New York law requires workers’ compensation insurance to cover injuries and occupational illnesses—those conditions that arise during the course of employment and may be attributed to your exposure to chemicals, fumes, dust, smoke, and other elements. A commonly covered occupational illness, for example, is asbestos-related lung disease, while a commonly covered occupational condition might be hearing loss.
Workplace-related injuries may include sprains, burns, cuts, broken bones, amputations, neck and back injuries, and more. As long as the injury required more medical treatment than simple first aid, and it occurred while you were on the job, your insurance should cover it. Even if you alone are to blame for getting injured at work, you can still receive workers’ compensation benefits as New York doesn’t determine eligibility based on fault.
If, however, you were not on the job at the time—maybe you were driving to work when you got into a car accident—your medical bills would likely not be covered. In addition, New York defines work-related injuries as those that occur while you're on the clock for your scheduled shift at your assigned work station. That means if you were injured while on a supply run—away from your usual workstation—your claim may not be covered.
No matter what, however, it’s always best to report an injury and file a workers’ compensation claim. There are always exceptions and if you hire a workers’ compensation attorney, he or she can help you find ways to win compensation.