A Crown Heights restaurant employee injured her lower back and shoulder while moving heavy supplies during a busy shift. She lost her balance as the load shifted and fell against nearby equipment. Although she immediately told a supervisor what happened, she initially hoped the pain would improve and tried to continue working.
Over the next several days, the pain became more severe. Lifting, bending, sleeping, and performing normal job duties became difficult. She sought medical treatment and explained that the injuries began with the workplace accident.
The employee worried that workers' compensation might not cover the accident because she believed she had positioned the supplies incorrectly before attempting to move them. She was concerned that making a mistake at work meant the accident was her fault.
However, New York workers' compensation is generally a no-fault system. An injured employee ordinarily does not need to prove that an employer or coworker caused the accident to pursue workers' compensation benefits. Likewise, an employee's ordinary mistake does not automatically eliminate eligibility.
The legal review focused instead on documenting that the accident arose from her employment, establishing the connection between the accident and her injuries, reviewing her medical treatment, and addressing her inability to perform her regular work.
This type of situation illustrates an important point for Crown Heights employees: do not assume you have no workers' compensation rights simply because you believe you contributed to the accident.
Workers' compensation claims depend on the specific circumstances, medical evidence, employment relationship, and applicable New York law. An attorney can review those facts and explain what benefits and procedures may apply.
Cass & Peters Brooklyn offers free consultations to injured workers who have questions about an accident, medical treatment, lost wages, or a disputed workers' compensation claim.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
| Claim Issue | What the Worker Should Do | Common Problem | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report the injury | Notify the employer as soon as possible | Waiting or failing to report | Late notice can create disputes |
| Get medical care | Explain that the injury happened at work | Incomplete accident history | Medical records help document the work-related injury |
| Preserve documentation | Keep reports, records and correspondence | Missing information | Documentation may become important in a disputed claim |
| Document lost work | Track disability and time missed from work | Unclear work restrictions | Medical evidence can affect wage-benefit issues |
| Get legal advice | Ask questions about a disputed or delayed claim | Assuming you have no rights | A lawyer can explain the workers' compensation process |
If you were hurt at work in Crown Heights, do not assume that you cannot file a workers' compensation claim because you made a mistake or believe the accident was partly your fault. New York workers' compensation is generally a no-fault system.
Instead, report your injury promptly, get appropriate medical attention, and learn what rights may apply to your particular circumstances. Problems can become more difficult when an injury goes unreported or a worker waits until an insurance dispute develops before asking questions.
Cass & Peters Brooklyn represents injured workers in Crown Heights and throughout Brooklyn. Our office is located at 32 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
Call (347) 391-5943 for a free consultation about your workplace injury or workers' compensation claim. Five minutes could change your life.
Si sufrió una lesión en el trabajo en Crown Heights, Brooklyn, puede tener derecho a beneficios de compensación laboral aunque crea que el accidente fue culpa suya. La compensación laboral de Nueva York generalmente funciona como un sistema sin culpa. Cass & Peters Brooklyn ofrece consultas gratuitas para trabajadores lesionados. Nuestra oficina está ubicada en 32 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Llame al (347) 391-5943 para hablar sobre su reclamo.
Ninguna compañía de seguros quiere competir con Cass & Peters, los abogados de lesiones personales y compensación laboral de referencia en Nueva York para quienes sufren lesiones. Si se lesionó en el trabajo o tuvo un accidente en cualquier lugar de la ciudad de Nueva York, incluida East New York, Bay Ridge, Bedford Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Sunset Park, Red Hook, Coney Island, Crown Heights, Canarsie, East New York, Williamsburg, Downtown, Kensington, Flatbush, Bensonhurst, Boerum Hill, Greenpoint, Sheepshead Bay, Crown Heights, Cypress Hills, Fort Greene, Park Slope, Bushwick, and Prospect Park. También atendemos a trabajadores lesionados en Staten Island.
Nuestros abogados con experiencia en lesiones personales y compensación laboral saben lo agotador e intimidante que es lidiar con las compañías de seguros, las facturas médicas en aumento y los salarios perdidos, especialmente cuando está tratando de sanar.
Desde nuestra conveniente oficina en 225 Broadway en el Bajo Manhattan, representamos con orgullo a clientes en los cinco distritos: Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, The Bronx, y Manhattan.
Ya sea que haya sufrido lesiones en un accidente automovilístico, en un sitio de construcción o haya sufrido una lesión en el lugar de trabajo, Cass & Peters está aquí para ayudarlo a obtener la compensación completa a la que tiene derecho legalmente.
Luchemos por tu futuro — Programe su consulta gratuita hoy. Atendemos a trabajadores lesionados en 10467, 10456, 10468, 10457, 10471, 10458, 10460, 10472, 10459, 10475, 10470, 10469, 10462, 10474, 10466, 10476, 10452, 10461, 10463, 10455, 10464, 10449, 10479, 10480 y 10451.
Remember, Cass & Peters represents injured workers and accident victims throughout New York City. Our experienced workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyers help clients deal with insurance companies, medical bills, lost wages, and the legal issues that can follow a serious injury.
Whether you were hurt at work, in a construction accident, or in a motor vehicle crash, Cass & Peters can review your case and help you pursue the compensation and benefits available under New York law. Contact us today for a free consultation.