Work Injury Lawyer in New York

If you suffer an injury in a workplace accident, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention and treatment. Report the incident promptly to your employer or supervisor.

Furthermore, it’s advisable to consult with a work injury attorney to fully grasp your legal rights and explore options for seeking compensation.

In most cases, if you’re injured while performing your job duties, you qualify for workers’ comp benefits regardless of fault. These benefits typically encompass medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs. However, navigating the workers’ comp process can be complex.

It’s advisable to seek guidance from a qualified work injury attorney to ascertain whether your case falls under workers’ compensation or warrants a third-party lawsuit.

If a third party, like a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner, caused your injury due to negligence, you may have grounds to pursue a third-party lawsuit in addition to workers’ comp benefits.

Under the guidance of an experienced work injury attorney, these lawsuits can help provide additional compensation for pain and suffering, along with other damages not addressed by workers’ comp.

The time limit for filing a workers’ comp claim varies depending on the state and the specific circumstances of your case. In New York, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a claim. However, it’s essential to act promptly and consult with a work injury attorney to ensure compliance with all deadlines and requirements.

Retaliation by an employer for filing a workers’ comp claim is illegal. If you believe you’re experiencing retaliation, such as termination, demotion, or harassment, you should document the incidents and seek legal advice immediately. You have rights protected under state and federal law, and a workplace injury lawyer can help you take appropriate action to protect your interests.

Workplace injury such as slip and fall accidents, can happen when employers or employees neglect to maintain clean and clear workspaces, leading to spills or slippery substances, neglect in cleaning or clearing walkways, and other actions.

Slip and fall accidents can occur when:

• Failing to clear off ice or rain
• Failing to clean up chemical spills
• Failing to keep items cleared off of walkways
• Failing to clean up any leaks that could make walkways slick

While workers in physically demanding jobs face a higher risk of injury, various activities can also heighten the likelihood of neck and shoulder injuries. Serving food, stocking shelves, operating large drilling equipment, reaching for office supplies, shoveling, painting, and lifting are just a few examples. Even walking in an office can pose dangers when basic safety precautions are neglected.

Common workplace accident injuries to the neck and shoulder:

• Fractures
• Shoulder dislocation
• Whiplash
• Bursitis
• Pinched nerves
• Soft tissue injuries
• Spinal cord injuries

Workers sustain Back injuries by lifting objects that are too heavy, lacking proper technique guidance, or due to employers failing to provide adequate safety advice. Back injuries are serious and can lead to secondary injuries, so closely monitor any back pain, even if it seems minor.

Some safety mistakes responsible for back injuries may include:

• Overworking employees responsible for heavy lifting duties
• Requiring employees to complete heavy lifting tasks at significant heights without assistance
• Failing to provide safety devices for employees who may sustain back trauma at work
• Failure to inspect or maintain work devices that may lead to back trauma if they malfunction

Repetitive motions, like frequent lifting of heavy objects, or sudden, unexpected accidents can cause immediate damage or lead to the development of leg and knee injuries  over time.

Hazards that can contribute to knee or leg injuries, including:

• Trip hazards
• Uneven ground
• Falling debris
• Explosions
• Repetitive lifting or squatting

If you sustain a head injury on the job, your employer should promptly recommend immediate medical treatment, as the condition may worsen over time if left untreated. Head injuries can necessitate significant medical care, potentially resulting in loss of mobility, severe pain, and even cognitive impairments.

An employer may be held responsible for these injuries in the following instances if:

• Construction safety standards for objects at a certain height or loose objects aren’t observed
• Building and ceiling fixture safety regulations aren’t followed
• Heavy objects are stored too high for employees to safely
• Sufficient safety headgear isn’t provided when needed

Occupational illness can develop when workers’ jobs put them dangerously close to potentially hazardous or unsanitary materials. Exposure to known irritants, gas, or chemicals can seriously impair employees and create long-term health issues. Illnesses may not show symptoms immediately but can develop over time.

Employer negligence has been linked with wide-ranging occupational illnesses such as:

• Failure to protect employees from excessive smoke or chemical gas inhalation
• Failing to provide meat packers with safety gear
• Not providing equipment to prevent dust inhalation in industries such as construction.
• Failing to provide safety gear to miners to protect them from coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (CWP), or black lung
• Not offering safety equipment to workers who handle common dermal irritants.

As workers fall down a staircase, they can sustain multiple points of impact and numerous injuries on their descent. The building owner or property manager bears the responsibility for ensuring safe walking conditions on all stairways.

Some common stairwell fall accidents are due to the following:

• Worn or slippery surfaces, including carpeting and hardwood
• Outdoor stairs that are icy or wet
• Damaged or broken steps
• Lack of proper illumination
• Broken or damaged railings or handrails
• Dangerous, unstable, or broken risers
• Trips over items such as debris or tools

Workers who service, clean, repair, or even work next to elevators face potential injuries like internal bleeding from catastrophic falls or even death.

Even apparently minor accidents can lead to more serious complications months or even years later. Seeking medical treatment immediately after the incident is crucial to ascertain whether more severe, unknown injuries exist.

Window washers have inherently dangerous jobs, as they scale the side of buildings, suspended above the ground below, attached to scaffolds on ropes, or by rigging on the rooftop.

Some common window washer workplace injuries are due to the following:

• Falls due to unguarded floor openings
• Static line failure or an unsecured line
• Malfunctioning personnel lift
• Tools and items that fall on pedestrians below

Commercial painters face hazards that can lead to injuries due to falls, exposure to chemicals, or physical strains, among many other common injuries related to painting work. Painters commonly work on elevated surfaces, ladders, or scaffolding to perform their duties.

Some common painter accidents are due to the following:

• Slips falls, and trips on uneven ground or over debris
• Falls from ladders or scaffolding
• Exposure to chemicals