An elbow injury can stop you in your tracks. Lifting, driving, and even pouring coffee can turn painful overnight. At O’Connor Law, we know how hard it feels when paychecks drop while the medical visits keep piling up. For 15 years, we’ve helped injured workers across New York recover the benefits they’re entitled to.
If you need an elbow injury lawyer in the Bronx, we cut through the noise and explain your rights in plain language. We tell you what Workers’ Compensation covers, what it doesn’t, and what steps to take right now.
Sometimes an elbow injury leaves lasting damage. When that happens, you may qualify for extra benefits through a Schedule Loss of Use (SLU) award. As Bronx Schedule of Loss of Use lawyers, we walk you through how these benefits work and what they could mean for your case.
Everyday Bronx Jobs That Strain the Elbow
Sanitation workers lifting heavy bags, construction laborers swinging hammers on scaffolding, and corrections officers responding to physical threats all face tasks that put intense pressure on the elbow. When an injury occurs, it can take a worker off the job and disrupt their ability to earn a living.
We’ve represented EMTs who could no longer lift gurneys and building staff who couldn’t twist a wrench. These injuries change how you do your job, and they change how you support your family. Workers’ Compensation exists to cover those costs.
A Bronx Workers’ Compensation lawyer explains what benefits include, how wage checks get calculated, and what treatment you have the right to receive.
How Elbow Injuries Impact Daily Life and Work in the Bronx
The elbow doesn’t work in isolation; it connects strength in the arm to nearly every motion you make. A torn ligament can make lifting a child painful. A fracture can stop you from driving. Even simple motions like typing, gripping a mug, or buttoning a shirt become frustrating.
At work, these same limitations carry a steep cost. A carpenter who can’t swing a hammer loses wages. A corrections officer who can’t restrain an inmate risks safety. A nurse who can’t bend the arm enough to lift equipment loses independence. We understand that these injuries aren’t just medical, they’re personal.
Our clients often tell us the hardest part isn’t the doctor’s office, it’s the everyday strain of living with the injury while bills keep coming. That’s why clear guidance on Workers’ Compensation benefits matters.
Bronx Elbow Injuries Lawyer Near Me (914) 595-4502
What Happens When the Insurance Company Sends You to an IME
Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) are designed for one reason: to cut costs. The carrier picks the doctor, and the doctor often says your injury isn’t that serious.
We prepare you before every exam. We explain what to expect and review the report afterward. If the IME doesn’t match your reality, we push back with your treating doctor’s records and testimony. A fair report matters because it decides how long your benefits last.
Maximum Medical Improvement: The Turning Point
Most elbow injuries hit the “maximum medical improvement” stage about 9–12 months after the accident or 9-12 months after surgery. That’s the point where doctors agree no further treatment will change the outcome.
At this stage, a C-4.3 form from your treating physician gets filed with the Workers’ Compensation Board. Without it, nothing moves forward. This form includes the impairment rating—the percentage of elbow function you’ve lost. That rating sets the stage for a possible Schedule Loss of Use award.
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How Schedule Loss of Use Works for Elbow Injuries
A Schedule Loss of Use award is based only on one thing: how far your elbow can move compared to normal. Pain and weakness don’t count under the 2018 Medical Treatment Guidelines.
Here’s the path most cases follow:
- The treating doctor submits a C-4.3 form.
- The Board gives the insurer 75 days to respond.
- The insurance company orders an IME.
- If the numbers don’t match, the case may move to depositions or briefs before a judge.
Payments you already received while out of work get deducted from the award. That surprises many workers, but it’s part of New York law. We explain this early so you know what to expect.
What an Award Really Means
A Schedule Loss of Use award is more than numbers on a page—it’s a recognition of what you’ve lost and a way to keep your household steady. Many workers want to know if they can receive an award even after returning to work. The answer is yes.
The award reflects the percentage of function lost in your elbow. Judges use that rating to calculate weeks of pay owed, then subtract what you already received. While it may not replace every dollar lost, it can help close financial gaps left by missed paychecks or medical costs.
An elbow injury attorney in the Bronx makes sure the calculations are based on your real limitations, not just what the insurance company wants to minimize.
Life After an Elbow Injury in the Bronx
Even after your award, Workers’ Compensation still covers medical care for your elbow. That includes therapy, prescriptions, and approved follow-ups. The insurance carrier may resist, but the law requires coverage.
We’ve seen insurance companies send “case managers” or “care coordinators” to sway treatment plans. Remember, they answer to the insurer, not to you. You don’t have to let them sit in on your appointments, and we recommend that they do not.
Our team includes parents and workers who understand how disruptive long recoveries can be. We stay with you in post-permanency stages so you’re not left wondering what happens next.
Why Bronx Workers Choose O’Connor Law
For 15 years, O’Connor Law has stood with injured workers in the Bronx and across New York. We are a woman-owned, multicultural firm with bilingual staff fluent in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Tagalog, and Cebuano.
Our mobile app and advanced case management system give clients real-time updates. You should always know where your case stands, and we make that possible.
Our elbow injury lawyers in the Bronx can stand with you through the entire process. We only receive money when you receive money, and we fight every day so injured workers can keep their families secure. Give us a call today.
