Staten Island Tunnel Worker Injuries Lawyer

Tunnel workers play an important yet sometimes dangerous role in Staten Island, helping transport water, vehicles, and more throughout the city. Underground work is physically demanding and it comes with multiple hazards that may not be present when working above ground.

Contact Shulman & Hill for a free legal consultation if you were injured while working in a tunnel. Our Staten Island law firm helps tunnel workers recover fair compensation for their losses. One of our Staten Island tunnel worker injuries lawyers can help you navigate the process of filing a workers’ compensation claim and/or a personal injury lawsuit.

Common Tunnel Worker Injuries

It is not uncommon for Staten Island tunnel workers to be injured, as they are routinely subjected to safety hazards. In many cases, tunnel accidents can result in severe injuries and pain.

Injured tunnel workers will typically require medical treatment and may experience financial hardship as a result, particularly if they are unable to work. If that is the case for you or a loved one, you should contact one of our Staten Island tunnel worker injury attorneys. You may be entitled to compensation.

Tunnel Worker Hazards in Staten Island

While safety standards have come a long way, tunnel workers are still exposed to a wide range of occupational hazards. The following are some of the accidents a tunnel worker may be susceptible to:

• Exposure to harmful gases or substances
• Crush injuries that result from falling equipment or tunnel collapse
• Vision damage due to eye strain from insufficient light
• Fires and explosions
• Falls from equipment or into shafts
• Welding accidents
• Drowning due to unexpected floods
• Electrocution
• Trips and falls that result from debris in the workplace

As a tunnel worker injury law firm in Staten Island, Shulman & Hill is familiar with the complexities of these cases and can help you in your pursuit of compensation.

Tunnel Workers and Silicosis

Beyond traumatic injuries, tunnel workers may also be at risk for occupational diseases like silicosis. Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in silica dust. This is a common issue for tunnel workers because silica is present in many different types of rock.

After years of breathing in the dust, particles can build up in the alveoli and cause scarring and inflammation. This can increase a worker’s risk of lung cancer, tuberculosis, and chronic bronchitis.

Silicosis is particularly troubling because it is not a disease that is readily apparent. It normally takes between 10-30 years after the first exposure for the disease to develop. For many tunnel workers, this can make it difficult to connect the condition to their occupation. Insurers and employers may even try to claim that the disease was not the result of conditions in the workplace.

Important Tunnel Worker Safety

There is some inherent danger that comes with working underground. To prevent injuries and protect the health of workers, companies and contractors need to follow safety protocols.

Ventilation and air monitoring are particularly important to protect against poor air quality. Tunnel projects should also have policies for checking in and checking out of the work area to ensure that managers always know who is in the tunnels and they can prevent an injured or incapacitated worker from unknowingly being left behind. Lighting is another significant concern in tunnel work. The workplace should have sufficient light for workers to operate and perform their jobs safely.

Workers should be properly trained for their job in an underground environment. Tunnel work can be dangerous for even the most experienced employee, and without the proper training, it can be a risk to everyone in the work area.

How a Staten Island Tunnel Worker Injury Attorney Can Help

If a party other than your employer caused your tunnel accident, such as a general contractor or subcontractor, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit.

It can be highly beneficial to enlist the help of a personal injury attorney in these circumstances. We can assist you in the following key ways:

• Thoroughly investigating your case to determine who the liable party may be. The first step to pursuing any potential compensation is to identify the negligent party(s) who may have caused your accident in the first place.
• Reviewing your losses to help you pursue fair compensation. All cases are different, and without the proper guidance, you may be susceptible to accepting low settlement offers.
• Filing a demand letter and providing evidence of your losses. We can handle the paperwork so you have time to focus on your health.
• Corresponding with the insurance companies, other legal professionals, doctors, and any other relevant parties. We can handle all the major and minor steps of the litigation process.
• Negotiating on your behalf for a fair settlement or going to trial to fight for a favorable verdict. Our personal injury attorneys’ negotiation and trial experience are among the top reasons to work with Shulman & Hill when seeking compensation.

When you are harmed in a tunnel accident while working, you can typically seek compensation for your losses by filing a claim for workers’ compensation as well. This can result in compensation for medical expenses and lost wages.

Why Choose Shulman & Hill?

Whether you construct tunnels or perform maintenance, the risk of injury is present every day. Regardless of the type of injury you obtain, contact Shulman & Hill for a free legal consultation to help understand your legal rights.

With Shulman & Hill, you have access to a legal team that has extensive experience representing workers. We fight hard to get our clients the compensation they need to recover and we have recovered millions of dollars on their behalf to date. We know how to investigate complex claims and will defend your rights while you recover from your injuries.