Work injury lawsuits are not uncommon in New York City and the rest of the Empire State. Why? When a worker is injured in the workplace or while performing work duties, they’re often denied workers’ compensation payouts because of insurer greed. Alternatively, injured workers may be harmed due to the negligence of a supervisor or another party. In cases such as this, the injured worker may be forced to file a lawsuit to pay for their medical bills and other accident-related expenses.
When this happens, Schwartzapfel Lawyers is always ready to fight for you and your loved ones. We’ve helped many New York construction and other industry workers recover millions of dollars in damages from clients, supervisors, general contractors, and insurance companies.
Not sure what to expect? Let’s break down one of our most important successes: a work injury lawsuit in which our client, an electrician, received $7 million in damages to pay for his past and future medical bills as well as lost income from time off work and much more.
Also, if you would prefer to speak directly to one of our experienced work injury attorneys, dial 1-516-342-2200 and allow Schwartzapfel Lawyers the honor and privilege of assisting you on your road to recovery.
The Work Injury Incident
Our client in this case was a 44-year-old Local 3 union electrician at a New York City construction site near 2nd Ave. On April 20, 2010, our client, attempted to install an electrified sign at a high elevation in Manhattan, NY. To ensure a proper working environment, the operation called for safety equipment such as a well-maintained scaffold, up-to-code safety harnesses, and other gear.
But our client was not afforded these basic tools. Instead, he was denied safety equipment like a scaffold, devices to stop him from falling, and a coworker to assist with the electrified sign installation. Nevertheless, as, our client was not in a position to refuse orders from his supervisor, he was made to climb up to a significant height, where he worked to install the sign.
By ladder, our client ascended to a height of approximately 15 feet. Unfortunately, there our client was electrocuted because of the above-mentioned safety violations, which were forced on our client by the Defendants. Our client then fell to the concrete ground approximately 15 feet below, where he was electrocuted.
How Our Client Needed Assistance
In this case, it was immediately clear that our client was injured because of the negligence of the Defendants. Specifically, the Defendants:
- Failed to provide our client with a safe ladder
- Failed to provide our client with a spotter and/or coworker
- Failed to provide our client with a secure anchorage to be used in relation to a fall arrest” device such as a safety belt and/or harness
- Failed to provide our client with a scaffold or some equivalent safety platform
- Did not provide our client with any perimeter protection, like guardrails
- Did not shut down the electricity in the area while work was underway, which would have prevented the electrocution from occurring
This all clearly displayed negligence on the part of the Defendants, who had a responsibility to provide our client with a safe workplace but did not do so for one reason or another. This negligence directly led to our client’s injuries, which included injuries to the lower back.
Due to his excessive injuries, our client was unable to return to work. In addition, he incurred significant medical bills over time. This placed stress on the family of the injured employee and caused him to turn to Schwartzapfel Lawyers for assistance.
Case Verdict and Compensation
Over the course of this work injury lawsuit, the Defendants claimed that our client was the cause of the incident and his injuries. Schwartzapfel Lawyers gathered evidence, presented an airtight case response, and negotiated on our client’s behalf with insurance companies, the Defendant’s legal team, and others.
By the case’s end, Schwartzapfel Lawyers was able to:
- Prove that our client was not responsible for his injuries or the electrocution incident.
- Prove that the Defendants were trying to avoid responsibility. Specifically, they tried to claim that our client had pre-existing damage to the spine and other injuries that led to the incident.
- Prove that the Defendants were negligent and, thus, ultimately at fault for our client’s injuries.
Due to our efforts, our client recovered significant economic damages to cover medical expenses, benefits, and loss of income. This totaled $7 million and allowed our client to recover from the financial strain placed upon him, making for a truly successful outcome.
To learn more about this case and other successful outcomes like it, dial 1-516-342-2200 and speak with one of our leading NYC trial attorneys today!
Why Work Injury Lawyers Are Important
As seen from this case verdict and its background situation, workplace injury lawyers are supremely important. New York City has many accidents each day, ranging from slip and fall and trip and fall accidents to personal injuries to product malfunction injuries and construction accidents.
Construction accidents, in particular, are extremely prevalent and dangerous. Furthermore, fatal construction injuries are very common in New York City, despite construction workers only making up about 5% of the total workforce in New York City.
