Staten Island Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
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Content reviewed by: Alex Shulman
- Last updated: Oct. 11, 2024
Staten Island workers often face significant safety risks on the job. While numerous safety standards and regulations aim to mitigate injuries and protect workers’ rights, accidents and injuries occur daily. When an accident happens, a Staten Island workers’ compensation lawyer is your most invaluable resource.
In New York, most employers must purchase workers’ compensation insurance to cover employees’ work-related injuries and illnesses. These policies provide wage replacement and medical benefits. However, employers and their insurers often fight claims to deprive injured workers of the benefits they earned.
If you have been injured at work, Shulman & Hill are standing by to help. Our skilled and experienced workers’ compensation lawyers in Staten Island will fight to secure the benefits you’re owed.
How the Team at Shulman & Hill Can Help with Your Workers' Compensation Case
Selecting the right legal representation following a workplace injury is the best way to protect your rights and boost your chances of succeeding with a workers’ compensation claim.
At Shulman & Hill, we are passionate about representing injured New York City workers and pursuing the compensation they’re owed. Our dedication to our clients is unwavering, and our track record speaks for itself. Here is what sets us apart from other Staten Island workers’ comp lawyers.
Personalized Legal Services
We focus on providing clients with a personalized experience and maximum results. Our dedicated attorneys and staff redefine the level of service expected from a law firm through open communication, attention to detail, and vigorous representation.
We offer flexible communication options to ensure everyone has access to excellent legal representation. You can meet us at our Staten Island office or our satellite locations throughout New York City. You can also video conference with us from your home, hospital bed, or anywhere else. Our goal is to provide convenient access to high-quality legal consultation, regardless of your ability to travel.
Our team can help with a diverse range of worker’s compensation cases. We have lawyers on staff to help with the following and more:
Proven Track Record of Success
Our firm has secured over $500 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients across New York. Some highlights of our successful case results include the following:
- $2.5 million settlement for a non-union construction worker
- $2.25 million settlement for a client injured by an unsecured shoring pole
- $2 million award for an immigrant laborer severely injured in a fall from a defective ladder
- $1.75 million settlement for an HVAC installer who needed multiple surgeries following a ladder collapse
- $230,000 settlement for a mechanic at the Dept. of Transportation for 40+ years who developed multiple injuries over time due to heavy and repetitive lifting on the job
A Multilingual Team for Our Diverse Community
To serve our diverse community, our staff includes multilingual professionals fluent in Spanish and Russian. We don’t let language barriers stand in the way of your access to justice. This inclusivity is crucial for our diverse clientele, making the legal process smoother and more accessible.
Shulman & Hill obtained a $2,500,000 settlement for a non-union laborer
Shulman & Hill obtained a $2,000,000 settlement for an immigrant laborer
Shulman & Hill obtained a $1,175,000 settlement for a 29-year-old construction worker
Shulman & Hill obtained a $1,500,000 settlement for an undocumented day laborer
Shulman & Hill obtained a $1,500,000 settlement for a bus driver
No Fee Unless You Win
We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not owe us any fees unless we win your case. This allows you to pursue your workers’ compensation claims without the added stress of paying upfront legal fees.
How Do I Know if I'm Eligible for Workers' Comp in Staten Island?
In New York, nearly every employer must purchase workers’ compensation insurance to protect their employees. Most full-time, part-time, casual, temporary, and unpaid workers injured or sickened on the job are eligible for workers’ compensation. Generally, you are eligible for workers’ compensation if you are injured while performing your job duties.
Workers’ compensation covers you regardless of your citizenship status. Eligibility does not depend on your nationality or immigration status. This inclusiveness protects all workers under New York State law.
If you are unsure about your eligibility or have other questions about your workers’ compensation claim, talk to our Staten Island workers’ compensation lawyers today.
“So to qualify for workers' compensation very simply, you need to have an accident arising in and out of the course of employment, you have to provide notice—whether it be written or orally—to an employer or supervisor within 30 days of the accident. From there, we file what's called a C3 form on behalf of the client. It's an initial intake form detailing the accident, detailing who they gave notice to, their medical treatment; and it's very important to follow up with a doctor at that point to develop the case. And that's how we begin a workers' compensation action.”
What Benefits Are Available Under Workers' Compensation?
Workers’ compensation in Staten Island, New York, provides several types of essential benefits for anyone injured on the job, including:
- Medical benefits: These cover all necessary medical treatments related to your workplace injury.
