Brooklyn Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is an essential service for injured workers, but it also poses difficulties. A Brooklyn workers’ comp lawyer can help you wade through the work comp process and get the benefits you need.

Many workers in Brooklyn are covered by workers’ compensation insurance but don’t realize it. That’s because many never give the program any thought until they’re injured.

Luckily, it’s not something you have to sign up for beforehand. Employers in New York are, for the most part, required to carry workers’ comp insurance, which is meant to cover any employee in the event of a workplace injury, regardless of whose fault the injury was.

Although you don’t have to sign up, you do have to file a workers’ comp claim to get the benefits you need after you’ve been injured in a Brooklyn workplace accident. That process can be difficult, especially when you’re faced with resistance from your employer and potential denials from the work comp insurance company.

Below, we have broken down some of the important points of workers’ comp in Brooklyn. For help and additional information, get in touch with Finkelstein, Meirowitz & Eidlisz, LLP.

What Does Work Comp Cover?

Workers’ comp was put in place to cover the expenses of workers who are injured on the job and unable to work or in need of expensive medical care. The general benefits of a successful Brooklyn workers’ comp claim are below:

• Medical Expenses – Even if you are still able to work, an injury can cost you thousands of dollars in medical bills. If your injury happened at work, workers’ comp should cover your medical expenses that are tied directly to your injury. This could include everything from your hospital stay to your transportation to and from the doctor’s office.
• Lost Wages – If you’re unable to work for more than seven days because of your injury, you can have a portion of your wages covered by workers’ comp. At most, your benefits will cover two-thirds of your average weekly wage, but this will depend on whether you’re considered fully or partially disabled.
• Death Benefits – If your loved one died in a Brooklyn workplace accident, you may be entitled to compensation from the workers’ comp system to make up for the lost income your household has suffered. These benefits can extend to surviving spouses and children, as well as other dependents in the event that there is no surviving spouse or child.

What Happens When Your Claim Is Denied?

Far too many injured workers in Brooklyn know the disappointing and stressful feeling of learning that the insurance company has denied your claim for workers’ compensation. Insurers won’t hesitate to deny your claim if they can find even the slightest mistake or reason to doubt the nature of your injuries.

The following are some common reasons insurers deny Brooklyn work comp claims:

• You failed to file in time.
• You did not provide sufficient evidence to prove your injuries or that they happened at work.
• Your particular injury doesn’t warrant workers’ comp benefits.
• Your employers are disputing your claim.

When you receive notice of your denial, you may gain an understanding of why the insurance company is declining to compensate you. That’s going to be essential knowledge when you file an appeal. You’ll need to adjust your claim accordingly and then appeal it—usually within thirty days of your initial denial.

Work Comp and Social Security Disability

Because the two programs share characteristics, some injured workers in Brooklyn may simultaneously qualify for workers’ comp and Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. While workers’ comp is run by the state of New York, the SSD program is federally run.

If you qualify for both programs, you can receive disability benefits from both. However, the eligibility requirements differ between the two programs on several points, so you may not be able to receive full compensation from both.

Brooklyn Workers’ Comp Lawyer

Navigating the workers’ comp system can be confusing and difficult, especially when you need the benefits of workers’ comp to stay afloat while you recover from your Brooklyn workplace injury. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling to get the benefits you’re entitled to, a lawyer can help.

The attorneys at Finkelstein, Meirowitz & Eidlisz, LLP have a strong track record of helping work injury victims maximize the value of their work comp claims and successfully appeal denials from insurance companies. We’re ready to help you with your claim.

Give our firm a call at 212-385-9190 or fill out the online contact form at the bottom of this page today to arrange a free consultation with a Brooklyn workers’ comp lawyer.