Manhattan Tunnel Injuries Lawyer

New York City has many tunnels that contain water, waste, and cars traveling to and from the city. New Yorkers depend on these tunnels to function correctly. Sadly, negligence, building violations, and other issues can cause tunnels to fail or collapse. These accidents can be catastrophic and lead to serious injuries.

If you have been harmed in a tunnel collapse or malfunction, you should have an ally at your side to represent you as you seek compensation for your injuries. Working with the right Manhattan tunnel injury lawyer can be helpful when seeking compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and even non-financial losses such as pain and suffering.

At Shulman & Hill, we take pride in our ability to represent our Manhattan clients in personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. Contact us today for a free legal consultation.

What Causes Manhattan Tunnel Accidents?

Tunnels are complicated structures that are often exposed to many stresses. Weather, erosion, extreme temperatures, weight, and frequency of use can affect the structural integrity of a tunnel. The process of building tunnels can also be very dangerous and lead to a high risk of injury.

Factors that can result in a devastating tunnel injury include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Erosion
• Heat
• Cold
• Demolition work nearby
• Wear and tear
• Traffic collision
• Excessive weight placed on the tunnel
• Weather events like snowstorms or heat waves
• Natural disasters like floods or earthquakes
• Resonance caused by nearby industrial activity
• Failure of the materials that were used to build the tunnel
• Improper tunnel design
• Faulty support structures
• Explosions or fires
• Improper foundation for the tunnel

All of these conditions could weaken the tunnel and lead to it failing and injuring those around it. There might be warning signs ahead of time that are not heeded. Failure to adhere to the maintenance schedule of a tunnel can be problematic as well. Hiring the right tunnel injuries lawyer can be extremely helpful if you wish to identify liable parties to seek compensation from.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

After a tunnel accident, you might not know who caused your injury. You might assume that improper maintenance was to blame or that the company building the tunnel failed to correctly design the tunnel. This may not always be the case.

Our team of attorneys at Shulman & Hill can work hard to ensure that liable parties are identified correctly and held accountable to the best of our abilities. Some of the parties who might be responsible for a tunnel accident are:

• Equipment manufacturers
• Property owners
• General contractors
• Subcontractors

If any of these parties are deemed responsible for your injury, a lawyer can make sure that they take this into consideration when seeking compensation for your injuries. Tunnel accidents can lead to major injuries or even loss of life. A lawyer at Shulman & Hill has experience handling these types of cases and can help you determine negligent parties and file a claim for compensation.

Types of Injuries Related to Manhattan Tunnel Accidents

Tunnel accidents are often catastrophic and can lead to many severe injuries and even death. Permanent disability is also a common outcome. Utility and construction workers building tunnels are at significant risk and can be harmed by falling debris, tunnel collapse, machine failures, and chemical and sewage exposure. Tunnel accidents are often among the most serious injuries of all personal injury claims.

For those who are in a tunnel or near a tunnel that fails, it can be common to fall into a sinkhole or be harmed by an explosion or fire. If traffic is going through the tunnel, being harmed by other vehicles, flames, or smoke is likely.

Once the original incident is over, crews that are brought in to handle the clean-up of the accident may still be at significant risk. Falling debris, further collapse, and risk of burns or drowning (if the tunnel is underwater) are common.

Sanitary and chemical exposure are also a possibility. Since tunnels are located near natural gas lines and other piping, it is also possible to be injured by those nearby chemical and contamination sources.

Because a tunnel accident can result in so many other hazards, it can be confusing to identify what your legal rights are. As a result, working with an experienced attorney at Shulman & Hill can be immensely helpful. Whether you were working in a tunnel during a collapse or simply driving through, each case is unique and worth assessing with a legal professional.

Can I Seek Compensation After A Tunnel Accident Injury?

Depending on the factors that are involved in your case, you may be entitled to compensation for being injured in a tunnel accident. Many of these accidents can be quite serious and can involve many liable parties. As a result, pursuing compensation on your own can be very challenging if you are not familiar with the law.

There are many factors that will be examined related to seeking compensation, and our team of lawyers can make sure that they consider all of them thoroughly while working on your case. Whether you need help conducting an investigation, compiling evidence, identifying liable parties, or fierce representation in the courtroom, we can help you.

Why Choose Shulman & Hill?

Shulman & Hill are here to help you with your personal injury claims related to tunnel accidents. We can provide you with a Manhattan tunnel accident lawyer who can handle your claim and compile the evidence needed to assist you during negotiations. If insurance companies, adjusters, and their legal teams push back, we can also go to trial on your behalf.

Although we have a tremendous track record of success, our attorneys understand that each and every case is different. Contact us today to set up a free consultation or give us a call at 212.221.1000. We operate on a contingency-fee model which means that you will only pay for our services if we secure compensation for you.