Many workers’ compensation law firms claim to “serve” our area, yet their offices are over an hour away. This often means you may never meet your attorney in person or be able to drop off paperwork at their office. At those distant firms, cases are frequently managed by paralegals rather than dedicated workers’ compensation attorneys.
We are the only workers’ compensation law firm headquartered locally—Rothermel & Wilson is in Oneonta, NY. This means that you can meet with us face to face and stop in our office when you want. At Rothermel & Wilson, I personally manage your claim, making it a priority to meet every potential client in person so you can get to know me before deciding to hire.
Local Expertise
I’ve lived in Oneonta for over 20 years. Our Workers’ Compensation law firm understands this community and brings more than two decades of experience litigating against employers throughout the area, including Delaware Valley Hospital, Lactalis, and most major regional employers. I am familiar with how these employers handle workers’ comp claims.
Workers’ Compensation Cases from Walton, NY
Walton’s working economy is built around a few large employers, and most of the cases I handle from the village come from them: the Kraft Heinz plant, UHS Delaware Valley Hospital, the Walton Central School District, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection crews who maintain the Cannonsville Reservoir and the watershed, the town and county highway departments, and the dairy farms up and down the West Branch of the Delaware.
Injuries I see from Walton
Kraft Heinz. Food-plant work means wet floors, repetitive hand and wrist motion on the line, forklifts, and heavy lifting in cold rooms. Repetitive-strain injuries are compensable, but the carrier will argue over the date of injury and whether the condition is work-related, and that argument has to be won with the right medical evidence.
Delaware Valley Hospital. Nursing staff and aides are hurt lifting and turning patients, and housekeeping and dietary staff are hurt in falls.
DEP and highway work. Reservoir, road and bridge crews are injured by equipment, in vehicle incidents, and in falls on uneven ground. If you are a public employee there may be salary-continuation rules that run alongside your comp claim.
Delaware Valley Hospital is the emergency room for Walton. If you are hurt at work, go there, tell them it was a work injury, and call me before you give a recorded statement to the insurance carrier.
Call for a Free Consultation
Schedule a free consultation and meet with me directly—you decide for yourself. Would you rather have a local workers’ compensation lawyer who handles your case personally and meets with you in person, or would you prefer to be treated like just another number, with your claim overseen by a paralegal from a faraway city?
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 Walton
Our office is at 48 Dietz Street, Suite E, in downtown Oneonta — about 40 minutes from Walton. You are welcome to stop in to drop off paperwork or meet in person. Get directions on Google Maps.
Nearby
Why Hire Rothermel & Wilson
Local Roots, Local Knowledge
Many workers’ compensation law firms claim to "serve" our area, yet their offices are over an hour or more away. This often means you may never meet your attorney in person or be able to drop off paperwork at their office. At those distant firms, cases are frequently managed by paralegals rather than dedicated workers’ compensation attorneys.
We are the only workers’ compensation law firm headquartered in our area. Located in Oneonta, we can meet with you face to face. You can stop in our office when you want. At Rothermel & Wilson, I personally manage your claim, making it a priority to meet every potential client in person so you can get to know me before deciding to hire us.
Better Prepared
Whenever a hearing is scheduled in your case, I personally prepare every detail. I’ll provide you with a clear letter explaining the issues to be addressed, what to expect during the hearing, and the steps we need to take to be fully prepared.
I make it a priority to speak with or meet each client before each hearing. If you're scheduled to testify, I’ll meet with you face-to-face to walk you through the process and make sure you’re fully prepared and confident. You won’t face your work injury alone—I’ll be with you every step of the way.
Your Lawyer, Start to Finish
Workers’ comp cases can stretch on for years — through hearings, appeals, independent medical exams, settlement discussions. I stay with my clients through all of it. Same lawyer, same phone number, same approach from start to finish. You won’t get handed off.
How Are Attorneys Paid?
You pay nothing out of pocket — ever. In NY Workers’ Compensation, lawyers are paid on a contingency fee basis. You only owe a fee if money is moving to you. Fees are set by statute:
- 15% of any retroactive or lump-sum payment
- 1/3 of a single week’s payment when there’s a hearing
- 15 weeks of benefits on a finding of permanent disability (paid out over time in small weekly amounts)
All fees must be approved by a Workers’ Compensation Law Judge, and the insurance company pays the fee directly out of your award — nothing comes out of your pocket.
