Staten Island Fatal Workplace Injury Lawyer

Losing a loved one can be incredibly tough. That pain and grief can be magnified if you lose a spouse or family member suddenly in a workplace accident.

Some injuries are avoidable if employees, employers, property owners, and contractors take steps to ensure the safety of each and every worker. Even if they do, workers can still be put in a dangerous situation.

If you lost a loved one due to work-related circumstances, you may be able to recover compensation for funeral costs and medical bills. Discuss your case with a Staten Island fatal workplace injury attorney at Shulman & Hill to learn about your rights. We can help you better understand your options, and work hard to optimize your chances of recovering compensation.

Staten Island Fatal Workplace Injuries: Essential Information

Prioritizing safety in the workplace is crucial. Many people are not aware of how common fatal workplace accidents are. In 2019 alone, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 5,333 American worker fatalities as a result of such accidents.

While anyone can potentially sustain a fatal workplace injury, some occupations put workers at a greater risk of death than others. These include:

• Roofers
• Construction workers
• Sanitation workers
• Tunnel workers
• Airplane pilots and flight engineers
• Industrial and manufacturing workers
• Iron and steelworkers
• Delivery and truck drivers

How Staten Island Fatal Workplace Accidents Happen

The potential causes of accidents resulting in fatal workplace injuries are numerous. The following are merely a few examples:

• Falls from heights
• Explosions or fires
• Inadequate security
• Building collapses
• Failure to communicate safety procedures to employees
• Falling objects
• Hiring unqualified employees
• Work-related car accidents
• Exposure to harmful chemicals
• Failure to provide employees with necessary safety equipment
• Electrocution
• Improperly maintained equipment

A workplace fatality is not always the result of an acute injury that is immediately noticeable in the aftermath of an accident. Some workplace-related illnesses and injuries develop over time. Examples of these are illnesses that develop from exposure to harmful chemicals. It may take years for workers to be diagnosed with cancer or a similarly serious illness. Even in these cases, you can potentially seek compensation if your loved one died from an illness that can be directly tied to the conditions at their former workplace.

The Consequences of a Staten Island Fatal Workplace Injury

Losing a loved one in a work-related accident is an emotionally devastating experience. These tragedies can have indefinite lasting effects on multiple areas of your life.

If your loved one was the primary financial provider in your family, your family’s financial circumstances can change dramatically when they pass away unexpectedly after a workplace accident. In addition to a decrease in income, you may still have unpaid medical bills and funeral expenses to pay for. This financial burden can make an already painful situation even more overwhelming.

In most cases, you will be entitled to compensation to help with some of these expenses. While no one is able to bring your loved one back, the legal experts at our Staten Island law firm can help reduce some of the financial stress you may be experiencing.

How Our Staten Island Fatal Workplace Injury Law Firm Can Help You

Workers who are injured on the job in the Staten Island area are generally permitted to seek compensation for their medical bills and lost time from work by filing a claim to collect workers’ compensation benefits. New York’s workers’ compensation laws also allow most spouses and dependents of workers who died in work-related accidents to file claims for survivor benefits.

Filing such a claim does not guarantee an automatic payout. To improve your chances of receiving benefits, you should enlist the help of a Staten Island fatal workplace injury lawyer. We can assist you with the following.

Conducting an Investigation

Most New York employers have workers’ compensation insurance policies. Often, their insurers are not motivated to pay claimants what they are likely eligible for. It is not uncommon for insurers to seek justifications to deny claims for workers’ compensation benefits after a fatal workplace injury accident. An insurer might deny your claim by stating there is reason to conclude your loved one’s accident was not truly work-related.

This is why it can be highly beneficial to conduct an investigation into the case. Our Staten Island fatal workplace injury lawyers can look into the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s passing to gather evidence showing why you are eligible for compensation.

Negotiating for Fair Compensation

In some cases, you may be able to pursue additional compensation by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against a negligent third party. A personal injury attorney can review the circumstances of your case and identify if a contractor, property owner, or similar party may have contributed to your loved one’s fatal accident or illness.

If so, one of our experienced Staten Island personal injury attorneys can pursue compensation for your pain and suffering and similar losses. Our attorneys will fight to obtain fair compensation on your behalf. If they cannot reach a settlement agreement with the insurance company, they are prepared to go to trial to secure a favorable verdict for you.

Handling Administrative Tasks

Adapting to life after a loved one’s tragic passing is difficult enough. During this painful time, you do not need to burden yourself any further by handling the various tasks involved in the claims process such as corresponding with insurance companies, filing paperwork, and gathering evidence. We can handle these tasks for you.

Why Choose Shulman & Hill?

At Shulman & Hill, we help families who are facing trying circumstances after experiencing a tragedy, like a sudden workplace accident. Our compassionate approach is just one of the reasons our Staten Island lawyers have been able to successfully recover millions of dollars for our clients over the years.

Learn more about what we can do for you by calling us today at 212.221.1000 or scheduling a free legal consultation online.