New York Workers' Compensation Law

The law carefully defines key terms to ensure clarity and proper application of its statutes. For instance, “disability” is defined as an employee's inability to earn full wages at the work they were last employed. The moment this disability begins is referred to as “disablement,” which is legally treated as an accident. These definitions are fundamental to determining eligibility and the scope of benefits, and they help to streamline the claims process by providing clear legal benchmarks.

Under the law, employers must secure compensation for their employees. This can be done by obtaining insurance from the state fund or a private stock or mutual corporation. Alternatively, employers can prove their financial ability to self-insure, with the approval of the New York Workers' Compensation Board. This flexibility allows businesses of various sizes and financial capacities to comply with the law, ensuring a broad and robust safety net for workers across the state.

Injured workers are entitled to full medical care for their work-related injury or occupational disease, with all expenses covered by the employer's insurance. Additionally, they are eligible for a portion of their wages while they are unable to work. This wage replacement benefit, known as temporary disability, is typically calculated as two-thirds of the employee's average weekly wage, up to a state-mandated maximum. These benefits are designed to provide immediate relief, allowing the injured worker to focus on their recovery without the added burden of medical bills or lost income.

When a work-related injury or illness results in a permanent loss of a body part or function, the worker may be eligible for permanent disability benefits. The amount of compensation for permanent disability is determined based on the severity and extent of the impairment. These benefits are designed to compensate the worker for the long-term impact on their earning capacity. The specific compensation schedule is based on a structured system that accounts for the type of injury and the worker's profession, ensuring a fair and consistent approach to long-term support.

The employee must inform their employer of the work-related injury, ideally within 30 days of the incident. This notification should be in writing if possible to create a clear record of the report. After being notified, the employer is responsible for reporting the injury to both the Workers' Compensation Board and their insurance carrier. Failure to meet these deadlines could result in a denial of benefits, so it is crucial for both parties to act promptly and accurately.

After a claim is filed, the Workers' Compensation Board initiates an investigation. The employer and the insurance carrier have a limited period to either accept or contest the claim. If the claim is contested, a hearing may be scheduled to resolve the dispute. Throughout this process, a worker must provide all necessary medical and wage documentation to the Board. This structured timeline is in place to ensure a timely resolution, whether through acceptance of the claim or through a formal dispute process.

An occupational disease is a condition that arises out of and in the course of employment, but is not the result of a sudden accident. This includes conditions like hearing loss from prolonged exposure to noise or various forms of poisoning from chemical exposure. The law provides a list of recognized occupational diseases, and a claim must establish a clear link between the disease and the claimant's work. This means gathering historical work records, medical reports, and expert testimony to prove causation.

Special rules apply to claims for occupational hearing loss. The law provides specific guidelines and standards for measuring and determining hearing impairment. These claims are particularly complex as they often involve cumulative damage over many years of employment, requiring detailed medical evidence and historical work records to be successful. The process for these claims often includes specific audiological testing to quantify the degree of loss and separate it from age-related or other types of hearing impairment.