Why Choosing the Right Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Matters
A tile setter has spent six weeks gutting a Carroll Gardens brownstone on President Street for a contractor who pays him in cash every Friday. When a stack of cement board slides off a dolly and crushes his foot, the contractor drives him to urgent care, then tells him he was “a sub” and should cover his own bills. Before he pays anything, he should speak with a workers’ compensation lawyer in Brooklyn. So should a Bath Beach box truck driver paid on a 1099 who herniated a disc unloading appliances off Cropsey Avenue, and a housekeeper who works 45 hours a week for one Ditmas Park family, slips on a mopped staircase, and learns the household never bought a policy.
Such arrangements are common. In a release dated November 8, 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 11.9 million independent contractors in July 2023, or 7.4 percent of total employment. Some carry the label only because a business assigned it, and in New York the label does not settle the question.
When an employer has no coverage, there is no adjuster to call. The business may deny the worker was ever on its payroll or simply stop answering, and if another company’s policy might apply, that carrier will argue the worker belonged to someone else. Accepting the label at face value can cost months while medical bills go to collections.
The right attorney can make the difference between:
- A claim against an uninsured employer paid through the state’s backup fund and a claim never filed because the worker assumed nobody would pay
- Employee status proven with schedules, text messages, and payment records and a 1099 treated as the final word
- A lawsuit against an uninsured employer stripped of its usual defenses and a missed chance to choose that route
- Renovation work judged under the Construction Industry Fair Play Act presumption and the same work dismissed as a casual side job
- A general contractor held responsible for an uninsured subcontractor’s crew and a claim that stops at a business with no assets
The Workers’ Compensation Board states that the law considers most people who provide services to a for-profit business to be its employees, whether part-time, temporary, day laborers, or unpaid. When an employer fails to secure coverage, NY Workers’ Compensation Law §26-a directs that Board awards be paid from the Uninsured Employers’ Fund, and NY Workers’ Compensation Law §11 gives the injured worker the option to sue the employer in court instead. The five firms below were chosen for their workers’ compensation focus, published records, and accessibility to Brooklyn workers in exactly this position.
August 2026 Rankings
| Rank | Law Firm | Lead Attorney | Client Satisfaction | Notable Settlements | Years Experience | Specialization Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kucher Law Group | Samantha Kucher, Esq. | 99% | $50M+ Total Recovered (self-reported) | 15+ | Workers’ Compensation & Personal Injury |
| 2 | Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano LLP | Not Stated | 97% | Not Stated | 90+ (firm stated) | Workers’ Compensation |
| 3 | The Perecman Firm | Not Stated | 95% | $500M+ Total Recovered (firm stated) | 40+ (firm stated) | Workers’ Compensation & Personal Injury |
| 4 | Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers | Not Stated | 94% | Multi-Million Recoveries (firm stated) | 40+ (firm stated) | Personal Injury & Workers’ Compensation |
| 5 | The Rothenberg Law Firm | Not Stated | 93% | Billions Recovered (firm stated) | 50+ (firm stated) | Personal Injury & Workers’ Compensation |
#1 Kucher Law Group
Why They’re #1: A worker whose employer had no policy, or who was paid as a contractor, starts with no carrier, no claim number, and often a boss who denies the job existed. The Kucher Law Group workers’ compensation attorneys who represent New York City workers left without employer coverage start by building the employment record, then weigh a Board claim backed by the state fund against a lawsuit aimed directly at the business.
Firm Overview
RRK Kucher Law Group PLLC opened on December 10, 2019, and now employs 10 to 19 people. Clients can meet the team at 463 Pulaski Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant or at 26 Broadway in Manhattan. By the firm’s own figures, it has recovered more than $50 million, over $20 million of it in settlements, with a 99% success rate. Its Google rating stands at 4.99 out of 5 across 81 reviews.
Notable Case Results
These come from the firm’s personal injury cases; it has published no workers’ compensation awards. They reflect its record in court, where a suit against an uninsured employer would be heard.
- $1,400,000 : Construction site fall down stairs
- $1,800,000 : Sidewalk trip and fall requiring surgery
- $2,500,000 : Head-on motor vehicle collision, cervical spine injury requiring surgery
- $650,000 : Restaurant patron slip and fall
- $1,400,000 : Motor vehicle accident settlement
Legal Team Excellence
Michael Roitman anchors the firm’s work for uninsured and misclassified workers this month. As primary trial attorney, he is the partner a client would lean on if the choice under NY Workers’ Compensation Law §11 points toward court, where an uninsured employer may not blame the worker’s own carelessness or a coworker’s mistake. Attorney Roitman earned his BA at NYU and his JD at Cooley Law School. He practices in the New York and New Jersey courts and in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and he was named to the Top 50 Personal Injury Settlements list for New York in 2023.
