Working in Suffolk County, NY

There are more than 1.4 million people working in Suffolk County, NY who hold positions in a range of different industries.

Healthcare, education, and social assistance services are the biggest employers in the area by a large margin. This sector employs nearly 110,000 people. Government and local government is also a big employer in the area.

Other key industries in Suffolk County, NY include:

• Shopping and retail
• Professional finance and insurance businesses
• Accommodation, food, and restaurant services
• Construction
• Transportation, trade, and utilities

In the past, aviation was also a leading industry in the county. This is why transportation still employs a large number of people throughout the area.

The Newsday Newspaper is the single largest employer in the state, with more than 11,000 employees.

With such a range of trades, the types of common work-related injuries that people in Suffolk County experience can vary somewhat. To understand this better, let’s take a closer look at these kinds of injuries.

Common Work-Related Injuries

The most common types of work-related injuries in Suffolk County, Long Island, NY vary depending on which industry you are looking at. However, higher numbers of employees in particular areas mean that there will also be higher injury rates.

This is why sprains and strains are common injuries in Suffolk County.

These are the common injuries on the state’s biggest employer – the healthcare industry. In fact, sprain and strain injuries account for more than 30% of all private industry injuries across the country.

With a lot of people working in offices across Suffolk County, musculoskeletal injuries are also very common. These include repetitive strain injuries or RSIs, which can affect your arms, upper back, and wrists.

These happen over time if you are sitting in the same position for long periods of time and doing repetitive movements, such as typing. They may not seem like major injuries, to begin with, but left untreated, they can result in serious long-term problems such as nerve damage. Other musculoskeletal injuries include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis
• Back injuries from repetitive lifting

Transportation is another industry that experiences a lot of accidents in Suffolk County and across the country. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the work, transportation injuries are often major and can be fatal. In fact, in 2017, these types of injuries accounted for 47% of all work-related deaths in America.

Often, these accidents occur as a result of road collisions while at work. Vehicle crashes can result in any of the following injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions
• Broken bones
• Sprains or strains
• Whiplash
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Internal bleeding and organ damage

These injuries all have a huge impact on your short and long-term health.

Fortunately, this is where a workers’ comp attorney Suffolk County, NY can help! Let’s take a look at how this works.

What Is Workers' Compensation? 

Workers’ comp is a type of insurance put in place to protect you while you are at work. In theory, this means that if you are injured in the workplace, you can apply for compensation. This will financially support you during your recovery and beyond.

The amount of compensation you get depends on a number of things. It is usually proportionate to your injuries. So a more severe injury or accident will mean that you get more compensation for your accident.

However, even minor injuries can require a long recovery period. For example, a concussion can last for over a year. This is why you should make sure that your workers’ comp is also proportionate to the amount of time you have to take off work.

Compensation will always cover wages lost if you have to use more sick days for your recovery than your contract allows. It can also cover the cost of any medical bills that build up from your treatment. This is important, as it will ensure that your insurance premiums do not take a hit following your accident.

However, not all employers are keen to pay out on workers’ comp. In order to get the best deal on your workers’ comp, you need to build a strong case.

What Do You Need to File for Workers' Comp in Suffolk County, N? 

If you have suffered from a workplace accident, then getting workers’ comp can provide vital support while you recover. These are some of the things you need to do in order to build a strong case.

Firstly, make sure you hire a workers’ compensation attorney in Suffolk County, NY. They will help you to put a case together based on your specific accident.

This includes helping you decide how much compensation to ask for and the best way to do this. They will also handle correspondence with your employer or insurance company so that you can focus on your recovery.

When looking for workers’ comp lawyers in Suffolk County, NY, make sure that you look for someone with experience in your specific injury. They will know exactly how to build a successful case for you.

Any successful workers’ comp case also relies on evidence. This includes recordings of your accident and testimony from eyewitnesses. Your lawyer can help you gather this, but it is a good idea to get a headstart yourself if you can.

Medical reports about your injuries are also vital to any workers’ comp claim. These confirm information about the injuries that you have sustained. A medical report will also outline how this has impacted your ability to work and live, and any additional treatment.

