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Syracuse Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

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Syracuse Workers' Compensation Lawyer

If you get hurt while working in Syracuse, New York, you could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Contact Passalacqua & Associates, LLC at (315) 500-6425 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Syracuse workers’ compensation lawyer who can help you make the most of your claim.

Since our opening, workers and families in Syracuse have trusted Passalacqua & Associates, LLC to help them stand up to employers and insurance companies after serious accidents. As award-winning legal advocates with 50+ years of combined experience, we recover life-changing results for our clients.

Our case results include millions of dollars in workers’ compensation benefits, insurance settlement agreements, and jury awards obtained at trial. Now, we’re ready to fight for your best interest after you’ve been hurt on the job, too. 

Why Hire Passalacqua & Associates, LLC for Help With Your Workers’ Compensation Claim in Syracuse, NY

Why Hire Passalacqua & Associates, LLC for Help With Your Workers’ Compensation Claim in Syracuse, NY

Passalacqua & Associates, LLC is the leading choice for many injured workers in Syracuse, NY. We’re dedicated, aggressive New York trial attorneys who appreciate how important workers’ compensation benefits can be when you get hurt on the job.

Drawing on more than five decades of collective experience, we force meaningful negotiations and recover millions for our deserving clients. It’s why our Syracuse personal injury attorneys are recognized as:

  • National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
  • Members of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • Best of the Best by the Observer-Dispatch

We provide the deep knowledge, hands-on experience, and winning reputation that’s needed to take on powerful corporations and win. Our goal isn’t just to help you win your claim for benefits; it’s to make sure you’re awarded every cent to which you’re entitled under the law. 

Call our law office to learn more. Your first consultation is free.

What Is Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation is an insurance system in which most private New York employers must participate. State law requires employers with at least one employee to opt into the system. When an employee gets hurt on the job, benefits can be awarded to offset the pecuniary (or financial) consequences they’ll face as a result.

The system is designed to allow employees to recover compensation for work-related injuries without having to invest time and money into filing a lawsuit. In exchange for a direct and accelerated path to benefits, the employee typically forfeits the right to sue their employer, even if the employer was negligent. In this way, it’s a win-win situation for employers and employees alike.

Do I Qualify For Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Not all workers qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. There are certain requirements that have to be satisfied before you’ll be able to recover money for your medical care, lost wages, and disability. 

You may be entitled to monetary benefits from your employer’s insurance company if:

  • You’re considered an employee, not an independent contractor
  • You suffer work-related injuries or are diagnosed with an occupational disease, and
  • You work for an employer that’s legally required to have workers’ compensation insurance.

An injury is considered “work-related” if it’s sustained while you’re performing tasks or responsibilities within the scope of your employment. The task must be something that you’re expected to do in your line of work or something that’s specifically assigned to you by your employer. 

You don’t have to be at work to qualify. For instance, you could qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if you’re involved in a work-related car accident or truck accident. However, you may not qualify if you got into a car accident while driving for personal reasons.

What Types of Benefits Does Workers’ Compensation Insurance Pay?

New York offers two primary types of workers’ compensation benefits: medical and wage replacement.

Medical Expenses

Workers’ compensation insurance should pay for all reasonable and necessary costs of medical care after you get hurt on the job.

This can include bills related to:

  • Emergency room care
  • Diagnostic tests and labs
  • Surgery
  • Hospitalization
  • Medication
  • Medical devices
  • Prosthetics
  • Specialist consultations
  • Rehabilitation
  • Chiropractic care
  • Dental care

It’s important to note that you probably need to receive treatment from a plan-approved healthcare provider if you want workers’ compensation to pay for your medical bills.

Wage Replacement Benefits

For many, workplace injuries are severe enough that they require time off, light duty, or job restrictions. This can create financial challenges for employees, especially when an injury keeps them out of work for a long time. Workers’ compensation benefits can help alleviate a lot of the financial stress that can happen when you’re out of work for a while.