Samantha Kucher, admitted in 2015 after NYU and New York Law School, speaks English, Russian, and Spanish, so a worker can explain who hired them, who paid them, and who gave the orders in a language they know well. Her honors include Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2020, the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, and NAOPIA recognition in 2024 and 2025. Alex Rybakov, licensed since 2010 after NYU and Seton Hall, has spent more than ten years exclusively on personal injury cases.
What Sets Them Apart
- 24/7 Availability: A worker turned away at the job site, or told the business carries no insurance, can call the firm at any hour.
- No Upfront Fees / Contingency Only: The firm’s workers’ compensation page states “No Win, No Fee,” consultations are free, and NY Workers’ Compensation Law §24 requires the Board to approve any fee in a compensation case.
- Brooklyn Knowledge: From Pulaski Street, the team knows the borough’s renovation crews, delivery routes, and household employers, where coverage gaps tend to surface.
- Personalized Service: Each client hears a plain explanation of the choice between a Board claim and a lawsuit well before any deadline forces it.
- Coverage and Status Investigation: The team can look for a policy, collect pay records and messages showing who controlled the work, and test a contractor label against the Fair Play Act where it applies.
Client Testimonials
This Google review names no practice area and does not describe a workers’ compensation claim, but it describes the firm laying out a client’s options, the core task when an uninsured worker must pick a path.
“This law firm provided exceptional service throughout the entire process. They dedicated the necessary time to thoroughly explain every aspect to me, ensuring I had a clear understanding of the available options. I felt assured and confident, knowing that I had a highly skilled and experienced attorney supporting me.” Mia Garcia, Google Review
Why Choose Kucher Law Group
A worker whose boss never bought insurance still has options, but they are unfamiliar, and choosing between them matters. Kucher Law Group gathers proof of the employment relationship, presses the Board claim that brings in the state fund, and stands ready to try a case against the employer when a lawsuit serves the client better. That two-front strength earns first place.
Contact: (929) 563-6780 | 463 Pulaski St #1C, Brooklyn, NY 11221
#2 Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano LLP
Why They Made Our List: Pasternack Tilker states that it has represented injured workers for more than 90 years, and it keeps two Brooklyn offices, one on Livingston Street near Borough Hall and one on Flatbush Avenue. For a worker whose employer has gone quiet after an accident, a nearby firm built around injured employees is a practical place to start.
Firm Overview
The firm’s Brooklyn page speaks to employees rather than businesses. It lists the benefits a claim can carry, including medical care, wage replacement of roughly two-thirds of the average weekly wage, permanent disability awards, and death benefits for surviving families. Those are the same categories of award a worker pursues when the employer turns out to be uninsured. The page displays a 4.7 out of 5 rating drawn from 464 reviews.
Notable Achievements / Case Results
The page we reviewed does not publish dollar results or name any awards. Two client testimonials posted there describe cases that ended in settlements, without stating amounts.
Lead Attorney / Team
No individual lawyer is named on the Brooklyn page. Callers can ask which attorney would handle a claim involving a missing policy or a disputed employer.
Service Approach
The page sets out the basic order of steps: report the injury within 30 days, file Form C-3 within two years, deal with the carrier, and appeal any denial. Those deadlines still run when no carrier exists, so a worker at an uninsured shop should not wait for the employer to act first. The page also reminds workers that an employer may not retaliate against them for filing, and it explains that combined workers’ compensation and Social Security disability payments can be capped at 80% of pre-injury wages. Spanish speakers are welcome, and the firm states that clients pay nothing unless it wins.
Contact: 718-395-5056 | 180 Livingston Street, Suite 2, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (second office: 2053 Flatbush Ave, Floor 1, Brooklyn, NY 11234)
#3 The Perecman Firm
Why They Made Our List: The Perecman Firm reports more than half a billion dollars recovered for clients, the largest specific total published by any competitor here. Its guidance also separates a compensation claim from a personal injury lawsuit, a distinction at the heart of any case against an uninsured employer.
Firm Overview
The firm cites more than 40 years in practice. It lists offices in New York, Long Island, and Queens but not in Brooklyn, so Brooklyn workers should confirm where meetings would take place. Its site is also available in Spanish and Polish.
Notable Achievements / Case Results
- $500,000,000+ : Total recovered for clients, as stated by the firm (no individual results listed)
- Firm-level recognition labels on the site include Best Law Firms 2024 and 2023, Rated by Super Lawyers 2023, and Best Lawyers of the Year 2022
Lead Attorney / Team
The page we reviewed does not name the attorneys who handle workers’ compensation matters, and its honors appear as firm badges.