- Disability benefits: These compensate for a portion of your lost wages stemming from your injury-related absences.
- Death benefits: In the unfortunate case of a fatality, dependents of the deceased worker may be eligible for economic death benefits.
The maximum weekly benefit is based on your average weekly wage for the previous calendar year and the duration of benefits depends on several factors. For accidents between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, the maximum weekly wage is $1,171.46.
Additional Compensation
While workers’ compensation is invaluable to workers throughout New York, it doesn’t cover all the damages an injured worker suffers. For instance, workers’ compensation doesn’t allow for recovery of non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and emotional distress.
While you generally cannot sue your employers, you may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against any third parties responsible for your injury. Such parties can include construction managers, contractors, and property owners wt. In many cases, these parties disregard construction site safety or act negligently, contributing to your accident.
Fair compensation in a third-party lawsuit should account for your current damages and any potential future economic impact, such as loss of career options or future medical needs. You can also recover non-economic damages, including pain and suffering.
Our Staten Island personal injury lawyers can review your case to determine all paths for compensation available to you. We can file all workers’ compensation and third-party claims to help you recover all the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Dealing With Insurers
Insurance companies are often reluctant to disburse the full range of benefits you are entitled to. Our experienced lawyers understand how insurers operate and have a successful track record of insurance negotiations to help you secure appropriate compensation commensurate with your injuries.
How Long Does it Take to Receive Workers' Comp Benefits?
While every case is unique, the timeline for receiving your benefits in uncontested cases is as follows:
- You must notify your employer within 30 days of your injury
- Your employer must notify their insurer within 10 days of the accident
- The insurer will provide you with a Statement of Rights form within 14 days of being notified of your accident
- The insurer begins paying benefits within 18 days of notification once your lost time exceeds seven days
- You will continue to receive payments every two weeks during your disability period
However, employers and insurance companies often dispute claims, delaying the process. An experienced Staten Island workers’ compensation lawyer can fight for you and expedite this process.
"Unfortunately, insurance companies often take too long to process claims. One of the challenges we encounter in our process is a system that, to put it mildly, could use some fixes. This system sometimes allows insurance companies to drag their feet on accepting or denying claims or on paying benefits. One of our main priorities is to streamline the process to ensure clients are set up and paid on their workers' compensation cases as quickly as possible. This is crucial because our clients have families, spouses, children, and financial obligations like tuition payments. The sooner we can activate workers' compensation payments, the more we see the stress levels decrease for our clients, as soon as the checks start arriving from the insurance company.”
Negotiating With An Employer's Workers' Compensation Insurer
Insurers often seek reasons to minimize or deny claims to reduce payouts. Our attorneys excel at dealing with these challenges and can improve your chances of securing the benefits you deserve more efficiently.
Common tactics used by insurers include:
- Disputing the work-related nature of your injury
- Questioning the severity of your injury
- Delaying the claims process
Our legal team counters these tactics by:
- Investigating and gathering evidence to substantiate the legitimacy of your claim and the severity of your injuries
- Drawing on years of experience to negotiate with insurers and advocate for your interests
- Representing you at hearings if insurers deny your claim
You should never have to fight alone against big insurance companies, especially following an injury. If you are facing difficulties with your workers’ compensation claim, let us help you through the process and advocate for your rights.
When Should I File a Claim?
You have up to 30 days from your accident to report your injury to your employer. You must file your claim via Form C-3 with the Workers’ Compensation Board within two years of the accident.
However, there are other reasons to act promptly. For example, workplace conditions can change rapidly, making it challenging to collect evidence. Additionally, insurers may delay payments, and efficient filing can help counteract these delays.
Hiring a seasoned workers’ compensation attorney in Staten Island can help you navigate the legal process more efficiently.
Meet Our Staten Island Workers' Compensation Attorneys
Our team includes highly skilled legal professionals with a wealth of knowledge and a robust track record of successful case outcomes. Here’s a closer look at the people standing by your side.
Reach Out to the Staten Island Workers' Compensation Lawyers at Shulman & Hill
In the aftermath of a workplace injury, choosing the right legal team to represent you is critical. At Shulman & Hill, we are dedicated to protecting your rights and securing the compensation you deserve. Our workers’ compensation attorneys in Staten Island are passionate advocates ready to help.
Whether you’re dealing with a straightforward claim or complex legal challenges, our team has the knowledge, experience, and passion to fight for you every step of the way.
Call us at 212-221-1000 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.