Workers' Compensation Lawyer New York City — NYC Workplace Injury Attorney Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan & All Five Boroughs
You got hurt on the job. Now your employer's insurance company is deciding what your injury is worth. Their number and the real number are rarely the same.
We fight for injured workers across New York City. Adam Shapiro has spent 30+ years on both sides of these claims. He knows exactly how insurers minimize payouts and how to secure every dollar you are owed.
What New York Workers' Compensation Covers
Workers' compensation in New York provides three core categories of benefits when you are injured on the job.
Medical Coverage
All reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your work injury is covered: hospital stays, surgery, doctor visits, physical therapy, diagnostic scans, and prescription medications. The insurer pays doctors directly — not you.
Wage Replacement
If your injury keeps you out of work or reduces your hours, you are entitled to two-thirds of your Average Weekly Wage, subject to the state maximum. As of July 1, 2025, the maximum weekly benefit rate is $1,222.42 (through June 30, 2026). The statutory minimum is $325/week.
Disability Classifications
Temporary total, temporary partial, permanent total, and permanent partial disability classifications carry vastly different payout durations. We fight for the classification that reflects your true medical condition, not the insurer's lowballed rating.
What Workers' Comp Does NOT Cover — And Why It Matters
Workers' compensation replaces only two-thirds of wages, caps high-earning workers below two-thirds, and provides zero compensation for pain and suffering.
That gap is substantial. And it is where a third-party personal injury lawsuit becomes essential. If someone other than your direct employer contributed to your injury — a general contractor, subcontractor, building owner, or machinery manufacturer — we file a separate personal injury lawsuit.
Two Claims Running Simultaneously
The third-party lawsuit recovers pain and suffering, future earning loss, and damages workers' comp will never touch. We investigate every case for third-party liability from day one. You never have to leave money on the table.
Explore Third-Party ClaimsCommon Workplace Injuries We Fight For
We represent injured workers across all five boroughs in every commercial sector:
Employer Retaliation Is Illegal: Under New York law, it is strictly unlawful for your employer to fire, demote, or cut hours because you filed a claim. If they retaliate, we take direct legal action against them.
How Benefits Are Calculated
Your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) is determined by your gross earnings in the 52 weeks prior to injury, including overtime and bonuses. The weekly formula is two-thirds of your AWW multiplied by your degree of disability.
Insurers routinely undervalue the AWW calculation, especially for workers paid partially in cash or whose hours fluctuated seasonally. We audit every calculation to recover the true compensation you are owed.
Critical Deadlines — Do Not Miss These
- 30 Days to Report: You must give written notice of your injury to your employer within 30 days of the accident.
- 2 Years to File: You must file an official claim with the New York State Workers' Compensation Board within two years of the injury date.
- 90 Days for Municipal Sites: If your job injury occurred on city- or state-owned property, a formal Notice of Claim must be served within 90 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct legal answers regarding New York workplace accidents and board hearings.
No. Workers' compensation in New York is a no-fault system. If you were injured in the course and scope of your employment, you are generally entitled to statutory benefits regardless of who caused the accident.
No. Employer retaliation for filing a workers' comp claim is strictly illegal under New York Workers' Compensation Law § 120. If your employer fires, demotes, or retaliates against you, we pursue additional legal claims against them.
You have the absolute right to appeal before an Administrative Law Judge at the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. We handle the entire hearing and appeals process, gathering medical proof to overturn the denial.
In most circumstances, workers' compensation is your exclusive remedy against your direct employer. However, it does not prevent you from suing third parties — such as general contractors, property owners, or equipment manufacturers — whose negligence contributed to your harm.
Two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to the New York state statutory maximum of $1,222.42 per week (for injuries occurring July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026). The minimum weekly rate is $325. We ensure your AWW is calculated correctly.
Under New York law, aggravation of a pre-existing condition caused by a job accident or repetitive occupational stress is fully compensable. We work with physicians to document how the workplace event worsened your condition.
Nothing. All legal fees in workers' compensation and third-party injury claims are strictly contingency-based and must be approved by the Workers' Compensation Board or court. You pay nothing out-of-pocket.
Talk to Adam Before the Insurance Company Closes Your Case
The insurer moves fast after a workplace injury. Before you give a recorded statement, sign anything, or accept any benefit offer without legal counsel, call us first.
The consultation is free. Adam is reachable from the very first call. We review your case and identify all available sources of recovery.
Get Your Free Case Evaluation
No fee unless we win. Fill out this form for an immediate callback from Adam L. Shapiro.
Cases We Handle
As a full-service personal injury law firm, we represent clients across all major injury categories in New York:
Vehicle Accidents
Comprehensive representation for car, truck, and motorcycle collisions, bicycle and pedestrian injury claims, and rideshare accidents involving Uber and Lyft.
Workplace & Construction Injuries
Aggressive advocacy for workers' compensation claims, job site and construction accidents, and injuries caused by repetitive stress or unsafe working conditions.
Premises Liability
Relentless pursuit of justice for slip, trip, and fall injuries, hazardous staircases, broken sidewalks, defective buildings, and elevator or escalator accidents.
Catastrophic & Specialized Cases
Compassionate, determined representation for medical malpractice, wrongful death claims, animal attacks, and severe injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and burns.