Hospital Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
-
Content reviewed by: Alex Shulman
- Last updated: Dec. 16, 2024
Hospitals are havens of healing for patients, but employees face numerous hazards on the job, including the risk of slips and falls, infections, muscle strains, and violence. No two days are alike, and an accident can happen in an instant. Workers’ compensation provides medical care and partial wage replacement to injured hospital workers.
New York is home to some of the most well-known hospitals in the nation. These large corporations sometimes fight workers’ compensation claims. Even if you belong to a hospital workers’ union, the power dynamic between you and the hospital gives the hospital an advantage. Our experienced hospital workers’ compensation lawyers can level the playing field and secure your well-deserved benefits.
Our Workers’ Compensation Attorneys are Here to Help New York’s Healthcare Workers
If you work in any hospital department, you are essential, and we owe you a debt of gratitude for the hard work you do to keep our city, neighbors, and families healthy. Whether you are a surgeon, nurse, custodian, security guard, or secretary, your work is important, and you deserve benefits when you are injured at work.
We have over a decade of experience representing injured NYC hospital workers at Mount Sinai, NYC Health, New York Presbyterian, NYU Langone, and New York’s many other private and public hospitals. As a community-focused law firm, we have earned a strong reputation with health care worker unions throughout the city, including:
- 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
- Brotherhood of Security Personnel, Officers and Guards International Union
- Doctors Council SEIU
- Federation of Nurses
- Local 1 Security Officers Union
- Local 32BJ SEIU
- Local 810 International Brotherhood of Teamsters
- New York Professional Nurses Union (NYPNU)
You may be entitled to additional benefits based on collective bargaining agreements between the unions and your employer. We are dedicated to protecting your rights, so you receive all of your benefits.
A Personalized Experience with Maximum Results
We pride ourselves on giving every client personalized attention with outstanding results, regardless of whether you belong to a union. We may find that you have grounds to obtain additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit against a third party, such as a manufacturer. Our New York City personal injury lawyers are among a select few in New York City who handle workers’ compensation claims in-house, so you can receive all of the legal services you need at one location.
No case is too challenging for our award-winning healthcare workers’ compensation lawyers. Our successful case results and commitment to our clients have won us national acclaim, with our lawyers having received recognitions like:
- Super Lawyers
- Attorney and Practice Magazine’s Top 10 Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Award
- National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
We serve all five boroughs of New York City and Long Island. We are a multilingual firm with attorneys fluent in Spanish and Russian.
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 $1,500,000 settlement for a bus driver
- Personal Injury
- Civil Rights
- Workers’ Compensation
- Construction Accidents
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Premises Liability
- Social Security Disability
Hospital Workers’ Compensation Case Results from Shulman & Hill
We have recovered over $500 million for our clients, including verdicts and settlements for hospital workers:
Ways a Lawyer Can Help with your Workers’ Compensation Case
Our dedicated attorneys and staff redefine the level of service you would expect from a law firm through open communication, attention to detail, and vigorous representation. You can count on us to keep you informed, answer your questions, and be accessible when you need to reach us. While each workers’ compensation claim is unique, the process of filing a workers’ compensation claim in New York City is similar across cases. We will be here to guide you from start to finish.
Case Investigation
We will gather evidence, interview witnesses when appropriate, and determine whether you have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit and workers’ compensation claim.
File Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
We will file your workers’ compensation claim to secure your benefits. If it has already been denied, we can request a hearing to litigate the matter. If necessary, we can file an appeal of any adverse decision with the Workers’ Compensation Board.
Calculate Your Compensation
We will conduct a thorough, independent investigation to calculate the full and fair compensation you are entitled to. Whether filing a workers’ compensation claim or personal injury lawsuit, you can count on us to leave no stone unturned.
File Your Third-Party Lawsuit
Though you normally cannot sue your employer for injuries if they have workers’ compensation coverage, we can file a lawsuit against third parties that contributed to your injuries. Third-party defendants in a health care workers’ comp case may include:
- Product manufacturers
- Maintenance contractors
- Property owners
- Government entities
We will explore all available routes toward compensation on your behalf, including third-party claims.
Negotiate a Settlement
If we file a personal injury claim on your behalf, we will negotiate aggressively with the at-fault parties to ensure a fair settlement. If they refuse to compensate you fairly, we will explore the possibility of taking your case to court.
Going through these steps takes time, so patience is key. While you focus on your recovery, we will focus on building a strong claim on your behalf. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can start fighting for the compensation you are entitled to under the law. Contact us today to schedule a free case review.
Injuries and Illnesses Healthcare Workers Face
Healthcare workers face unique risks that commonly result in the following injuries:
- Sprains, strains, and tears from lifting and transporting patients.
