What You Should Know About Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Falls at Work

Falls are one of the most common causes of serious workplace accidents, injuries, and deaths. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), nearly 50,000 private industry and government employees are injured in on-the-job falls each year. Devastating falls occur most frequently among construction, mining, and health care workers—though they can happen in literally any industry.

Whether it’s a fall from a height (such as a fall from a ladder, scaffold, or roof) or a fall on the same level (such as slipping on a freshly polished floor or uneven concrete walkways), these incidents can leave workers seriously injured; out of work for days, weeks, or longer; and facing an astronomical amount of unexpected medical debt. Injuries associated with workplace falls include contusions, strains, sprains, broken bones, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage.

However, if the fall occurred in the workplace or in the scope of your employment, New York State Workers’ Compensation may provide the benefits you need to make ends meet until you’re ready and able to return to work. These benefits include all reasonable and necessary medical treatment for your work-related fall injury, as well as partial wage replacement payments. (Note that eligibility for indemnity payments doesn’t kick in until you’ve been out of work for at least seven days. Additionally, if you’re out of work for 14 days or longer, you may receive a benefit payment for the first week you were absent.)

Protecting Your Right to Benefits

Though NYS Workers’ Comp is a no-fault system, you still need an exceptionally skilled attorney to ensure you receive the full benefits you deserve and explore your options for a potential third-party personal injury claim.

Here’s what you can do to protect your right to workers’ compensation benefits after a workplace fall:

• Report the accident to your supervisor as soon as possible. While you can report your fall verbally, doing it in writing creates a record that can be used to support your claim.
• Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries, even if they don’t feel particularly dire. Some fall injuries may not appear immediately, so it’s best to be evaluated by a medical professional.
• Follow through with your prescribed medical treatment. Skipping follow-up visits and failing to be consistent with care can hurt your claim.
• Keep a journal detailing how your fall injuries affect your ability to live your life.
• Consult an attorney as soon as possible.

Exceptional New York State Workers’ Comp Attorneys Here When You Need Us

Contact O’Connor Law PLLC today to schedule an appointment for a complimentary case consultation. We look forward to discussing how we can assist you.