White Plains Workplace Injury Lawyer
On-the-job injuries can come in all shapes and sizes. In fact, an accident doesn’t even have to occur for you to have an on-the-job injury or illness. Repetitive motions like lifting, using heavy machinery or even simple repetitive motions like using a keyboard or mouse can lead to permanent injuries, or prevent an individual from being able to work, or both.
If you have suffered an injury or illness as the result of a workplace accident/incident, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits under New York state laws. The Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon, PLLC, helps individuals throughout the White Plains and New York area. We offer strong advocacy, support and straightforward advice for our clients. Regardless of the situation you face, we will use our legal knowledge to help you get the benefits you deserve for your injuries. Contact our experienced White Plains workplace injury lawyer today.
Types of Workplace Injuries
When workers suffer damages due to a work-related injury or illness, those workers are entitled to workers’ compensation. The compensation awarded to them is designed to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, vocational rehabilitation, and other expenses accrued as a result of the injury. When workers’ compensation is denied, it can cause undue hardship on the worker and his or her family. One of the most common reasons for denial, and one of the most wrongful, is disagreement on the type of injury that the worker claims. At the Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon, our White Plains workers’ compensation lawyers help injured workers recover the compensation they need and deserve after a devastating accident. If your claim was denied for whatever reason, let our experienced team fight on your behalf.
Types of Work Injuries Covered by Workers’ Compensation
Our White Plains attorney has over 20 years of experience fighting claim denials and recovering compensation. Over the course of the years, we have successfully recovered compensation for the following types of injuries:
- Dislocated bones;
- Broken bones;
- Dismemberment;
- Lacerations;
- Spinal cord injuries;
- Neck injuries;
- Back injuries;
- Hearing loss;
- Loss of sight;
- Burn injuries;
- Severed nerves;
- Traumatic brain injuries;
- Severe orthopedic injuries;
- Construction site injuries;
- Heart attacks;
- Hepatitis claims; and
- Toxic exposure.
Our legal team is familiar with these types of injuries and their causes. If your employer and/or his or her insurance provider denies your claim on the basis that your injury did not occur at work, we can help you build a strong case and present the evidence you need to prove otherwise. We also have extensive negotiation skills and are prepared to volley with the insurance company until we reach a fair settlement.
Rights to Medical Treatment After a Work Injury
If you have been injured on the job, you may have racked up a hefty medical bill. Luckily, most employers in New York are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which should cover the medical costs that result from a work-related injury. According to New York law, employees are entitled to compensation for all necessary medical care that is needed as a result of the work-related injury.
However, sometimes an employer or insurance company will refuse to compensate you for your medical bills. If you have been denied treatment or compensation for treatment, contact the White Plains workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon to ensure your rights to compensation are upheld.
Who Can Provide Medical Care?
The health care provider must be authorized by the Workers’ Compensation Board, except in the case of an emergency. If you do need medical treatment right away, go to the nearest emergency room. Otherwise, follow the guidelines for choosing an authorized physician. Your medical treatment will begin with your first visit to the emergency room. Following your first visit to a medical professional, your employer’s insurance company will be able to choose a doctor for you. Sometimes an insurance company may require you to receive diagnostic testing and treatment from an affiliate provider.
If you can, try to receive treatment from a physician you know and trust. While affiliate doctors that an insurance company or employer may refer you to should be objective, they may be influenced by the financially rewarding relationship they have with the insurance company or employer. Remember that your physician will have to write reports and potentially give testimony, having a huge impact on your claim and the benefits you may receive.
What Do Workers’ Compensation Benefits Cover?
Workers’ compensation benefits should cover all necessary medical expenses that resulted from the original workplace injury. This includes any diagnostic testing, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and even mileage reimbursements for your trips to and from the doctor. If the doctor determines that you may need help at home, you may even qualify for attendant care.
How Long Does Workers’ Compensation Cover Medical Treatment?
Workers’ compensation laws require that all necessary medical expenses be covered. All medical expenses related to the original workplace injury should be covered even after reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI). Your physician will routinely evaluate your condition and make a decision as to whether you have reached MMI and may give you a permanent impairment rating in addition to any physical restrictions. At this point, it may be determined whether or not you are entitled to either temporary or permanent disability benefits.
Benefits You Can Expect From Your Claim
Depending on the type of injury you sustained, you may be entitled to one or more types of benefits. When there is a dispute regarding which type of benefits a person can recover, Attorney Michael Lawrence Varon and our associates seek to resolve said disputes through careful yet aggressive settlement negotiations. Typically, we fight to ensure that workers’ comp settlements cover the following types of benefits:
- Lost wages;
- Medical expenses;
- Disability benefits;
- Vocational rehabilitation;
- Impairment benefits; and
- Death benefits.
Agreeing on a settlement is ideal and preferable over litigation, as it is less time-consuming and costly. It also helps employer and employee come to an amicable resolution, unlike litigation, which could prompt hurt feelings and aversion to one another.
Most workers prefer a settlement as well, as it allows them to obtain a lump sum of compensation at once. That said, it is important to note that once a worker accepts a settlement, he or she cannot go back for more money if it turns out that the injury is worse than he or she thought, or if other issues crop up in the future. An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can ensure that you do not agree to a settlement that is less than what you could possibly need in the future.
Contact Our Firm To Discuss Your Injury And Workers’ Comp Claims
Please contact the Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon, PLLC, to schedule your free consultation. You can call our White Plains workplace injury lawyers at 914-228-1770 or contact us online through email. We are located in White Plains, New York, and handle cases throughout all surrounding areas, including New York City.
