2015 New York Laws
WKC - Workers' Compensation
Article 7 - (Workers' Compensation) Miscellaneous Provisions.
118 - Technical rules of evidence or procedure not required.

  118.  Technical  rules  of evidence or procedure not required.  The
  chairman or board in making an investigation or inquiry or conducting  a
  hearing  shall not be bound by common law or statutory rules of evidence
  or by technical or formal rules of procedure, except as provided by this
  chapter; but may make such investigation  or  inquiry  or  conduct  such
  hearing  in  such  manner  as to ascertain the substantial rights of the
  parties. Declarations of a deceased  employee  concerning  the  accident
  shall   be   received   in   evidence  and  shall,  if  corroborated  by
  circumstances or other evidence, be sufficient to establish the accident
  and the injury.