How to Deal with a Work Injury: NY Workers' Comp Guide

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Getting hurt at work is complicated. You aren’t just dealing with pain; you are dealing with your employer, insurance adjusters, and a mountain of paperwork.

At CT Physical Therapy Care, we specialize in New York State Workers’ Compensation cases. We know that a missed deadline or the wrong doctor can ruin your claim. This guide cuts through the confusion so you can protect your paycheck and your health.

Step 1: The “Golden Hour” (Report It Immediately)

Goal: Create an official record.

In New York, you technically have 30 days to notify your employer, but waiting is the #1 reason claims are denied.

  • Notify your Supervisor: Do it immediately. If you wait until Monday for a Friday injury, insurers will argue it happened “over the weekend.”
  • Put it in Writing: Verbal notice isn’t enough. Send an email or text to your boss stating: “I injured my [Body Part] at [Time] while doing [Task].”
  • Don’t “Tough It Out”: If you continue working in pain, you weaken your claim that the injury is serious.

Step 2: The “Authorized Provider” Rule

Goal: Get medical care that counts.

This is the most critical rule in New York: You cannot just see any doctor. To have your bills paid by insurance, you must see a provider authorized by the NY Workers’ Comp Board.

  • We Are Authorized: At CT Physical Therapy Care, we are experienced in handling Workers’ Comp cases. We know exactly how to document your injury to prove it is work-related.
  • Emergency Exceptions: You can go to any ER for immediate life-threatening injuries. For follow-up rehab, you must switch to an authorized specialist.

Step 3: Filing Your Claim (Form C-3)

Goal: Start your payments.

Your employer files a report, but YOU must file one too. This is called the Form C-3 (Employee Claim).

  • What it is: It tells the state your side of the story.
  • Deadline: You have up to 2 years, but you should file it as soon as you miss work.
  • How to file: You can do this online or by mail. We can help guide you through this during your first visit.

Step 4: Your Recovery & Evidence (The Treatment Phase)

Goal: Heal safely while building your case.

In a Workers’ Comp case, your medical records are your evidence. Every time you visit us, we generate a report that proves you are still injured and trying to recover.

We use a Protective Care approach for work injuries:

  1. Pain Management: We use non-narcotic methods to control inflammation.
  2. Work Conditioning: We simulate your actual job duties (lifting, pushing, sitting) to ensure you are ready to return safely.
  3. Detailed Reporting: We measure your limitations (e.g., “Patient can only lift 10 lbs”) so your lawyer and insurance adjuster have hard data.

⚠️ 3 Mistakes That Kill Claims

  1. Skipping Appointments: If you miss therapy, the insurance company assumes you are “healed” and will cut off your benefits.
  2. Changing Your Story: Be consistent. If you told your boss you “fell,” don’t tell the doctor you “twisted.”
  3. Returning Too Early: If you go back to full duty before you are ready, you risk re-injury—and often, the second injury won’t be covered.

We Handle the Stress, You Handle the Healing

Don’t let a work injury threaten your livelihood. We work directly with your lawyer and the insurance board to ensure your paperwork is perfect.

Injured on the job in Queens? We offer Priority Appointments for Workers’ Comp cases to ensure you meet your deadlines.

Book Your Workers’ Comp Assessment. Or, call our Woodside office: (718) 255-6229.