Types of compensation may include: 

  • Temporary Total Disability (TTD): TTD benefits can be paid when you’re forced to miss more than one week of work because of your workplace injury. Benefits are typically the equivalent of two-thirds of your pre-injury average weekly wage.
  • Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): TPD benefits can be awarded to bridge the gap between your pre-injury income and post-injury income if you can return to work in a limited capacity. Benefits are often equal to two-thirds of the difference between your pre- and post-injury income.
  • Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): PPD benefits can be awarded if you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) and are diagnosed with a permanent impairment. Permanent impairments often include the loss of certain body parts, changes in cognitive function, or catastrophic injuries that affect complex body systems. In New York, most PPD benefits are based on a Schedule Loss of Use (SLU). 
  • Permanent Total Disability (PTD): PTD benefits can be awarded if your injury prevents you from returning to the workforce in any capacity. These are typically a permanent extension of TTD benefits.

Wage benefits aren’t just limited to two-thirds of your average weekly wage. They’re also subject to state-mandated caps. Pursuant to Workers’ Compensation Law Section 2(16), the maximum weekly benefit for 2026 is $1,222.42.

Since the workers’ compensation system is private, New York’s pure comparative negligence rule doesn’t apply to claims for benefits. So, you can recover full benefits even if you share responsibility for your workplace injury. However, contributory fault will affect related personal injury claims against third parties.

For example, if you get hurt in a construction accident in Syracuse because of a defective ladder, you can file a claim for workers’ compensation insurance benefits and seek additional damages from the ladder’s manufacturer in a civil lawsuit. 

If the manufacturer can prove that you share some of the blame for your ladder accident, your damages can be reduced proportionately to your comparative fault. For example, if you were 50 percent to blame, your settlement or jury award would be reduced by half of its value.

What Does It Cost To Hire a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Syracuse?

There’s no up-front cost to hire Passalacqua & Associates, LLC to help you navigate a claim for workers’ compensation benefits in Syracuse, NY. Our workers’ compensation attorneys represent clients on a contingency fee basis. There’s no risk to hire our law firm because we don’t get paid until we recover compensation for you.

When we obtain workers’ compensation benefits on your behalf, our attorney fees are paid out of that monetary award, and New York has strict limits on how much an attorney can charge. If we don’t win your workers’ compensation claim, you owe us nothing.

How Long Will I Have To File a Claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits in New York?

Before you file a claim, you have to notify your employer that you’ve been injured on the job. New York law has a 30-day notice requirement. Once this is satisfied, you’ll have the right to file a claim for benefits.

The statute of limitations for workers’ compensation claims is two years from the date you were injured or diagnosed with an occupational disease. You have to meet these deadlines, or you’ll risk losing the opportunity to recover much-needed monetary benefits as you recover.

Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Syracuse Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

As a worker in Syracuse, New York, you have certain rights. This often includes the right to request workers’ compensation benefits if you get hurt on the job. However, you can expect pushback from your employer and their insurance company. They’re interested in profits and low premiums, not doing what’s in your best interests.

That’s why it’s important to call Passalacqua & Associates, LLC. Our Syracuse workers’ compensation attorneys appreciate what’s at stake and are prepared to go the extra mile to help you recover the benefits you need to pay for costly medical care and offset a sudden loss of income.

Turning to our top-rated personal injury law firm for help puts 50+ years of experience and a multi-million-dollar track record in your corner. Discover how we can be the difference makers in your workers’ compensation claim by calling our law office today. There’s no charge for your initial case review.

About Us

Passalacqua & Associates, LLC provides legal representation for individuals facing personal injuries and criminal charges. Our attorneys offer compassionate guidance and aggressive strategies, and we’re committed to achieving the best possible outcomes. We’ll protect your rights and navigate legal complexities on your behalf.

Areas We Serve

Passalacqua & Associates, LLC proudly serves clients in Utica, Syracuse, and the surrounding upstate New York communities. We are dedicated to providing accessible and effective legal services to those in need of experienced personal injury and criminal defense representation within these regions.

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