Construction Defense

There was a time when employers who were unsure whether a claim is compensable would not want to pay any benefits to the claimant for fear that it would be considered an acceptance of the claim, or constitute an “advance payment of compensation.” Oftentimes, they would ultimately be stuck with the claim because they had insufficient information to properly deny it and prevail at trial. However, the 1996 workers’ compensation reform legislation implemented a change to assist employers with this problem: New York Workers’ Compensation Law (NY WCL) § 21-a. This statute has addressed and resolved this concern for many employers, especially those in the construction industry.

Using Findings in the Workers’ Compensation Claim to Create Jeopardy in the Civil Claim.

In New York, a construction site injury generally leads to two claims being filed: a workers’ compensation claim, and a general liability (civil) lawsuit pursuant to New York’s Labor Laws. The workers’ compensation claim moves at a much faster pace than the civil lawsuit, with compensability potentially being determined in as little as sixty days.