A fall at work can take someone from a regular shift to an emergency room in a matter of minutes. Once the immediate medical needs are addressed, questions often come up about who is responsible for the injury and how the bills from the accident will get paid.
Our Brooklyn work injury lawyers will look into what caused the fall, who may be responsible, and which insurance policy may apply to cover damages. Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers handles these cases while clients recover. We collectively bring 50 years of experience to injury cases and have recovered more than $100 million for clients.
Our slip and fall accidents at work lawyer in Brooklyn will fight for you and tell you realistically what you can expect. Principal attorney Ian Chaikin grew up around construction, so he understands the legal issues that can arise after a serious job-site fall. Call today to discuss your injury during a free consultation.
How Our Brooklyn Workplace Slip and Fall Lawyers Will Build Your Injury Case
A workplace fall case starts with finding out why you fell. Where you were working and who controlled the area at that time can also affect your legal options. Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers will investigate those details instead of making assumptions about the accident.
Our Brooklyn personal injury lawyers will gather evidence that helps establish your claim, such as photographs, video, incident reports, witness statements, maintenance records, safety records, and other documents that help explain what happened.
We’ll Push Back If Insurers Dispute Your Claim
We’ll also look at every possible source of insurance coverage that may apply to your claim. When an insurer disputes responsibility to try to downplay the seriousness of the injury, we’ll respond with facts and evidence.
Your Brooklyn slip and fall accidents at work attorney will negotiate with an insurer, but we also prepare every case as though it may go to trial. At our firm, you will know what is happening with your case. We’ll explain the process, give you realistic expectations, and keep the claim moving.
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis. This means you’ll pay nothing up front for legal representation, and our attorney’s fee depends on recovering money for you.
Case Today (212) 977-2020
What Counts as a Slip and Fall Accident at Work?
A workplace slip and fall happens when a worker loses footing or balance and falls on a job site. The fall may happen on the same level or from a height.
Common examples include falls caused by:
- Water, oil, grease, or another slippery substance
- Ice or snow
- Broken or uneven flooring
- Loose mats or floor coverings
- Debris in a walkway
- Poor lighting
- Broken stairs or handrails
- Holes or unguarded openings
- Unsafe ladders
- Broken scaffolds or work platforms
- Missing or inadequate fall protection
Some people who get hurt on the job in Brooklyn walk away from a fall thinking they only have a bruise or a strained muscle. Later, they realize they have severe pain and other symptoms that need medical attention. Other workers suffer serious injuries right away and may need surgery, rehabilitation, or months of recovery away from work.
A Workplace Fall May Involve More Than Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation may be only one part of a work injury case, and it does not answer every legal question after a fall. The insurance system may provide medical care and lost-wage benefits for eligible employees who suffer job-related injuries.
However, when someone other than your employer may have contributed to the dangerous condition, that can create a possible third-party personal injury claim. Another person or company may share responsibility for the conditions that caused your fall.
This could include the site owner, a contractor supervising the work, another contractor on the job, or a company responsible for maintaining the area. Our Brooklyn work injury attorneys will look beyond the first insurance policy that appears in the case.
We’ll identify the companies involved, determine who controlled the area, and investigate what each party did before the accident.
Insurance Limits Can Affect a Brooklyn Workplace Injury Case
A serious workplace fall may involve more than one insurance policy. Each policy limits how much the insurance company will pay for a covered claim. If several parties played a role in the accident, we may be able to consider other policies.
Finding all available coverage can matter when an injury leads to surgery, a long recovery, or months or years away from work. Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers will determine which policies apply and how much coverage is available.
We’ll also look beyond the bills and lost income you have today. We’ll document those losses before finalizing negotiations with the insurance companies.
Construction Site Falls May Raise New York Labor Law Issues
Falls are a serious concern on construction sites because workers often perform their jobs on ladders, scaffolds, roofs, platforms, and other elevated areas.
- Labor Law § 240 provides protections for workers performing certain jobs where a fall or another height-related danger exists.
- Labor Law § 241 sets safety requirements for certain construction, excavation, and demolition work.
Whether either law applies to your case depends on the work you performed before the accident happened and the circumstances surrounding it.
A Worker’s Immigration Status Does Not Automatically Bar a Claim
If an undocumented worker gets hurt in a slip and fall accident on the job, they may still have legal rights. Immigration status should not keep an injured worker from learning about available benefits and legal claims.
The New York Workers’ Compensation Board states that eligible workers may receive workers’ compensation benefits regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Our Brooklyn undocumented construction worker injury lawyers can review what happened and explain an undocumented worker’s options.
Everyone on the Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers team speaks Spanish and English. If you are wondering whether you can file a personal injury claim if you are undocumented in NYC, you can discuss your case with people who can communicate with you directly and clearly. Call us today for a review of your options during a free consultation.
The Cost of a Workplace Fall Can Continue for Years
The cost of a serious fall does not end with the first hospital bill. You may face months of treatment, lose pay during recovery, or find that an injury keeps you from returning to work.
In a third-party injury claim, damages may cover:
- Medical costs (past and ongoing)
- Income lost during recovery
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Rehabilitation and other follow-up care
- Physical pain
- Mental and emotional harm
- Lasting disability or physical restrictions
- Permanent scars or changes in appearance
- Loss of the ability to enjoy usual activities
- Other financial costs tied to the accident
We will document how the fall has affected your health, work, finances, and daily life. For a long-term injury, we will also consider future care and income losses before discussing a settlement with the insurer.
Damages in a Fatal Work Injury Case
A fatal fall leaves a family dealing with grief at the same time that legal and financial questions may need attention. We are deeply sorry if your family is facing this kind of loss. Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers will handle the legal issues so that your family has clear information about the options.
In New York, the estate’s personal representative may be able to bring a claim for losses when the death resulted from another party’s wrongful conduct. These losses can include funeral and burial expenses, the loss of financial support, and household services your loved one would have provided.
Our wrongful death lawyer in Brooklyn can find out what led to the fall, identify parties that may be legally responsible, and determine what insurance may cover the claim.
Our Brooklyn Slip and Fall Accidents at Work Lawyers Will Protect Your Claim
After a serious fall at work, your legal case may continue long after you leave the hospital. Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to review what happened and advise you on whether you can sue outside of workers’ comp for a workplace slip and fall accident.
Our firm chooses the cases we can give close attention to and handle with the urgency and care they deserve. You will get your lawyer’s cell phone number, and we will keep you informed during your case.
Do not wait too long to have your case reviewed. Many New York injury lawsuits must be filed within three years under NY CPLR § 214(5), and wrongful death actions generally must be filed within two years under NY EPTL § 5-4.1. Other time limits may apply. To learn more, call us for a free consultation. Come in as a client, leave as a friend.