When you or a loved one is injured because of a work accident, you may try to get workers’ compensation payouts. However, you may still need qualified legal professionals on your side because:
- Insurance companies often try to avoid paying, even when a workplace accident is legitimate. They may try to prove that the victim of a workplace accident had a pre-existing condition, didn’t follow the rules, or was otherwise directly responsible for their injuries.
- Someone was directly negligent and caused the injuries in question. For example, suppose a construction supervisor or general contractor fails to provide their crew with safety gear. In that case, they are being negligent and could be liable for any injuries that occur as a result.
Filing a work injury lawsuit, submitting a workers’ compensation claim, or contesting a refuted claim can be difficult, if not impossible, to tackle alone. On top of that, those injured from workplace accidents often have a tough enough time as it is recovering from their injuries while juggling costly medical bills.
But you don’t have to go through this challenging time alone. Instead, you can contact professional legal advisors like Schwartzapfel Lawyers by calling us at 1-516-342-2200.
What To Do After a Workplace Injury
Although workers’ compensation attorneys can be helpful, you shouldn’t contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers immediately after an accident, nor should you speak to your insurance company. Instead, get yourself to safety and seek out medical assistance right away. In many cases, getting medical treatment ASAP can minimize the long-term ramifications of your accident and medical bills.
Only after seeing a medical professional or being hospitalized should you contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers. Contact us before speaking to your insurance company, as well. This is important because no matter what they say, insurance companies are not on your side.
As your personal injury lawyers, Schwartzapfel Lawyers can:
- Speak to insurance companies on your behalf. This is very helpful if you want to file a workers’ compensation claim, as we can ensure that your claim goes through and isn’t turned away because of a technicality
- Gather evidence for you to ensure your workers’ compensation insurance claim is accepted
- Gather evidence for an upcoming lawsuit
- Provide advice about the viability of a work injury lawsuit
- Help you determine who may have been negligent or who may be liable for your injuries
- Provide other legal counsel
- And much more!
If you or a loved one have been injured because of a work accident, don’t wait – contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers today at 1-516-342-2200.
You’ll receive a free case evaluation/free consultation from one of our expert personal injury attorneys. Our law firm will work through the details of your workers’ compensation benefits, gather the details of your work-related injury, and help you ensure your workers’ comp injury claim gets the attention it deserves.
Potential Compensation for Work Injury Lawsuits
Anyone injured in a work accident knows how expensive medical bills can be. Even for relatively mild worker injuries, hospitals or clinics may charge hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars for medical care. Moreover, medical costs can balloon if a worker requires long-term care or physical therapy, especially if their job injuries are debilitating in some way.
Those costs are usually not covered completely by personal insurance plans or even workplace health coverage. In many cases, the only way for injured workers to pay for their medical expenses is to file a lawsuit or secure workers’ compensation. Note: Most NYC companies are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance so that their workers have access to key disability benefits.
With Schwartzapfel Lawyers on your side, you could see maximum compensation or damages into the tens of thousands or even millions of dollars. This is because we’re skilled workers’ compensation lawyers who are familiar with the causes of most workplace injuries and can tell when negligence has played a part.
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t need to worry about paying us unless we win money for you through your lawsuit or workers’ comp claim. Our work injury law firm will ensure your legal rights are respected and that your workers’ comp benefits are leveraged for serious injuries. It’s important to us that we maintain a respectful lawyer-client relationship, and this is part of that.
When all was said and done, our electrician client recovered $7 million in total damages. Our Verdicts & Settlements page is full of similar testimonial examples – check it out and see how we’ve helped other New York City workers just like you in the past.
Summary
Ultimately, our $7M case for our client is just one example of the benefits we bring to each of our clients, and we’re always ready to provide legal advice to those in need.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a workplace accident, don’t wait. Contact us today at 1-516-342-2200 for a free case evaluation and allow us the privilege of helping you make the right choice for your needs.
Sources:
Schwartzapfel Lawyers, P.C. | Fighting For You™™
Fatal Injuries among New York City Construction Workers | NYC.gov
Negligence | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
Health coverage protects you from high medical costs | HealthCare.gov
