Blog
INJURIES WHILE WORKING FROM HOME
Historically, New York’s workers’ compensation system has taken a dim view of claims for injuries suffered while working at home. In most cases, the person making the claim usually worked in an office of some type, but sometimes took work home and was injured on one of those occasions. In order to provide coverage, the […]
Read MoreNEW YORK’S PAID FAMILY LEAVE LAW
New York’s Paid Family Leave Law is now five years old. The law provides workers with job-protected, paid time off to care for a new child, a sick family member, to help the spouse, children or parents of someone who is on active military duty overseas, or to quarantine as the result of a COVID […]
Read MoreWORKERS’ COMP RULES FOR NOTICE TO THE EMPLOYER
When a worker is injured on the job, the first four things to do are (1) notify the employer; (2) get medical attention; (3) file a claim with the Workers’ Compensation Board using a C-3 form; and (4) get legal representation. The first item on this list – notifying the employer – is the one […]
Read MoreWORK-RELATED HEARING LOSS
Many workers are employed in occupations where they are routinely exposed to loud noise. Transit workers, airport workers, mechanics, pressmen, and construction workers are just a few examples of occupations where noise exposure is part of the job. Although many noise-exposed workers use hearing protection, there are often situations where its use is impractical or […]
Read MoreIS IT TOO LATE TO SUE? MAYBE NOT
For almost any kind of legal action, there is a time period within which you must start the action. If the case or claim is brought after that time period expires, it is considered “time-barred” and is almost always denied, dismissed, or otherwise disposed of without any recovery. In workers’ compensation and personal injury cases, […]
Read MoreHOW TO GET THE MOST PROTECTION FROM YOUR AUTO INSURANCE POLICY
When someone asks for the amount of an auto insurance policy, the first numbers that come to mind are the “bodily injury limits.” When we say a policy is (for example) “a 100/300” policy, what we mean is that our insurer will pay a maximum of $100,000 to another person who we injure in a […]
Read MoreDIRECT DEPOSIT IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR WORKERS’ COMP PAYMENTS
Workers often complain that their workers’ compensation checks are late. Sometimes the employer or insurance company didn’t issue the check on time or because the payment schedule is irregular. However, it is not uncommon for checks to be delayed, lost, sent to the wrong address, or misdirected in the mail. Effective July 1, 2021 workers […]
Read MoreSOCIAL SECURITY: MORE THAN JUST RETIREMENT
The Social Security program provides a variety of benefits. Although retirement is the most well-known, the program also provides disability benefits for people who cannot work – regardless of the cause of the disability. To be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, you must be “insured.” In general, someone is insured if they worked for […]
Read MoreOCCUPATIONAL DISEASE IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Workers’ compensation provides coverage for both accidents and occupational diseases. Most accidents are easy to recognize: a specific event or unusual exposure that causes an injury. Spotting an occupational disease is trickier – and as a result, most occupational disease claims go unrecognized by worker and unfiled as workers’ comp claims. The legal definition of […]
Read MoreSAFETY NET? WHAT SAFETY NET?
In 2007, in exchange for raising the maximum weekly workers’ comp benefit rate, the Legislature changed the Workers’ Compensation Law to impose time limitations, or caps, on benefits for permanent partial disability, which were previously payable for life. The Legislature did two things connected to the “PPD caps:” It directed the Department of Labor to […]
Read More