What Does a Workers Compensation Lawyer Do?

Understanding how workers’ compensation benefits are calculated in New York can be confusing, especially when you’re injured and worried about how you’ll make ends meet. A reliable workers' compensation lawyer helps injured employees understand their rights and ensures benefits are calculated accurately so workers receive the financial support they deserve. In this guide, we break down how benefit amounts are determined, what factors influence payments, and how lawyers help protect injured workers during the process. Overview of Workers Compensation Benefits in New York Workers compensation is designed to provide financial help when an employee is hurt on the job. Benefits include medical care, lost wages, and disability payments. The state follows very specific formulas, and even small errors can reduce the amount you receive. Because employers and insurance companies may interpret the rules differently, having legal guidance becomes extremely important. Understanding how calculations work helps injured workers know what to expect and avoid unfair payment reductions. How Wage Replacement Benefits Are Calculated The most common benefit injured workers receive is lost wage compensation. New York calculates these payments based on a percentage of your average weekly wage along with the level of disability determined by your doctor. The Basic Formula New York uses this formula for weekly cash benefits: Two thirds of your average weekly wage multiplied by your disability percentage This means your actual benefit depends on your income before the injury and how limited you are afterward. Calculating Your Average Weekly Wage Your average weekly wage, or AWW, is typically based on your earnings in the 52 weeks before the injury. This includes overtime, bonuses, and any additional taxable income. If you did not work the full 52 weeks, the calculation adjusts to reflect your real working time. Disability Percentage Your doctor will evaluate your condition and assign a disability percentage which determines how much of your wage you are eligible to receive. The categories include: Temporary Total Disability Temporary Partial Disability Permanent Total Disability Permanent Partial Disability Your benefit rate changes depending on which category you fall under and how long the condition is expected to last. Maximum and Minimum Benefit Limits in New York New York sets a statewide maximum and minimum amount that workers can receive each week. These numbers change annually. Even if your wage calculation is high, you cannot receive more than the legal maximum. Similarly, if your calculated benefit is very low, the state minimum ensures you receive a basic level of financial support. A lawyer makes sure you are placed in the correct benefit bracket and that the insurance company does not underpay you. How Scheduled Loss Awards Are Calculated Some injuries affect body parts covered under New York’s schedule of losses. These include injuries to arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, and other specific areas. If you have a permanent loss or reduced function, the state assigns a specific number of weeks of compensation based on the body part injured. Your weekly rate is multiplied by this number to calculate your award. For example, if your hand injury equals a certain percentage of permanent loss, the benefit is based on the number of weeks assigned to the hand in the schedule multiplied by the disability percentage. How Non Scheduled Injuries Are Calculated Back injuries, neck injuries, and internal conditions fall outside the scheduled loss system. Instead, they are calculated based on your permanent impairment rating and your earning capacity. The process is more complex and often disputed by insurance companies. A lawyer helps ensure your impairment rating is accurate and prevents insurers from using lower ratings to reduce your payments. Additional Factors That Affect Benefits Overtime and Bonuses Many insurance companies try to exclude overtime or additional pay from your AWW which lowers your weekly benefits. A lawyer ensures everything is included. Multiple Jobs If you worked more than one job and both were covered employers, your total wages from all jobs should be used. This significantly increases your benefit rate. Returning to Light Duty If you return to work at reduced hours or lower pay, your benefits change to reflect the difference between your old wage and new earnings. Medical Documentation Accurate medical reports are essential. Weak or incomplete records can lower your disability rating which reduces your payments. Why Benefit Calculations Often Lead to Disputes Insurance companies often attempt to reduce benefit amounts by: Assigning lower disability percentages Claiming wages were calculated incorrectly Disputing overtime or bonus inclusion Using incomplete medical information Delaying approval for evaluations These tactics can significantly impact your financial stability. A workers compensation lawyer steps in to challenge these strategies and ensure correct benefit amounts. How a Lawyer Helps You Receive the Right Benefit Amount A lawyer reviews your wage history, medical records, and disability evaluations to confirm the accuracy of your benefit calculation. They also negotiate with the insurance company and represent you during hearings if disputes arise. Reviewing Wage Records Your attorney verifies that every dollar you earned is included in the wage calculation. Challenging Disability Ratings If your assigned disability percentage seems too low, your lawyer can request additional medical examinations. Ensuring Long Term Benefits Permanent injuries require detailed calculations to secure the highest possible award. A lawyer helps document long term impact and future medical needs. Protecting Your Rights at Every Stage From filing your claim to negotiating settlements, your lawyer works to prevent underpayment and delays. Conclusion: New York workers compensation benefits are calculated using detailed formulas that depend on your wages, disability level, medical documentation, and the type of injury you suffered. While the system is designed to support injured workers, mistakes and disputes are common when insurance companies handle the calculation alone.  Understanding how benefits are calculated is important, but having a knowledgeable lawyer by your side ensures you receive the full amount you are entitled to. If you believe your benefits were calculated incorrectly or are unsure how your payments were determined, speaking with a workers compensation lawyer can provide clarity and protect your rights.

