Understand your workers' comp case.
Free educational resources built by a practicing WC attorney. Step-by-step guides, video tutorials, and a glossary of every WCB term you need to know.
Every NY workers' comp case follows five stages.
Understanding where you are helps you know what comes next.
File your claim
Report your injury, file the C-3 form, and open your WCB case.
Get your benefits
Understand your AWW, comp rate, and weekly benefit payments.
Medical evidence
Navigate IMEs, treating physician reports, and medical disputes.
Permanency
SLU awards, LWEC classification, and permanent impairment.
Settlement
Section 32 settlements, closing your case, and next steps.
From your first hearing to final settlement.
In-depth guides covering every aspect of NYS workers' compensation.
Filing a workers' comp claim in NY
How to report your injury, file the C-3 form with the WCB, and what to expect in the first 30 days of your case. Includes employer notice requirements and deadlines.
BeginnerWhat to do after a work injury in NY
Your first 24–72 hours after getting hurt at work: getting the right treatment, reporting in writing, documenting the scene and witnesses, and what not to say to the insurance carrier.
BeginnerMileage & travel reimbursement (C-257)
What travel is reimbursable on your NY claim, the IRS mileage rate the Board uses, how to file the C-257 form to get your money back, and the deadline. Includes IME trips and prescription runs.
BeginnerUnderstanding your weekly benefits
How your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) is calculated under WCL §14, what your compensation rate means, and the different benefit categories — temporary total, temporary partial, and permanent.
BeginnerHow to find a workers' comp doctor in NY
How to find a WC-authorized provider in your area, understand what "WC-coded" means, search by specialty and injury type, and verify your doctor accepts workers' comp claims.
BeginnerWhat to expect at an Independent Medical Examination
What happens during an IME, how to prepare, what to bring, how to present yourself honestly, and why missing an IME can suspend your benefits. Critical guide for protecting your case.
IntermediateSchedule Loss of Use (SLU) awards
How SLU awards work under WCL §15(3), which body parts qualify, how the percentage of loss is determined, and how to calculate your potential award. Includes the 2024 Permanency Guidelines update.
IntermediateLWEC classification & permanency
The Loss of Wage Earning Capacity (LWEC) system for non-schedule injuries (spine, brain, heart, lungs). How classification percentages are determined and what they mean for your long-term benefits.
AdvancedWork search requirements & your benefits
When a work search is required, how many job contacts to make, how to keep a job search log the WCB will accept, and how labor-market attachment protects your reduced-earnings benefits.
IntermediateSection 32 settlements
Everything you need to know about settling your workers' comp case. How Section 32 agreements work, how settlements are valued, lump sum vs structured, the Board approval process, and the role of AWW and SLU in the number.
AdvancedShort, clear tutorials.
Walk through the most important concepts in NYS workers' compensation.
What is Schedule Loss of Use?
A 5-minute overview of how SLU works, which body parts qualify, and what determines your award amount.
How your AWW is calculated
Understanding the four statutory methods for calculating your Average Weekly Wage under WCL §14.
Preparing for your IME
What to expect at an Independent Medical Examination and how to protect your rights during the process.
More videos coming soon. Get the app for the full video library.
Every term you need to know.
Key workers' compensation terms every injured worker and attorney should know.
The full interactive glossary is available in the Comp Desk app.