You can get a medical report from your doctor. However, your lawyer may advise that you get seen by a workers’ comp doctor instead.

What Is a Workers' Comp Doctor?

Workers’ comp doctors are fully-trained, medical professionals. They can provide expert care for a range of injuries and will recommend the best treatment options available.

A workers’ comp doctor will carry out examinations on your injuries, run diagnostic tests, and advise on treatments. Because of the nature of many workplace injuries in Suffolk, a lot of workers’ comp doctors specialize in specific areas of medicine. This means that they can provide expert care where needed.

For example, orthopedic surgeons specialize in muscles, bone, tissue, or ligament injuries. Other workers’ comp doctors specialize in physical therapy to help you recover from your injuries properly. Some other common workers’ comp specialties include:

• Pain management
• Spinal injuries
• Traumatic muscle injuries
• Diagnostic testing

There are even workers’ comp doctors who specialize in psychiatry. They can help you to recover from any psychological injuries following your accident. This could include, depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

So how is a workers’ comp doctor different from your regular doctor? Well, the main thing that is different is your relationship with them.

A workers’ comp doctor is someone you will only see about your workplace injury. This means they treat you independently of any other illnesses or conditions.

They still have access to your medical records and history so that you get the best possible treatment. However, they don’t have a pre-existing relationship with you, your employer, or any of your family.

This can be extremely important when it comes to making a successful workers’ compensation claim. Let’s take a look at why.

How Can Workers' Compensation Doctors in Help You?

As we already mentioned, backing up your workers’ compensation claim with evidence is vital if you want to make a successful claim.

Medical testimony is a huge part of this. Without this, your employer or insurance company may dispute the severity of your injuries or the impact they have had on your life. Because of this, your medical evidence needs to be as strong as possible.

To avoid workers’ comp claims, your employer’s lawyer may try to dispute medical evidence. They can do this if they have any reason to undermine a doctor’s credibility. This includes you having a pre-existing relationship with your doctor.

If you have been going to see the same doctor for years or have a regular family doctor, your employer can claim this makes their medical evidence biased. They may say that your doctor will give you a more favorable report to help you out in a crisis.

When you use a workers’ compensation doctor, they cannot make a claim like this. A medical report from an independent workers’ comp doctor will stand up to scrutiny in a worker’s comp case unlike any other. That is why if you want your claim to be successful, you should get a workers’ comp doctor on your case as soon as possible.

You can do this if you have already been to see your regular doctor. Seeing two doctors won’t undermine your case.

However, you should stick to and follow the treatment plan advised by a workers’ comp doctor. That way, you will be seen as doing everything in your power to recover from your injuries as fast as possible.

What Should You Look for in a Workers' Comp Doctor?

Choosing a workers’ comp doctor can feel like a big task, especially if you have been seeing the same doctor for years. You need to know you are being seen by someone you can trust. That is why there are several things you should look for in a workers’ comp doctor near you.

The most important thing is experience. A doctor with plenty of years’ practice under their belt will have a good idea of the best treatment options for you. Experience also shows that they have been able to provide a lot of patients with satisfactory treatment.

To find out more about their dealings with previous patients, do some research online. Take a look for reviews of specific doctors.

If possible, try to find feedback from recent patients who have experienced similar conditions to you. This will give you a good idea of a doctor’s reputation and their ability to provide quality treatment for you.

It is also important to check with your employment guidelines before you contact a workers’ comp doctors. Some employers specify that you must use certain workers’ comp doctors when making a claim. Checking these guidelines can save you a lot of time when looking for a doctor.

Finally, if you have an idea of what kind of injury you have suffered, look into workers’ comp doctors who can provide specialist referrals. There is no point in getting in touch with one doctor only to find out you need to see a different specialist. If this happens, you will have to start the process all over again.

Find the Right Doctor for You Today

If you have been injured at work, then Suffolk County, NY Workers’ comp is what you need and a workers’ comp doctor can help you get it.

Call (888) 590-4030 to find an experienced Suffolk County workers’ comp doctor near you!