Understanding how workers’ compensation benefits are calculated in New York can be confusing, especially when you’re injured and worried about how you’ll make ends meet. A reliable workers' compensation lawyer helps injured employees understand their rights and ensures benefits are calculated accurately so workers receive the financial support they deserve. In this guide, we break down how benefit amounts are determined, what factors influence payments, and how lawyers help protect injured workers during the process. Overview of Workers Compensation Benefits in New York Workers compensation is designed to provide financial help when an employee is hurt on the job. Benefits include medical care, lost wages, and disability payments. The state follows very specific formulas, and even small errors can reduce the amount you receive. Because employers and insurance companies may interpret the rules differently, having legal guidance becomes extremely important. Understanding how calculations work helps injured workers know what to expect and avoid unfair payment reductions. How Wage Replacement Benefits Are Calculated The most common benefit injured workers receive is lost wage compensation. New York calculates these payments based on a percentage of your average weekly wage along with the level of disability determined by your doctor. The Basic Formula New York uses this formula for weekly cash benefits: Two thirds of your average weekly wage multiplied by your disability percentage This means your actual benefit depends on your income before the injury and how limited you are afterward. Calculating Your Average Weekly Wage Your average weekly wage, or AWW, is typically based on your earnings in the 52 weeks before the injury. This includes overtime, bonuses, and any additional taxable income. If you did not work the full 52 weeks, the calculation adjusts to reflect your real working time. Disability Percentage Your doctor will evaluate your condition and assign a disability percentage which determines how much of your wage you are eligible to receive. The categories include: Temporary Total Disability Temporary Partial Disability Permanent Total Disability Permanent Partial Disability Your benefit rate changes depending on which category you fall under and how long the condition is expected to last. Maximum and Minimum Benefit Limits in New York New York sets a statewide maximum and minimum amount that workers can receive each week. These numbers change annually. Even if your wage calculation is high, you cannot receive more than the legal maximum. Similarly, if your calculated benefit is very low, the state minimum ensures you receive a basic level of financial support. A lawyer makes sure you are placed in the correct benefit bracket and that the insurance company does not underpay you. How Scheduled Loss Awards Are Calculated Some injuries affect body parts covered under New York’s schedule of losses. These include injuries to arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, and other specific areas. If you have a permanent loss or reduced function, the state assigns a specific number of weeks of compensation based on the body part injured. Your weekly rate is multiplied by this number to calculate your award. For example, if your hand injury equals a certain percentage of permanent loss, the benefit is based on the number of weeks assigned to the hand in the schedule multiplied by the disability percentage. How Non Scheduled Injuries Are Calculated Back injuries, neck injuries, and internal conditions fall outside the scheduled loss system. Instead, they are calculated based on your permanent impairment rating and your earning capacity. The process is more complex and often disputed by insurance companies. A lawyer helps ensure your impairment rating is accurate and prevents insurers from using lower ratings to reduce your payments. Additional Factors That Affect Benefits Overtime and Bonuses Many insurance companies try to exclude overtime or additional pay from your AWW which lowers your weekly benefits. A lawyer ensures everything is included. Multiple Jobs If you worked more than one job and both were covered employers, your total wages from all jobs should be used. This significantly increases your benefit rate. Returning to Light Duty If you return to work at reduced hours or lower pay, your benefits change to reflect the difference between your old wage and new earnings. Medical Documentation Accurate medical reports are essential. Weak or incomplete records can lower your disability rating which reduces your payments. Why Benefit Calculations Often Lead to Disputes Insurance companies often attempt to reduce benefit amounts by: Assigning lower disability percentages Claiming wages were calculated incorrectly Disputing overtime or bonus inclusion Using incomplete medical information Delaying approval for evaluations These tactics can significantly impact your financial stability. A workers compensation lawyer steps in to challenge these strategies and ensure correct benefit amounts. How a Lawyer Helps You Receive the Right Benefit Amount A lawyer reviews your wage history, medical records, and disability evaluations to confirm the accuracy of your benefit calculation. They also negotiate with the insurance company and represent you during hearings if disputes arise. Reviewing Wage Records Your attorney verifies that every dollar you earned is included in the wage calculation. Challenging Disability Ratings If your assigned disability percentage seems too low, your lawyer can request additional medical examinations. Ensuring Long Term Benefits Permanent injuries require detailed calculations to secure the highest possible award. A lawyer helps document long term impact and future medical needs. Protecting Your Rights at Every Stage From filing your claim to negotiating settlements, your lawyer works to prevent underpayment and delays. Conclusion: New York workers compensation benefits are calculated using detailed formulas that depend on your wages, disability level, medical documentation, and the type of injury you suffered. While the system is designed to support injured workers, mistakes and disputes are common when insurance companies handle the calculation alone.  Understanding how benefits are calculated is important, but having a knowledgeable lawyer by your side ensures you receive the full amount you are entitled to. If you believe your benefits were calculated incorrectly or are unsure how your payments were determined, speaking with a workers compensation lawyer can provide clarity and protect your rights.