Worker’s compensation is an insurance that guarantees medical coverage, disability and other benefits for injured workers. Every state has separate requirements for employers to provide worker’s compensations coverage, and this is often determined by the minimum number of employees working at the company.
In New York, if a business has even one employee, they must carry worker’s compensation. There are exceptions to this rule, such as for non-profit organizations, religious orders or for sole proprietors, partnerships or small corporations.
Work-related injuries
Depending on the profession, workers in New York may be injured in any occupation, and their injuries can result in temporary or permanent disability. The top causes that make up nearly 86% of all work-related injuries are:
- Overexertion from lifting, pushing, carrying or throwing, with the back most commonly affected
- Repetitive motion that results in stress on a particular part of the body, resulting in carpal tunnel syndrome, knee and spinal injuries
- Slips, trips and falls
- Contact with objects and equipment
Steps to take after a work injury
The first thing to do after a work injury is to get treatment as soon as possible. Giving accurate information about the injury and the fact that it occurred at work will facilitate an accurate diagnosis, which will be useful when filing a worker’s compensation claim later on. Getting copies of medical records will also help the injured worker pursue benefits.
The New York worker’s compensation system requires employer notification of a workplace accident within 30 days of the event. It is also important to fill out the required worker’s compensation forms and file them within the required time frames in order to process the claim.
Worker’s compensation benefits
In New York, there are basic protections for workers who have been injured on the job. Some of these benefits include:
- Wage replacement, which are cash benefits paid out of worker’s compensation insurance to cover expenses while the injured worker is out of work.
- Medical treatment, which includes all treatment for work-related injuries and also includes mileage reimbursement
- Death benefits paid out to the family of a deceased worker
For New York residents in Queens and the five boroughs, it is essential to seek skilled legal representation with proven experience in worker’s compensation law that will fight to make sure that you will receive the compensation that you deserve.