New York City Utility Worker Injuries Lawyer

Utility workers play a critical role in any community. However, in a place like New York City, their work is particularly critical. With its large population and numerous industries, New York City relies heavily on utility workers. Despite how crucial they are in keeping the city running, their efforts often go unnoticed, and unfortunately, their work can sometimes put them in harm’s way. Those who are injured on the job may be entitled to compensation for their losses.

If you or a loved one have sustained injuries while working for a New York utilities company, contact a New York City utility worker injuries attorney to learn about your rights and legal options. At Shulman & Hill, one of our workers’ compensation or personal injury lawyers in New York City can explain the process of seeking compensation and offer aggressive representation if needed.

New York City Utility Worker Injuries

The injuries utility workers in New York City may sustain on the job can be wide-ranging. This is because these workers are often responsible for performing a wide range of tasks. Common New York City utility worker injuries include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Broken bones
• Burns
• Spinal cord injuries (that could result in long-term paralysis)
• Disfigurement
• Head trauma (which may cause long-term cognitive difficulties)
• Death

Be aware that if an accident at work results in the death of a New York City utility worker, their family may still be able to seek compensation. You can discuss this with the experts at our utility worker injuries law firm in New York City during a free case review.

Just as there are numerous types of injuries a New York City utility worker may sustain, there are also numerous potential causes of accidents causing these injuries. They include:

• Insufficient training
• Working in inherently dangerous environments
• Lack of necessary safety gear or clothing
• Hiring unqualified workers
• Defective equipment
• Inadequate supervision
• Failure to properly communicate safety procedures

New York City Utility Worker Injuries: The Aftermath of an Accident

The struggles you may face after being injured at work will vary depending on the nature and severity of your injuries. You may need some form of medical treatment. Whether you need immediate treatment, ongoing care, or both, there is a reasonable chance you may struggle to pay for this treatment. Paying your medical bills can also be even more difficult if your injuries limit your ability to work and earn a paycheck.

How Our Utility Worker Injuries Law Firm in New York City Can Help

New York law is designed to ensure workers who are injured in genuine on-the-job accidents can recover compensation for such losses as their medical bills. In New York, employers must buy workers’ compensation insurance that offers coverage for all employees (including part-time workers). You can pursue compensation after your accident by filing a claim to collect from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.

In some cases, injured workers may be able to seek additional compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit against negligent parties that contributed to their accident, including a property owner or contractor.

You may want to strongly consider meeting with a New York City utility worker injuries lawyer before filing a claim as an attorney can help in the following ways:

Investigating the Accident

It can be helpful to understand the perspective of insurance providers. These companies are businesses. As such, those running them and implementing their policies are often motivated to protect their bottom line at all costs. They are often not eager to offer compensation to claimants if they can justify denying or undervaluing claims.

There are several ways an insurer could justify denying a claim for workers’ compensation. First, they can argue that you failed to prove your accident qualifies as truly work-related. Because New York law does not allow workers to recover compensation if accidents occurred because they were trying to harm themselves, some insurers go so far as to say that claimants intentionally caused their own accidents in hopes of a payout.

If an insurer tries to deny your claim, you still have options to obtain the benefits you may be entitled to. New York State’s Workers’ Compensation Board reviews all claims regardless of an insurer or employer’s initial reaction. If your claim is valid, they can force an insurer to pay you.

They may be more likely to deem your claim valid if you can offer evidence showing it meets the criteria for workers’ compensation. Our workers’ compensation lawyers in New York City will conduct a thorough investigation to gather such evidence.

Determining Potential Compensation

New York’s laws clearly specify which types of losses and damages injured workers can seek compensation for when filing workers’ compensation claims. These include medical expenses and lost wages. A personal injury lawsuit may result in additional compensation for these losses, in addition to money to account for your pain and suffering.

An insurer does not want you to know what types of losses are compensable. It can sometimes be much easier for them to convince you to settle for a low offer if you do not have legal representation.

This is another reason that it may be a good idea to work with a New York City utility worker injuries lawyer. We can apply our thorough understanding of the law to determine the types of compensation you can seek. If an insurer refuses to pay you a reasonable settlement, we can negotiate aggressively on your behalf.

Identifying Liable Parties

Because workers’ compensation insurance exists, you cannot sue your employer in these circumstances. You must pursue compensation by filing a workers’ compensation claim.

However, in some instances, you may be able to seek additional compensation by filing a claim or lawsuit against other negligent parties who caused your accident (i.e. the owner of the property failed to provide adequate safety devices or manufacturers who overlooked a defect in your safety gear). Our investigation can help identify who those parties may be.

Why Choose Shulman & Hill?

At Shulman & Hill, we love our city and appreciate the way utility workers keep it running. That is why our New York City utility worker injury attorneys passionately and meticulously pursue compensation on behalf of those who have been injured in an accident. The result? Our proven track record of success.

To learn more about what we can do for you, call us today at 212.221.1000 or schedule a free legal consultation online.