Practice Areas

Because Fine, Olin & Anderman, LLP (FOA) is committed to working with union members, everything we do is to benefit the worker. Whether you come to FOA because you have been injured on the job and are eligible for Workers’ Compensation, or can no longer work and need Social Security Disability Benefits, have a Personal Injury, or need an attorney for General Legal Services or Veterans Disability Benefits, we will be right there with you every step of the way, no matter how long it takes.  
Practice Areas

Why Should You File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

  • New York workers’ compensation is a major resource if you are sick or injured on the job. If you don’t file a workers’ comp claim, you could lose your rights to receive benefits. Here are some good reasons to file a claim if you have been injured or made sick by your work:
  • It costs you nothing to file.
  • Your health insurance will not pay medical costs for workplace injuries.
  • By New York State law, workers’ compensation is your employer’s responsibility. The premiums for this insurance have already been paid by your employer.
  • Your employer cannot require any employee contribution toward the cost of the company’s workers’ compensation coverage.
  • Generally, you cannot sue your employer for work-related injuries/illnesses; workers’ compensation is your only remedy against the employer.
  • You don’t have to lose time from work to file a claim and be entitled to full New York workers’ compensation medical benefits, as well as cash payments for partial or full loss of motion or the use of a limb, vision or hearing. This is true for facial scars and marks as well.
  • Unlike health insurance, your workers’ compensation payments and medical care may continue even if you get a new job, retire or leave the state. Additionally, if you are not able to return to work because of your injuries, the benefits may continue for life.
  • If eligible, you’re entitled to New York workers’ compensation no matter who was responsible for the accident/injury. Fault is not an issue.
  • Your work-related injury may re-occur (like a back injury, carpal tunnel syndrome), and if your case wasn’t established to begin with, you may not be able to get workers’ compensation.
  • Each new workplace injury, even to parts of the body previously injured, should be filed as a new claim.
  • If you have retained an FOA attorney (who will help you get all that the New York State law allows), you owe no attorney fee unless you have received a cash award from a workers’ compensation judge. The fees are reasonable and are set by the Judge.
  • An employer may not fire or otherwise discriminate against an employee because he/she files a New York State workers’ comp claim.