While other Workers’ Compensation Law Firms advertise that they “serve” Otsego County, they are located an hour or more away. This means that you may never meet your attorney. You can’t drop paperwork off at their office. At those other firms, your case is often handled by a paralegal and not a workers compensation attorney.
Located in Oneonta, we are the only workers’ compensation law firm headquartered in Otsego County. This means that you can meet with us face to face and stop in our office when you want. At Rothermel & Wilson, I will handle your claim personally. I try to meet each potential client face to face. This gives you the opportunity to get to know me before you decide to hire me.
Local Expertise
I have lived in Oneonta for more than 20 years. Our Otsego County Workers Comp law firm understands the community and we have over two decades of experience litigating against employers across the area, including Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown Dreams Park, SUNY Oneonta, and most major employers in the region. I know how these employers handle workers’ comp claims.
Where Otsego County Work Injuries Come From
Otsego County’s two largest employers are hospitals — Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown and A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta — and healthcare injuries are the single biggest category of cases I handle: back and shoulder injuries from lifting and transferring patients, needle sticks, and falls. Springbrook, the county’s third-largest employer, generates a steady stream of injuries to direct-support professionals. The rest comes from SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College, the county government and the Sheriff’s Department, the school districts, NYCM Insurance in Edmeston, the trucking companies along I-88, and the dairy farms that still cover much of the county.
Because I have practiced here for more than 20 years, I know these employers, the carriers and third-party administrators they use, and the doctors whose opinions carry weight at the Workers’ Compensation Board. That matters when a claim is controverted or when the carrier’s IME says you can go back to work.
If you are hurt on the job in Otsego County, get treated at Fox Hospital in Oneonta or Bassett in Cooperstown, whichever is closer, and tell the provider it was a work injury. Then call me. My office is in Oneonta and every town in the county is within about 45 minutes of it.
Call for a Free Consultation
Call for a free consultation, meet with me face to face, and decide for yourself. Do you want a local workers’ compensation lawyer who will meet with you in person and handle your claim personally? Or do you want to be treated like a number, with your claim handled by a paralegal instead of a lawyer in a city hours away?
Attorney Christopher “Kip” Wilson
I grew up in Syracuse. I received a BA in Chemistry from Wesleyan University in 1996 and an MS in Chemistry from Northwestern University in 1997. I graduated from Cornell Law School in 2001, then worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan.
For the past 20+ years I’ve lived in Oneonta, NY, with a practice focused on helping injured workers navigate the New York State Workers’ Compensation system. I’ve litigated against most major employers in our area and know how they — and their insurance carriers — handle workers’ comp claims.
My clients often come to me at the worst moment of their lives — hurt, out of work, and dealing with an insurance company that won’t return their calls. My job is to make sure they don’t face that alone. If you’ve been injured on the job and have questions about your case, call or email any time. Consultations are free, and you’ll speak directly with me.
Getting to our office from Otsego County
Our office is at 48 Dietz Street, Suite E, in downtown Oneonta — in Oneonta, the largest city in Otsego County. You are welcome to stop in to drop off paperwork or meet in person. Get directions on Google Maps.
Towns we serve in Otsego County
Individualized Attention
At many workers compensation law firms, clients are treated like numbers—and rarely speak to an actual work comp lawyer. At Rothermel & Wilson, PLLC, that’s not how we operate. I make it a priority to meet with every new client face-to-face, so we can build trust from day one.
Unlike other firms where cases are handled by paralegals, I personally oversee most aspects of your claim. If you ever have questions or want to talk, you’re welcome to email me directly or Call 607.432.7410 to schedule a phone or in-office appointment. You deserve real access to your workers’ compensation attorney—and that’s exactly what you’ll get here.
