Sprawling cities like New York would be impossible to grow and maintain without skilled welders. Whether they are working on bridges, buildings, or support beams, these workers keep our city in pristine condition. Unfortunately, the more welding work one does, the more likely they are to suffer an injury.
Does your occupation involve welding? If so, it is important to remember that welding can be dangerous if proper safety measures are not taken. You need to exercise caution to guard against these accidents.
Even if you do take all necessary steps to prioritize your safety, for various reasons, accidents may still occur. While you will hopefully never be involved in a welding accident, it is crucial to be aware of how to handle them. If you or a loved one in New York are ever victimized by a welding accident due to another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and related losses.
Review your case with a personal injury lawyer in New York to learn more about your options. At Shulman & Hill, a New York welding accidents attorney will offer the aggressive representation you need to pursue the full amount of compensation to which you may be entitled.
New York Welding Accidents: What You Need to Know
Welding accidents can cause harm in a number of different ways. That said, one of the most common injuries resulting from these accidents is known as welder’s flash (or welder’s eye). This injury occurs when a welder’s eyes are exposed to ultraviolet light without sufficient protection.
Symptoms of welder’s eye may not present themselves immediately. Victims of this injury often notice symptoms hours after being exposed to ultraviolet light. Their symptoms may include:
- Eye pain
- Bloodshot eyes
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Tearing
- Blurred vision
- The feeling of an object or foreign body in the eye
See an eye doctor right away if your work involves welding and you notice any of these symptoms. You need fast treatment to stop the progression of the injury. Additionally, seeing a doctor can help you establish a paper trail for a claim should the injury exacerbate over time.
Other Injuries Caused by New York Welding Accidents
Welder’s eye may account for most injuries sustained in welding accidents. However, welding accidents can also cause other types of injuries and illnesses.
For example, if your skin is exposed to ultraviolet light, your chances of developing skin cancer may be greater than they otherwise would be. Additionally, you might inhale particles in welding fumes at work. If they accumulate, they could put you at an increased risk of developing lung conditions, various types of cancer, kidney problems, and more.
Regardless of the specific nature of your injuries or illness, if you are ever harmed in a New York welding accident, you will likely need some form of medical treatment. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may also be unable to return to work after an accident. This could prevent you from earning a paycheck. Naturally, being unable to earn an income makes paying for unexpected medical bills even more difficult.
How Our Welding Accidents Law Firm in New York Helps
In New York, if you are injured as a result of an on-the-job welding accident, you can typically seek compensation for your losses by filing a workers’ compensation claim. Your employer should have workers’ compensation insurance for circumstances like this.
However, before filing a claim, it may be a good idea to seek representation from a New York welding accidents lawyer. The following are key ways in which we can help:
Investigating the Accident
You should not expect your employer’s insurer to immediately pay you what you are owed after you file a claim. Insurance companies are businesses. Like all businesses, they have financial priorities of their own. In fact, in some instances, an insurance company could attempt to deny your claim entirely.
As a result, some insurers look for reasons to justify denying claims against them. They may do so by arguing that your accident was not genuinely work-related. In other instances, they might claim that you are not entitled to workers’ compensation benefits because your accident occurred because you were intoxicated. Sometimes insurers even deny claims by arguing that an injured worker was intentionally trying to harm themselves in hopes of a payout.
To prove that you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, it may be necessary to conduct a thorough investigation into the accident. Our New York welding accident attorneys are prepared to do this if needed.
The evidence our investigation yields can play a critical role in your case if your employer’s insurer initially denies your claim. If this happens, the New York Workers’ Compensation Board will still review the claim to determine if it is valid. If they find you do have a valid claim, they can essentially force an insurer to pay you. Our experts will provide evidence to illustrate to the board why your claim should be accepted.
Calculating What You May Be Owed
After being injured in a New York welding accident, you may sustain numerous losses. Determining how much compensation you may be entitled to involves tallying up all of your compensable losses to calculate an appropriate payout.
This can be difficult for many reasons. For example, treatment for your injuries may be ongoing. You might have to estimate how much your future treatment will cost and add up the bills for any treatment you have already received.
We can help with this task. Our qualified personal injury lawyers in New York thoroughly understand how to accurately determine the amount of compensation to pursue based on the nature of your losses.
Negotiating
Again, an insurance company is not necessarily motivated to pay you what you compensation after a New York welding accident. If you work with them directly, some may try to convince you to settle for less than your claim could actually be worth.
At Shulman & Hill, we will do everything in our power to keep this from happening. Our New York welding accident lawyers can negotiate on your behalf to ensure you receive a fair payout.
Why Choose Shulman & Hill?
At Shulman & Hill, we have a proven track record of success. Over the years, our attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our various clients. These outcomes are a direct result of our meticulous and aggressive approach. To learn more about what we can do for you, call us today at 212-221-1000.