Service Approach
The page states that an insurer has 18 days to begin payment or dispute a claim, a useful marker for a worker trying to learn whether any carrier stands behind the employer at all. It covers notice to the employer within 30 days and to the Board within two years, along with Forms C-3 and C-3.3. It also explains that a personal injury lawsuit generally must be filed within three years. The firm advertises no fees unless it wins.
Contact: (212) 977-7033 | New York, Long Island, and Queens offices (no Brooklyn office listed)
#4 Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers
Why They Made Our List: Rosenbaum Meier reports more than four decades in practice and keeps a Brooklyn office at 32 Court Street. Its case list leans toward construction, the industry where contractor labels are most closely regulated.
Firm Overview
The firm says it has won millions of dollars in jury verdicts and negotiated settlements. Its site shows a Google rating of 4.8 from 265 reviews and offers a Spanish version.
Notable Achievements / Case Results
Individual workers’ compensation results are not published on the page reviewed. Listed case types include construction accidents, scaffolding and ladder falls, electrocutions, and building collapses.
Lead Attorney / Team
The page we reviewed does not name individual attorneys.
Service Approach
The page explains the ordinary rule that workers generally cannot sue their employer, while noting that a claim against another party may add to the recovery. That rule is the backdrop for this month’s topic, since §11 lifts the bar when an employer failed to secure coverage. The page also covers written notice within 30 days, wage benefits that begin after more than seven days out, and treatment by a Board-authorized provider. Fee terms are not stated.
Contact: 917-920-7332 | 32 Court Street, Suite 704, Brooklyn, NY 11201
#5 The Rothenberg Law Firm
Why They Made Our List: The Rothenberg Law Firm cites more than 50 years of experience, and its Brooklyn workers’ compensation guide addresses the Uninsured Employers’ Fund directly, the subject at the center of this month’s ranking.
Firm Overview
The firm states that it has won and collected billions of dollars for clients. Its named offices are in Manhattan, Forest Hills in Queens, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with no Brooklyn office listed.
Notable Achievements / Case Results
The page reviewed does not publish individual results. The firm offers free consultations and states that no legal fees are owed unless compensation is secured.
Lead Attorney / Team
Individual attorneys are not named on the page we reviewed.
Service Approach
Alongside the fund, the guide covers the 30-day notice rule and the requirement that treating doctors be Board-authorized, including an employer’s PPO network for the first 30 days of care. It also describes the no-fault nature of the system, which means an uninsured worker does not have to prove the employer was careless to win benefits through a Board claim.
Contact: 1-800-624-8888 | 450 7th Ave, 44th Floor, New York, NY 10123 (no Brooklyn office listed)
Understanding Brooklyn Workers’ Compensation Cases
Misclassification is not a new problem. A 2007 study from Cornell University’s ILR School estimated that about 700,000 workers, or 10.3 percent of New York’s private-sector workforce, were misclassified as independent contractors. In Brooklyn, coverage disputes tend to cluster in a few kinds of work.
Brownstone Renovations in Carroll Gardens
Gut renovations along President, Carroll, and Union Streets often run through small contractors who pay crews in cash. Under the Construction Industry Fair Play Act, a worker injured on or after October 26, 2010 while performing services for a construction contractor is presumed to be its employee. The contractor must prove that the worker was free from its control, performed services outside its usual business, and ran an independently established business of the same kind.
Box Truck Routes in Bath Beach
Drivers working out of the warehouses and shops along Bath Avenue and Cropsey Avenue are frequently paid on a 1099. The Commercial Goods Transportation Industry Fair Play Act presumes that a driver of a commercial motor vehicle is the employee of the company paying him unless a similar three-part test is met.
Household Work in Ditmas Park
Housekeepers, nannies, and home aides in the Victorian houses along Argyle and Westminster Roads are often hired directly by families. The Board’s guidance states that coverage is not required only when a household’s domestic workers each work under 40 hours a week and do not live in, so a full-time or live-in worker generally must be covered.
Corner Stores and Shops in Ocean Hill
Bodegas, barbershops, and small groceries along Broadway and Saratoga Avenue may rely on relatives and part-time help paid off the books. The Board counts family members who work for a for-profit business as employees. Outside the two Fair Play Acts, the Appellate Division, Third Department, in Matter of Carlson v Akin (2006), listed the familiar factors: the right to control the work and set the schedule, the method of payment, who furnishes equipment, the right to discharge, and the nature of the work.
