at all.
While injured workers receive benefits, they also have obligations associated with their comp claim. Many of these obligations are outlined under the Workers' Comp Tips page on this website. If you've been injured on the job or think you have a condition or disease caused by some aspect of your work or workplace then CONTACT US TODAY.
We can assist you by advising you and/or helping you with:
- Employer notification
- Claim filing
- Determining whether or not your claim will be effected by benefit caps
- Establishing an appropriate medical treatment regimen
- Working with your doctor(s) to provide the necessary medical evidence in support of your claim
- Understanding your wage replacement benefits and how they are calculated
- Preparing you for hearings
- Representing you at hearings and depositions
- Coordinating authorizations for treatment with your doctor and the insurance company
- Advising you about SSD/SSI eligibility and vocational rehab opportunities
- Answering your questions throughout our representation
Workers' Compensation can be a frustrating process even in the best of cases. The workers' comp. law has undergone major changes since 1996 and many of these changes do not benefit you, the injured worker. The insurance company and your employer have attorneys and the workers' comp. judges can't represent you. Now, more than ever, it is important to have an attorney on YOUR side. At Connors & Ferris, we ONLY represent injured workers. We DO NOT represent employers or insurance carriers. We limit our practice to representing claimants with workers' comp, social security and personal injuries. As a result, our highly trained attorney and paralegal staff all have extensive training and experience in assisting compensation claims and social security disability claims. We will give your claim our all and we are confident that once you've had an opportunity to talk to and meet with one of our attorneys, you will feel comfortable in entrusting us with your case and you will know that your case is going to be handled properly and PERSONALLY.
The above information has been compiled for continual reference based upon our interpretation and experience with Workers' Compensation. This information is critical to the proper administration of your claim. Should you have any questions regarding any aspect of your case, please do not hesitate in contacting Connors & Ferris.