If you injured an arm, leg, hand, foot, or another body part at work and your doctor says the injury is permanent, you may be entitled to a Schedule Loss of Use (SLU) award under New York Workers’ Compensation law. A Larchmont Schedule Loss of Use Lawyer can help you understand your options for pursuing compensation.
At O’Connor Law, we help injured workers in Larchmont and throughout Westchester County understand whether they qualify for an SLU award and how to protect the full value of that benefit. Since 2009, our Larchmont Workers’ Compensation lawyers have been working to secure money for injured workers so they can move forward after an accident.
What is a Schedule Loss of Use Award?
An SLU award is a monetary award paid to an injured worker for permanent loss of function in a specific body part, calculated as a number of weeks under New York Workers’ Compensation law.
Under New York Workers’ Compensation law, certain body parts are considered “scheduled” members, including:
- Arms
- Hands
- Fingers
- Legs
- Feet
- Toes
- Eyes
- Hearing loss
If your injury affects one of these body parts and reaches maximum medical improvement (MMI), meaning further treatment will not significantly improve the condition, you may be eligible for an SLU award.
An SLU award is separate and different from weekly wage‑replacement benefits. Many injured workers qualify for an SLU even if they have returned to work or are no longer receiving weekly checks.
Eligibility for a Schedule Loss of Use Award
You may qualify for an SLU award if all of the following are true:
- You suffered a work‑related injury covered by New York Workers’ Compensation
- The injury involves a scheduled body part
- The injury caused permanent loss of use or function
- Your doctor finds that you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI)
Common injuries that lead to SLU awards include:
- Shoulder injuries resulting in reduced arm use
- Knee injuries affecting leg function
- Wrist or hand injuries with limited motion or strength
- Ankle or foot injuries that permanently affect walking
- Finger amputations or loss of motion
Not every work injury qualifies. Back, neck, spine, and internal organ injuries are not SLU injuries and are handled under different Workers’ Compensation rules.
Larchmont Schedule Loss of Use Lawyer Near Me (914) 595-4502
Calculating a Schedule Loss of Use Award
SLU awards are based on a percentage loss of use assigned by a doctor and applied to a fixed number of weeks set by law.
Step One: Percentage of Loss
Your treating doctor, or an independent medical examiner, evaluates your:
- Range of motion
- Strength
- Pain-related functional limitations
During their evaluation, the doctor will use the New York Workers’ Compensation guidelines to assign a percentage loss to the affected body part.
Step Two: Statutory Weeks
Each body part has a maximum number of weeks under the law. For example:
- Arm: 312 weeks
- Leg: 288 weeks
- Hand: 244 weeks
- Foot: 205 weeks
Your percentage of loss is multiplied by the number of weeks assigned to that body part.
Step Three: Weekly Compensation Rate
The final calculation is based on your Workers’ Compensation rate, which is generally two‑thirds of your average weekly wage, unless this amount exceeds the state maximum.
The result is a lump‑sum or structured payment award, even though it is calculated using weeks. Small differences in percentage can result in thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in difference of compensation, which is why medical evidence and strong legal representation by an SLU attorney serving Larchmont can have such a large impact.
Can You Get an SLU Award if You Have Returned to Work?
Yes. Because SLU awards are meant to compensate injured workers for a permanent loss of function rather than missed wages, they are not tied to whether you are working or not.
To minimize payouts, insurers typically do not volunteer this information, which means that many injured workers are not aware of their eligibility until they speak with an experienced Workers’ Compensation attorney.
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How a Schedule Loss of Use Lawyer Serving Larchmont Can Help You
SLU cases are highly technical. The rules, medical guidelines, and calculations leave little room for error. An experienced Larchmont Schedule Loss of Use attorney can:
- Determine whether you are eligible for an SLU award
- Make sure the correct body part and guidelines are applied
- Identify undervalued medical opinions
- Protect your case from being prematurely closed
- Negotiate or litigate for the highest defensible percentage
Because O’Connor Law handles only New York Workers’ Compensation cases, we understand how SLU awards are evaluated by judges, carriers, and doctors throughout the system.
The Cost of Hiring an SLU Attorney
There is no upfront cost to hire our team for your Workers’ Compensation case.
We charge clients on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay only if we secure a monetary award, such as a Schedule Loss of Use award. The fee is set and approved by the Workers’ Compensation Board and is paid directly from the award, not out of your pocket. If there is no monetary award, there is no legal fee.
Why Choose O’Connor Law
Injured workers choose to hire our firm because:
- We practice only New York Workers’ Compensation law
- We have 16 years in business and 35 years of combined legal experience
- We have helped thousands of injured workers
- We recover millions of dollars in Workers’ Compensation benefits each year
- We explain the process in plain language, not legal jargon
Most importantly, we understand how stressful and confusing this process can be, and we take the time to make sure you understand your rights.
Speak With a Schedule Loss of Use Attorney in Larchmont
If you were told your case is finished, your benefits stopped, or you have permanent loss of use in an arm, leg, hand, foot, or other scheduled body part, it is worth getting clear answers. A Schedule Loss of Use award can represent a significant portion of the compensation you are entitled to under the law.
Contact O’Connor Law to schedule your free case review and speak with a Schedule Loss of Use lawyer serving Larchmont and Westchester County. We can review your situation, explain whether you may qualify for an SLU award, and help protect the full value of your Workers’ Compensation claim.
