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Losing a family member or loved one is hard enough, but that pain and grief can be magnified if your family member is killed suddenly in a workplace accident. The unexpected nature of the loss—as well as the frustration of not being able to be with them—can be devastating for close-knit families.
Sometimes the victim was the primary earner in their household. This can leave an entire family wondering how they are going to pay bills, afford rent, and even put food on the table. Thankfully, there are legal protections in place for the surviving family to seek compensation for the damages they have encountered in the aftermath of their loved one’s passing.
If you lost a close family member, such as a spouse or parent, to a workplace injury in New York, contact Shulman & Hill today for a free legal consultation.
According to the Federal Bureau of Labor, there are more than 5,000 workplace fatalities every year. While the fatalities are spread across many industries, the construction industry alone is responsible for nearly half of them. With construction being so prevalent in New York, residents should be aware of the inherent risks and legal remedies for injured workers and their families.
Unfortunately, any job can produce a fatal accident. Some of the occupations where fatalities occur include:
No matter if their specialty is residential or commercial buildings, roofers in New York are constantly at risk for a fatal accident. Many times they are ascending or descending ladders while carrying tools or roofing materials, or trying to safely move around on a roof while performing their job. The common fatalities in this job are falling from a roof or ladder.
The sheer number of businesses and stores in New York means that delivery drivers are often on the move all day long. While they spend their time getting our groceries, produce, cargo, and even clothes and laundry where it needs to be, they are in constant danger of being involved in a fatal automobile accident.
When it comes to undervalued and underappreciated work, our city’s sanitation workers are at the top of the list. They are constantly at an elevated risk of being involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident since they need to frequently get on and off their truck to collect the garbage and recycling. In April 2011, a sanitation worker was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident in Brooklyn.
While mechanics are keeping cars and trucks up and running, they frequently work with large, heavy, or dangerous equipment and materials. The majority of fatal accidents involve vehicles falling off a lift or jack or a worker getting caught between equipment and vehicles.
Construction sites are filled with potentially dangerous tools, materials, and heavy machinery like cranes. The increased risk of fatality in the construction field comes mostly from falls from heights and objects falling onto unsuspecting workers.
Responsible for keeping the homes and businesses of New York safe, firefighters frequently find themselves in dangerous situations in their line of work. Fatalities most commonly occur when firefighters are actively trying to put out a fire in a burning building. However, they are also at risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident when traveling to and from an emergency or dying from cancer from exposure to harmful chemicals.
New York utility workers are responsible for installing, repairing, and maintaining the numerous underground and above-ground powerlines throughout the city. They deal with incredible amounts of power that can be deadly in fractions of a second. Frequent causes for death among those in this field are electrocution and exposure to toxic chemicals and substances. Fall from heights accidents are also common as workers frequently require the use of bucket trucks when working on above-ground powerlines.
There are substantial losses that surviving family members can suffer from after a New York workplace fatality. Initially, there are medical bills and potential treatments in an attempt to save the life of the victim. When these are not enough, the family may then be faced with funeral expenses and the loss of their loved one’s income.
Losing the support a loved one provided can be difficult to stomach. The guidance, love, and nurturing they would have given to their family and children are lost forever. Although money can never undo the permanent loss in your family, an experienced workers’ compensation attorney may help alleviate any financial burdens you face.
Workers’ compensation claims can be complicated and frustrating enough when they are filed by an injured worker. When you have lost a loved one and you are pursuing workers’ compensation survivor benefits, it can be even more daunting.
This is why working with a qualified workers’ compensation law firm like Shulman & Hill can save you time and stress. They can help take care of the paperwork and filing while you concentrate on mourning and healing with your family. An attorney can help recover compensation for funeral expenses and death and survivor benefits.
If a party other than your loved one’s employer may have contributed to the accident, you could also be eligible to pursue additional compensation by filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
It can be difficult to file claims after a loved one has passed. Once the claim is filed, there is also the challenge of trying to get a fair settlement from the insurer who may try to deny or delay your claim.
By leveraging the legal team at Shulman & Hill, you are gaining an ally that an insurer can negotiate with. An attorney at Shulman & Hill can be your advocate and expert negotiator throughout the entire legal process. Contact Shulman & Hill today for a free legal consultation.
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