Blog

On March 25, 1911, a devastating fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City, claiming the lives of 146 workers, most of them young immigrant women. Trapped by locked doors and unsafe working conditions, they had no way to escape. The tragedy shocked the nation and led to some of the…

Understanding the Police Mental Health Crisis and the Urgent Need for Support The mental health crisis in law enforcement is an issue that can no longer be ignored. Every day, officers put their lives on the line to protect others, yet too often, their own struggles remain unseen. Police officers are three times more likely…

The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board’s (NYS WCB) 2024 Annual Report reveals a notable decline in workers’ compensation claims compared to previous years. With 165,320 workers’ compensation claims assembled in 2024, the data suggests a leveling off in claim filings after several years of post-pandemic increases. The shift toward digital processing, workplace safety measures,…

Every day, thousands of construction workers build New York’s skyline, but for too many, the job ends in tragedy. In 2023, construction accident deaths continued to rise, exposing deep failures in workplace safety. Behind every statistic is a worker who never made it home, a family devastated by loss, and a preventable tragedy that demands…

Workers’ Compensation Now Covers Job-Related Mental Health Conditions New York workers who experience extraordinary job-related stress now have stronger protections under state law. Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed Legislation S.6635/A.5745, expanding workers’ compensation benefits to cover mental injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder, and major depressive disorder caused by workplace stress. Previously,…

New York’s prison system is facing a crisis. Inmates are assaulting staff at alarming rates, officers are overworked and understaffed, and recent prison closures have only worsened conditions. Frustrated corrections officers at multiple facilities have reached a breaking point. They staged work stoppages to protest their dangerous working conditions and resulting workplace injuries. These protests…

Retail Workers Face Serious Injury Risks on the Job Working in retail might not seem as dangerous as construction or manufacturing, but employees in this industry face serious injury risks every day. A recent report analyzing over 22,000 workplace injury claims found that strains from lifting and falls on the same level are among the…

The New York workers’ compensation assessment rate directly impacts both employers and the overall stability of the state’s workers’ compensation system. It determines the additional cost employers must pay on top of their workers’ compensation premiums. What is the workers’ comp assessment rate in NY? New York’s workers’ compensation assessment rate has dropped by 22%…

Construction zones are some of the riskiest places to work, with hazards ranging from heavy machinery to careless drivers. A recent crash in Upstate New York highlights how quickly things can go wrong. According to Yahoo News, a New York State Department of Transportation worker narrowly escaped being hit by a truck while on the…

Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano LLP is proud to announce that ten of our attorneys have been honored in the 2024 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. This distinction highlights our commitment to providing top-tier legal representation for injured workers and their families in New York. Leading the field in workers’ compensation law…