Queens Welding Accident Lawyer

Queens—and all of New York City—would look very different if not for skilled welders. High-rise structures require a great deal of welding due to their sheer stature and exposure to extreme heat and bright light. Welders are consistently surrounded by these conditions to help create the modern, industrial structures that make Queens, New York what it is today.

If you were injured in a welding accident, contact an attorney from Shulman & Hill to discuss your situation and legal options. Our Queens lawyers can help you determine if you are eligible for financial compensation and if so, they can help you recover what you may be entitled to.

Common Welding Accidents in Queens

Every year, more than half a million people in the United States are hurt in welding accidents or suffer long-term health effects associated with welding. Sadly, an average of 58 welders die from their injuries every year. These deaths and injuries include heavy metal poisoning, lung cancer, and vision problems.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has clearly defined guidelines meant to protect workers from welding accidents. If these guidelines are not followed, accidents are more likely to happen. Common accidents include:

Failure to Provide Protective Equipment

Welders require heat-resistant gloves and helmets that protect their eyes and face from flying sparks in order to work safely. Coveralls are also necessary to protect the skin from possible burns. Without these necessities, they may be more prone to injuries.

Falls From Heights

Welders sometimes work on scaffolding or bridges. A fall from such an elevated height may result in a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or even death.

Nonexistent or Improper Maintenance

Improperly maintained hoses, compressed gas cylinders, and torches can quickly result in serious injury that is, more often than not, avoidable.

What to Do If You Are Injured in a Welding Accident

Wearing personal protective equipment and following safety regulations can help reduce the likelihood of welding injuries, but it cannot prevent all accidents and injuries from occurring.

Regardless of how your welding injury occurred, Shulman & Hill’s lawyers can help you obtain the compensation you may be entitled to. This may include payment of medical expenses, hospital bills, and lost income in the event of temporary or permanent disability. Filing a workers’ compensation claim can help recover these losses.

Common Queens Welding Accident Injuries

There are some serious hazards inherently associated with welding. Injuries stemming from the heat, noise, and fumes produced by welding can include:

• Electrocution and shock. When two or more metal parts touch, high-voltage shocks can devastate unprotected areas of the body, causing short and long-term injuries like numbness and burns.
• Respiratory illness. Toxic fumes from metal oxide compounds or coatings may cause respiratory illness.
• Loss of hearing. Even a small amount of welding, particularly on metal, can be incredibly loud. If welders are not provided with effective earplugs, it can result in both short and long-term hearing problems, including tinnitus.
• Burns from explosions. Improperly maintained tanks and torches can explode and cause serious, often fatal burns. These tanks are designed to put out extraordinary, metal-melting heat, and their eruption is more than enough to cause severe burns and injure even the most protected, knowledgeable workers.
• Eye damage. Without eye protection, the sparks produced by welding can cause eye problems. A welder’s helmet needs regular inspection to ensure that the darkening lens provides proper protection from ultraviolet and infrared radiation. Blurred vision and severe pain often come as a result if this is neglected.
• Burns from hot metal. Even if you are not burned by an errant flame or electrical current, the welded material itself is hot enough to do severe damage, particularly if any of your skin is exposed.
• Musculoskeletal problems. Welders are often put in odd positions that are difficult to sustain for long periods of time. Awkward bending or movements can lead to long-term back, knee, and joint pain.
• Cancer. Although you may not see symptoms immediately, frequent exposure to welding fumes can lead to different types of cancer.

How a Queens Welding Accident Attorney Can Help

Severe injuries can take time to heal, making it impossible for you to work. In addition to lost wages, you will likely also have expensive medical bills to pay for your treatment.

Hiring an attorney can be crucial to your case. Filing a claim without prior experience and legal background can be complex. In addition to helping you pursue workers’ compensation benefits, our attorneys at Shulman & Hill can help determine all potentially negligent parties, including property owners or contractors who may have contributed to your injury. In these cases, they can help you pursue additional compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit.

Why Choose Shulman & Hill?

At Shulman & Hill, we take every case seriously. When you work with us, you can trust that you are in good hands. Since we opened our doors in 2013, we have helped clients recover millions of dollars in compensation. Our lawyers are specially trained to help you through every step of your legal journey so that you can shift your focus to what is most important: your recovery.

Welding accidents are serious events with the potential to cause life-altering injuries. If you have been involved in a welding accident, you may be entitled to compensation. After seeking necessary medical treatment, contact the attorneys at Shulman & Hill to discuss the details of your case.