Who Can Be Held Liable
- The uninsured employer, which NY Workers’ Compensation Law §26-a makes liable with the fund for the award, along with a corporation’s president, secretary, and treasurer personally
- The Uninsured Employers’ Fund, which pays Board awards when the employer failed to secure coverage
- A general contractor, which NY Workers’ Compensation Law §56 makes liable to an uninsured subcontractor’s employees on hazardous work
- Property owners, drivers, and equipment makers whose negligence caused the injury
Critical NYC Requirements
- Notice and filing: NY Workers’ Compensation Law §18 calls for notice to the employer within 30 days, and §28 sets a two-year limit for filing a claim with the Board, insured employer or not.
- The right to sue: Under NY Workers’ Compensation Law §11, when an employer fails to secure compensation, the worker may claim benefits or sue for damages. In that suit, the employer may not plead contributory negligence, a fellow employee’s negligence, or assumption of risk.
- Criminal penalties: NY Workers’ Compensation Law §52 makes failing to cover five or fewer employees within a 12-month period a misdemeanor with a fine of $1,000 to $5,000, and failing to cover more than five a class E felony with a fine of $5,000 to $50,000.
- Civil penalties: The Board may impose up to $2,000 for each 10-day period without coverage, and it may issue a stop-work order under §141-a. Fair Play Act violations can bring civil penalties of up to $2,500 per misclassified employee for a first violation.
Selection Criteria
We judged each firm only on what it publishes about itself, giving extra weight to how well it serves workers whose employers lacked coverage or disputed the relationship.
Case Results and Recovery Amounts. Concrete totals and named results counted for more than general promises. Self-reported figures are labeled that way, and “Not Stated” marks any gap. Because a §11 lawsuit is decided in court, a record of courtroom recoveries carried added weight this month.
Client Satisfaction. Workers without a carrier often wait longer for answers and may worry about angering a boss they still depend on. We looked for reviews describing patience, discretion, and clear explanations, and the satisfaction column follows the fixed scale used across this series.
Legal Experience and Expertise. Employee status turns on control, payment, equipment, and statutory presumptions. Firms whose guidance treated workers’ compensation accurately, and whose focus on injured workers was clear, scored higher.
Trial Readiness. Suing an uninsured employer means filing in court, building a record through depositions and documents, and possibly trying the case before a jury. Firms with litigation depth are better placed to make that choice a real one for the client rather than a theoretical right.
Brooklyn Community Connection. Misclassified workers often hold several jobs and have little free time for trips across the river. We credited firms with Brooklyn offices and stated plainly when a firm lists none.
Professional Recognition. Dated honors from identifiable organizations counted. Older awards were not presented as current, and badges lacking a year or source carried little weight.
Accessibility and Communication. A worker told at the end of a shift that there is no insurance needs to reach someone quickly, before evidence like schedules and group texts disappears. After-hours contact and service in more than one language both helped a firm’s score.
Fee Structure and Transparency. NY Workers’ Compensation Law §24 requires Board approval of fees, so we favored firms that explain their terms and charge nothing without a recovery.
Scope of Services. The strongest firms can pursue the Board claim, the fund, a general contractor, and a lawsuit, rather than stopping at one route. Guidance that ends with filing Form C-3 earned less credit, because an uninsured case often needs every available path explored.
Innovation in Practice. Online guides that explain coverage rules, digital intake, and simple ways to send photos of pay stubs or messages make a difference for workers who cannot leave a job site for a meeting. Firms that explain the Fair Play Act presumptions or the fund before the first call scored higher.
Moving Forward
If your employer says you were a contractor, or admits there is no insurance, do not treat that as the end of the claim. Whether you lay tile in Carroll Gardens, drive a route out of Bath Beach, or keep house for a family in Ditmas Park, save every text, schedule, pay envelope, and 1099 that shows who directed your work and how you were paid. Report the injury in writing, get medical care, and note the names of anyone who saw the accident.
Then speak with a workers’ compensation lawyer before you sign anything the employer hands you. Kucher Law Group offers a free consultation and works on contingency, and each firm on this list offers a way to begin. Ask whether a Board claim backed by the Uninsured Employers’ Fund or a lawsuit against the employer fits your situation, and how the deadlines apply to you.
About Our Rankings: Southwick News’ monthly rankings recognize excellence in specialized practice areas. Our evaluation process examines case results, client satisfaction, professional experience, and community impact. Rankings are based on verified data and are updated monthly to reflect current performance. Enhanced profiles are available but not required for ranking consideration.
For Attorneys: To nominate yourself or a colleague for future rankings, please email editor@southwicknews.com.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique, and results depend on specific facts and circumstances.
As Editor-in-Chief of Southwick News, Dhruv Patel combines his background in computer science from UC Berkeley with his Stanford journalism training to pioneer innovative approaches to digital news delivery.
