New York City Healthcare Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Representing in Workers’ Compensation Claims for Healthcare Workers in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens & Beyond

Every day, healthcare workers face numerous risks on the job. Not only must they spend long hours on their feet caring for patients, but they also frequently come into close contact with transmittable infections and diseases. Especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers have been forced to work even longer shifts, care for an unprecedented number of patients, and be continuously exposed to the coronavirus.

If you are a doctor, nurse, or another healthcare professional who has been injured on the job or suffered a work-related medical condition, filing a workers’ compensation claim doesn’t have to be difficult. With our New York City healthcare workers’ compensation attorneys by your side, you can focus on your physical recovery while we handle the various legal aspects of your claim.

Our firm serves clients in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and other communities throughout New York City. We assist clients in English, Spanish, and Polish and provide completely free case evaluations, either in person or over the phone.

If you need help filing a healthcare workers’ compensation claim, call Schotter Millican, LLP at (718) 550-0610 or contact us online with our healthcare workers' compensation attorneys in New York City. 

What Are the Most Common Workplace Accidents & Injuries in Healthcare?

Workplace accidents in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other healthcare settings are relatively common. Unfortunately, these incidents can lead to serious and sometimes fatal injuries.

Some of the most common workplace accidents in the healthcare sector include:

• Slips, trips, and falls
• Being struck by falling or moving objects
• Exposure to bacteria, viruses, and transmittable diseases
• Contact with harmful objects or sharp instruments
• Workplace assault

These and other accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, from spinal cord injuries to traumatic brain injuries to life-threatening illnesses and more.

What are Common Long-Term Illnesses and Injuries Healthcare Workers' Could Experience?

In addition to on-the-job accidents and injuries, healthcare workers are at a high risk of sustaining long-term work-related injuries and illnesses.

Examples include:

• Repetitive strain injuries
• Overuse/overexertion
• Contraction of infectious diseases
• Stress and other mental health conditions

New York workers’ compensation laws are designed to protect employees who are injured on the job or due to working conditions. If you were injured or developed a medical condition that is related to your employment in any way, you could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Get in touch with our New York City healthcare workers’ compensation attorneys to learn more about your legal rights and options.

Are All Healthcare Workers Eligible for Workers’ Compensation in New York?

In New York, workers’ compensation covers most part-time and full-time employees, including healthcare workers. However, workers’ compensation is typically not available to those classified as “independent contractors.” That being said, many workers are misclassified as independent contractors when they are, in fact, employees.

Surgeons and other medical specialists who are contracted by hospitals and similar healthcare facilities may be considered independent contractors.

We strongly recommend that you speak to a knowledgeable attorney if you are a healthcare worker and are unsure whether you are eligible for workers’ compensation. In most cases, injured healthcare workers in New York qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.

Can Healthcare Workers in New York Receive Workers’ Compensation for COVID-19?

In most cases, healthcare workers (and other eligible employees) in New York are entitled to workers’ compensation related to COVID-19.

You could be entitled to benefits for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• And other expenses related to contracting COVID-19 or being unable to work due to COVID-19 exposure

To receive workers’ compensation benefits for COVID-19 exposure or illness, employees must prove that the moment or method of exposure was related to their employment. It is widely recognized that healthcare workers face a heightened risk of exposure to COVID-19 on the job, meaning it could be easier than you may realize to recover benefits.

However, you may still need to provide documented proof of your risk of COVID-19 exposure, as well as copies of your medical records from an authorized workers’ compensation doctor verifying that your employment was the cause of your illness. It is always a good idea to contact an experienced attorney who can help you navigate the process and ensure your rights are protected.

Can You Sue Your Employer?

In New York, by having the required workers' compensation coverage, a company is usually unable to be sued by its employees. Worker's comp is intended to be a catch-all legal solution for on-the-job injuries.

The one exception to this is if the employer intentionally caused the employee's injury. Negligence does not count. Your employer may not be the best avenue for a lawsuit, but you are able to sue third parties for your work injury, where applicable.