Workers Compensation Representation in Nassau County

Nassau County Workers’ Compensation Resource Guide

It’s often difficult to know where to turn after you suffer a workplace injury that puts you out of work. You’re worried about your health, of course, but you also wonder how you will be able to support yourself and your family while you recover. For Nassau County residents who face work-related accidents, injuries, and illnesses that keep them out of work, the New York workers’ compensation program can be a lifeline. Read on for an overview of the most common occupations and injuries in Nassau County, how often workplace accidents occur, and what resources are available to injured workers. For more information about any topic herein, please contact a Nassau County workplace accident attorney. 

The Most Common Occupations and Industries in Nassau County 

According to Data USA, the most common occupations in Nassau County, and the percentage of the workforce engaged in them, are: 

• Office and administrative support occupations (12.6%)
• Management occupations (10.8%)
• Sales and related occupations (10.7%)
• Education, instruction, and library occupations (8.6%)
• Business and financial operations occupations (7.1%)
• Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical operations (6.7%)
• Construction and extraction occupations (4.0%)
• Food preparation and serving related occupations (3.9%)
• Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (3.7%)
• Transportation occupations (3.5%)

The most common industries in the county and the percentage of the workforce engaged in them are: 

• Healthcare and social assistance (16.3%)
• Educational services (12.5%)
• Professional, scientific, and technical services (9.8%)
• Retail trade (9.0%)
• Finance and insurance (8.1%)
• Construction (5.7%)
• Transportation and warehousing (5.3%)
• Accommodation and food services (5.2%)
• Public administration (5.1%)
• Other services, except public administration (4.2%)

Long Island Workplace Accidents and Injuries

No matter what your occupation is or what industry you work in, the danger of suffering a work-related accident or injury is ever-present. While the rate of occupational injuries and illnesses in New York (2.2 per 100 full-time workers) is below the national average (2.8 per 100 full-time workers), that is not a reason for complacency. In 2018 (the latest year for which data is available), that low incident rate nonetheless translated into over 200,000 nonfatal injuries and illnesses statewide. 

The incident rate of injuries and illnesses for all industries in New York (including state and local governments) in 2018 from highest to lowest were: 

• Local government (6.4 incidents per 100 full-time workers) 
• State government (6.3)
• Natural resources and mining (4.7)
• Education and health services (3.2)
• Construction (2.8)
• Leisure and hospitality (2.8)
• Manufacturing (2.6)
• Trade, transportation, and utilities (2.6)
• Other services, except public administration (1.6)
• Information (1.4) 
• Financial activities (0.9)
• Professional and business services (0.9)

While many tend to think of workplace accidents and injuries as affecting primarily blue-collar professions, the reality is that these incidents occur in every industry (albeit some more than others). Even workers in the white-collar professional and business services industry face an accident rate of 1 in 100. Thus, all workers in Nassau County — even those in reputedly “safe” occupations — are at risk of suffering severe work-related accidents and injuries. 

Resources for Injured Workers in Nassau County 

Financial assistance is available to injured workers in Nassau County through the workers’ compensation program, which is administered by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. Workers’ compensation is an insurance program that provides benefits to individuals who suffer work-related injuries that keep them from working until they recover. The program’s key feature is that it covers almost all types of work-related injuries — even those for which the employee was at fault. If you suffered an accident at work in Nassau County, chances are that you are covered under the program, but please contact a Nassau County workplace accident attorney if you are unsure. 

What Counts as a “Workplace” Accident? 

The workers’ compensation program covers the vast majority of all injuries in the workplace or within the scope of an employee’s duties. 

Who is Covered? 

The vast majority of workplace accidents and injuries are covered under the workers’ compensation program.

What Benefits Are Available? 

The workers’ compensation program provides benefits in three forms: medical benefits, cash benefits, and death benefits. 

• Medical benefits: The program provides for the full cost of treatment of work-related accidents and injuries, so long as the workers’ compensation board authorizes the health care provider
• Cash benefits: For workers who cannot work for more than seven days, cash benefits are available in the amount of ⅔ of the worker’s average weekly wage multiplied by the percent he or she is disabled. For example, for a worker who is 60% disabled and whose average weekly salary is $700, the cash benefit would be $280 per week (⅔ x $700 x 0.6)
• Death benefits: For workers who die due to their injuries, the program pays the worker’s surviving spouse and/or minor children with benefits in the amount of ⅔ of the deceased worker’s average weekly wage for the year preceding the accident.

How to Choose a Workers’ Comp Lawyer in Nassau County

Choosing a lawyer is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Each client has different needs, and each lawyer has different capabilities. Your attorney needs to be able to handle the technical details of your case, but he or she should also be someone with whom you feel comfortable and can develop a personal rapport. Below are a few tips and tricks for making sure that you hire the right Nassau County workplace accident lawyer for you. 

Make Sure They Are an Expert in New York Workers’ Compensation Law

This may seem obvious, but it cannot be overstated. Every state has its own workers’ compensation scheme with its own specific rules and regulations. If your workers’ compensation case is in New York, you should find an attorney for whom navigating the unique contours of New York’s workers’ compensation laws is second nature. Avoid hiring an attorney who devotes only a portion of their practice to New York workers’ compensation cases, even if they otherwise specialize in workers’ compensation law. 

Find a Law Firm that Focuses its Practice on Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is a highly specialized area of law, with unique technical aspects and legal standards that are not present in other types of law. As such, a general practitioner likely will not be able to handle your case as well as an attorney who specializes in workers’ compensation law. Instead, try to find an attorney who works at a law firm that focuses on workers’ compensation law, as they will benefit from their colleagues’ insights and the firm’s accumulated institutional know-how. 

Assess Whether a Prospective Lawyer Seems Genuinely Interested in Your Wellbeing

Once you have gotten to the consultation stage, pay attention to how your prospective lawyer behaves when you meet. They should seem genuinely interested in your case and general wellbeing, and the best way to show that is by asking questions. Your prospective Nassau County worker’s compensation attorney should be detail-oriented and ask a lot of questions, not only about your accident but about how your accident has affected your life and your career. 

See Whether They Are Active in the Field Beyond Their Daily Practice

Law is a learned profession that is constantly evolving. While a good lawyer will be able to handle the practical aspects of your case with ease, a great lawyer will be abreast of the latest developments in the field. An excellent way to assess whether your lawyer is truly an expert is to see how involved they are in the broader legal community. Are they members of specialty bar associations or groups? Do they give speeches at conferences or lectures at law schools? Have they written articles in industry publications? 

Speak to Nassau County Lawyers at More Than One Firm 

The first Nassau County workers comp lawyer you speak to may end up being the best. Still, you should always evaluate multiple options to ensure that you find not just the best workers’ compensation lawyer but the best one for you.  

Questions? Contact a Nassau County Workplace Accident Attorney 

If you have been injured in a work-related accident in Nassau County, you should consider speaking to an attorney who can help you determine what your options are. To get started, please contact a Nassau County workplace accident attorney at Turley, Redmond, and Rosasco by using our online form or calling our Nassau County office at 516-745-5666.