If you or a family member received burn treatment at Upstate University Hospital's Clark Burn Center in Syracuse, your medical records are critical evidence in a New York burn injury claim. New York's 3-year statute of limitations under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214 means acting promptly is essential.
The Clark Burn Center at Upstate University Hospital is an ABA-verified burn treatment facility operated by SUNY Upstate Medical University — central New York's only academic medical center and Level I Trauma Center. Located in Syracuse, the Clark Burn Center serves a vast geographic catchment area spanning central New York, the North Country, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier, providing comprehensive acute and reconstructive burn care for adults and children throughout the region. Its academic affiliation brings research-driven care protocols and subspecialty expertise in burn surgery to an area that encompasses significant industrial, manufacturing, and rural agricultural activity.
New York workers' compensation provides the exclusive remedy against your direct employer for workplace burn injuries. New York law preserves your right to file third-party claims against contractors, equipment manufacturers, chemical suppliers, and property owners. New York follows pure comparative fault — you can recover even if partially at fault. New York Labor Law §§ 240 and 241 provide additional protections for construction workers. The statute of limitations is 3 years under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214. Claims against New York public entities require a 90-day Notice of Claim. Note that Upstate University Hospital is a SUNY institution — claims against it as a state entity must be filed in the Court of Claims within 90 days. Contact a New York burn injury attorney immediately.
Yes, in many cases. New York products liability law allows burn victims to sue the manufacturer of a defective machine that lacked adequate safety guards, had a foreseeable failure mode, or lacked adequate warnings — independent of workers' comp and independent of whether your employer was also negligent. Machine manufacturer liability in New York can be based on design defect, manufacturing defect, or failure to warn. Workers' comp covers your employer's liability only — the machine manufacturer stands outside the workers' comp system and can be sued directly in civil court for full compensatory damages including pain and suffering.
Three years from the date of injury under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214 for claims against private defendants. Claims against Upstate University Hospital (a SUNY institution) must be filed in the New York Court of Claims within 90 days of accrual. Claims against other government entities — Onondaga County, the City of Syracuse, a local municipality — require a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the injury. Workers' compensation must be reported promptly and formally filed without delay. Missing any of these deadlines can permanently bar your rights. Contact a New York burn injury attorney immediately.
Active duty military personnel injured by government negligence have limited remedies — the Feres doctrine generally bars servicemembers from suing the federal government for injuries that are incident to military service. However, civilian federal employees at Fort Drum or other federal facilities in central New York have Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) rights and may have additional claims depending on the circumstances. Contractor employees injured at federal facilities in New York may have both state workers' comp and third-party claims. These are highly fact-specific situations — get a free case evaluation immediately to understand your specific rights.
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New York has a 3-year statute of limitations and a 90-day notice requirement for government claims. Don't wait — get your free case review today.
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