Staten Island Utility Worker Injuries Lawyer
In a large urban environment such as Staten Island, utility workers play a critical role in the lives of all citizens, even if their work often goes unnoticed or unappreciated. Unfortunately, the tasks utility workers must perform in order to keep Staten Island powered and running smoothly can be dangerous.
Have you been injured while working as a utility worker on Staten Island? If so, you can likely recover compensation for your medical bills and related losses by filing a claim to collect workers’ compensation benefits and/or by filing a lawsuit.
It is important to understand that filing a claim or lawsuit does not guarantee an insurer will pay you the benefits you likely are eligible for. They may try to find ways to deny your claim altogether. If that happens, Shulman & Hill can step in and help.
Our dedicated Staten Island utility worker injury lawyers at Shulman & Hill are prepared to offer the aggressive representation you deserve. Schedule a free legal consultation today to learn more about your options.
Common Staten Island Utility Worker Injuries
Common Staten Island utility worker injuries include the following:
- Burns
- Electrocutions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Neck, shoulder, and knee injuries
Some work-related accidents even result in death. If you have lost a loved one due to such an accident, you may still pursue compensation for your losses.
Why Staten Island Utility Worker Accidents Happen
Accidents involving utility workers may take a range of forms. Examples include electrocution accidents, falls from heights, exposure to hazardous materials, fires, and more.
These Staten Island utility accidents can be caused by a number of reasons. They include:
- Failure to equip workers with necessary safety gear
- Failure to properly train workers
- Equipment defects
- Miscommunication
- Failure to secure work sites
It is important that employers and any relevant contractors or property owners take steps to ensure everyone’s safety. Accidents may happen if they fail to do so.
The Consequences of Staten Island Utility Worker Injuries
A work-related accident can cause significant hardships. Your injuries will likely require costly medical treatment which you may be unprepared to pay. Injuries could also be so severe that they prevent you from working and earning an income.
You may be entitled to compensation for such losses. A Staten Island utility worker injury lawyer can help you pursue the benefits you may be eligible for.
Seeking Compensation for Staten Island Utility Worker Injuries
There are two ways you may pursue compensation for injuries sustained in an on-the-job utility worker accident. They are:
Filing a Claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits
New York law requires nearly all employers to have workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation benefits can compensate injured employees for relevant medical bills and lost wages.
Injured workers do not have to prove fault for their accident in order to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. However, they do have to prove that their accident was genuinely work-related.
Insurers are often not naturally inclined to compensate claimants fairly if they can find reasons to deny claims. Your employer’s insurer may attempt to deny your claim by arguing that in these circumstances you do not actually qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
This is one of the many reasons it is wise to seek representation from a Staten Island workers’ compensation lawyer when filing a claim. We can help gather evidence showing that you do qualify for workers’ compensation benefits based on the nature of your accident.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Although you do not have to prove negligence to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, your accident may nevertheless have occurred as a result of another party’s negligence.
For example, perhaps you were involved in an accident because a property owner or general contractor failed to provide you with a critical piece of safety equipment, such as a hardhat. You could potentially seek additional compensation beyond what your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance may provide by filing a lawsuit against the other party.
This is another reason to coordinate with a personal injury law firm for Staten Island when seeking compensation. We have the expertise necessary to thoroughly investigate your accident. Our investigation will help identify any and all liable parties that you may be able to file a lawsuit against. However, you cannot sue your own employer—that is why workers’ compensation insurance exists.
The Role of a Staten Island Utility Worker Injuries Law Firm
You should strongly consider hiring one of our Staten Island utility worker injury attorneys when filing a claim for compensation. We can optimize your chances of receiving workers’ compensation benefits and/or reaching a fair settlement or verdict by helping with the following:
Investigating
Because your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer may try to deny your claim, we will investigate your accident to prove it was genuinely work-related. This may include gathering relevant medical records, witness statements, accident reports, and more. Our investigation may also reveal potentially liable third parties that you can pursue additional compensation from.
Filing a Claim
Filing a claim often involves gathering evidence, drafting a narrative of the accident, and documenting the losses for which you are seeking compensation. This can be a tedious process. Our Staten Island legal team can handle these tasks while you focus on your recovery.
Negotiating
It is impossible for an attorney to promise you will receive a certain amount of compensation for your personal injury lawsuit. However, you have a better chance of settling for an appropriate and fair amount if you have representation from a legal expert who is qualified to negotiate on your behalf.
Why Choose Shulman & Hill?
At Shulman & Hill, our Staten Island utility worker injuries lawyers have a proven track record of success. Our aggressive approach has helped us recover more than $300 million for our injured clients over the years.
Call us today at (555) 555-5555 or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation. You will only pay for our services if we secure compensation for you.
WE WORK WITH YOU
TO GET YOU COMPENSATED
Everyday working people often struggle to afford top-tier legal representation. To ensure equal access to justice, we work on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no attorneys’ fees unless we achieve a settlement or verdict in your case.