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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 main breadwinner for the 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 lost loved one. If you or someone you know has lost a family member to a workplace injury in New York, contact Shulman & Hill today.
The statistics created by the Federal Bureau of Labor show that there are approximately 5,000 workplace accidents annually that result in death. 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 risks and the remedies of these dangers.
Unfortunately, any job can produce a fatal accident. Like other accidents, the main catalyst for fatal workplace accidents is often negligence in one form or another. This negligence frequently occurs in the form of dangerous working conditions. Some of the occupations where fatalities occur include:
No matter if their specialty is residential or commercial buildings, roofers in New York are in a state of constant risk of a fatal accident. Many times they are ascending or descending ladders while carrying tools or roofing materials, other times they need to safely navigate moving around on the 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 fatal injury in the form of potential traffic accidents.
When it comes to undervalued and underappreciated work, our city’s garbage collectors are at the top of the list. On top of that, they are constantly at an elevated risk of fatality due to auto crashes. Since they often need to leave the truck to collect the garbage, they are frequently at risk of being hit while walking. Many are killed as a result.
While mechanics are keeping cars and trucks up and running, they frequently use large, heavy, or dangerous equipment and materials. The majority of fatal accidents by mechanics are from accidents involving tools, equipment, or transportation.
This is an industry that frequently needs to make use of very dangerous tools and materials. The increased risk of fatality in the construction field comes mostly from slips, trips, and fall accidents.
Responsible for keeping the homes and businesses of New York safe, firefighters frequently find themselves in dangerous situations in their line of employment. Primarily, they face an increased risk of fatality from traffic accidents. Secondary causes of death are, to no one’s surprise, explosions and fires.
The Big Apple has a lot of powerlines and, as a result, these workers are responsible for installing, repairing, and maintaining the powerlines throughout the city (both underground and overhead). Often operating specialized vehicles, tools, and other equipment, 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 often come into play as well.
There are substantial damages that both victims and their surviving family members suffer as a result of dangerous jobs in New York. 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 the final funerary expenses.
Losing the familial 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 it can be difficult to put a tangible dollar amount on this value alone, an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help.
Workers’ compensation claims can be complicated and frustrating enough when they are filed by an employee. When you have lost a loved one and you need to file a lawsuit pursuing either workers’ compensation or wrongful death claims, you want to make sure that you are utilizing the best possible tools in your claim.
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.
It can be difficult to file claims after a loved one has passed. Once the lawsuit is filed, there is also the challenge of trying to get a fair settlement from the insurer. If at all possible, it is best to do this without having to go to court.
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. If the insurer refuses to offer a fair settlement, our attorneys will not hesitate to go to court if needed. Contact Shulman & Hill today for a free consultation.
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