You get hurt at work. The pain is real. You are scared about missing work and losing money.
Then, your boss comes to you. They seem concerned. They offer you a few hundred, maybe even a thousand dollars in cash, right now. “Just to help you out,” they say.
It feels like a relief. But you must understand: **This is not an act of kindness. It is a business decision designed to protect them, not you.**
This cash offer is a trap.
Why Your Boss Offers You Cash
When you are injured on the job in New York, you have powerful legal rights. You may be entitled to have all your medical bills paid and receive a large part of your lost wages through workers’ compensation. If someone’s carelessness caused your injury, you might also have a personal injury claim for much more.
Your employer knows this. Their insurance company knows this.
They offer you quick cash for one reason: **to pay you a small amount of money now so they don’t have to pay you the much larger amount you are legally owed later.**
If you take that cash, they will see it as an agreement. They might even try to make you sign a piece of paper. That paper could take away your right to ever bring a real case for your injury.
The True Cost of Your Injury
The money your boss offers will disappear quickly. It will not cover the real costs of a serious injury, which can include:
**All your medical bills:** Not just the first doctor’s visit, but surgery, physical therapy, and medicine for months or years.
**Lost wages:** The cash won’t replace the weeks or months of pay you might lose if you cannot work.
**Pain and suffering:** Your legal rights include compensation for the pain and the change to your quality of life. The boss’s cash offer ignores this completely.
**Future problems:** What if your injury gets worse? What if you can never do your job the same way again?
A small cash payment today could cost you and your family tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in the future.
Your Rights Are Your Power
Your boss may hope that you don’t know your rights. They may try to use your immigration status to scare you.
Remember this: In New York, all workers have the right to a safe workplace and to compensation when they are injured. Your immigration status does not change that.
You have the power. You do not have to accept their offer. You do not have to be afraid. What you should do is protect yourself and your family.
- **Do NOT accept the cash and do NOT sign any papers.**
- **Report your injury in writing to your supervisor.**
- **Get medical help immediately.** Your health is the most important thing.
- **Speak to a personal injury lawyer in New York.** A good lawyer can explain your real options. Most work on a “you only pay if we win” basis, so you don’t need money to get expert help.
An employer who tries to pay you off after an injury is not looking out for you. They are looking out for their wallet. You deserve an advocate who is looking out for you.
At Helen F. Dalton & Associates, P.C., we have defended injured workers in New York for over 30 years. We speak Spanish, and our consultations are 100% free and confidential.