- Infections from contaminated surfaces and air.
- Slips, trips, and falls.
- Diseases, such as hepatitis C, from needlestick injuries.
- Repetitive use injuries from lifting patients.
- Radiation exposure.
- Chemical burns and exposure.
- Physical violence from patients and families.
Nurses, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and patient transporters are most likely to experience these injuries. Radiology technicians, nuclear medicine technicians, and laboratory workers have a higher risk of chemical and radiation exposure compared to other hospital employees.
Hospital employees have a heightened risk of falling due to wet floors, cords and equipment in hallways, and the fast pace of their work. Our healthcare workers’ compensation lawyers have found that injured hospital workers may need extended absences due to the serious nature of their injuries. We are committed to advocating for and supporting you while you recover.
Recovering Damages for Public and Private Hospital Workers
Workers’ compensation pays for medical care and provides wage replacement benefits of up to two-thirds of your average wage, subject to the weekly maximum. Wage replacement benefits are based on your degree of injury:
- Temporary Total Disability – Two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to the state maximum, for periods you are found to be incapable of any work prior to a finding of permanency.
- Temporary Partial Disability – A portion of your total rate (two-thirds of your average weekly wage) correlating with your degree of disability, until you return to work, prior to a finding of permanency.
- Permanent Total Disability – Two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to the state maximum, without a time limit, as long as you remain out of work.
- Permanent Partial Disability
- Schedule Loss of Use (SLU) – Compensation in a lump sum for permanent loss or limited function of specific body parts (e.g., arms, legs, vision, hearing) with benefits calculated based on a predetermined schedule.
- Non-Schedule Loss of Use – Wage replacement benefits for permanent impairments, with benefits determined by the overall disability and impact on earning capacity .
How long you will receive benefits depends on the facts of your case. Our knowledgeable hospital workers’ compensation attorneys can calculate your case value and fight for every penny you are entitled to.
Filing Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
You can file a workers’ compensation claim whether you work for a public or private facility. Health and Hospitals Corporation facilities are public hospitals, and the city administers their workers’ compensation. This includes the following hospitals:
- Jacobi
- Lincoln
- North Central Bronx
- Bellevue
- Harlem
- Metropolitan
- Kings County
- South Brooklyn Health
- Woodhull
- Elmhurst
- Queens
To file a claim with a public hospital, you must report your injury to your employer and file Form WCD-23 with the hospital administration. All hospital employees, public or private, must report the accident to your supervisor within Mount Sinai30 days and file an Employee Form C-3 with the Board of Workers’ Compensation.
You must obtain your medical care from a doctor on the Workers’ Compensation Board’s list of approved providers. Exceptions exist for emergency care.
We can help you with this process from start to finish. We offer free consultations and charge no upfront fees—you only pay if we win.
Damages in a Third-Party Lawsuit
Damages in a third-party lawsuit may include compensation for the following economic and non-economic losses:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional distress
The compensation you are entitled to can be substantial. Our skilled attorneys are ready to calculate your full case value and work to recover the maximum compensation available.
What Is The Time Frame to File a Workers’ Compensation Case as a Hospital Worker
All hospital workers must report the accident to your supervisor within 30 days. You have up to two years to file your Employee Form C-3. If you work at an NYC public hospital, you must file Form WCD-23 within 48 hours of your injury. The New York statute of limitations gives you three years to file a third-party lawsuit. However, each of these things should be done as soon as possible after being injured.
We can determine the deadlines governing your case, but it is important to contact us as soon as possible to ensure you do not miss any. If you wait too long, you could lose your right to receive workers’ compensation or damages in a third-party lawsuit.
What To Do If You’re a Healthcare Worker Whose Been in a Workplace Accident
We find that health care workers dedicated to healing others sometimes struggle to care for themselves. Remember, when injured at work, your first priority is to protect your own health and well-being. Seeking medical care establishes a record to substantiate your claim for compensation. Prompt medical attention will also speed up your recovery so you can return to patient care sooner.
You should also seek high-quality legal representation. Hospitals are often tied to powerful corporations and institutions, and having an attorney on your side is the most effective way to protect your rights.
Consult The Experienced Hospital Workers’ Compensation Team at Shulman & Hill
With decades of experience, our NYC workers’ compensation lawyers have a proven track record of standing up to large health care corporations and their insurance companies. We recognize the daily heroism of hospital workers and are dedicated to securing the compensation you deserve when injured on the job. Call (212) 221-1000 or contact us online to schedule a free case review with our nationally recognized union and nonunion hospital workers’ compensation lawyers.