Working with heavy equipment is part of the job on construction sites, in warehouses, and at other workplaces across Queens. When a machine crushes, strikes, traps, or pulls in a worker, the injuries can require surgery and months away from work.
These cases call for a Queens work injury lawyer who understands the legal issues that can follow an accident. We’ll determine which insurance coverage may apply and deal directly with insurers that may try to downplay your injuries or what the accident has cost you.
Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers brings 50 years of combined experience to cases and has recovered more than $100 million for clients. Our Queens equipment injury lawyers can determine who may be responsible for your injury. Call to review your next steps during a free consultation.
Our Queens Equipment Injury Attorneys Can Help With a Serious Work Injury
Equipment accident cases may involve several parties. A Queens personal injury lawyer from Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers will investigate who was involved and what role each party played in the accident.
We will:
- Work to determine how the equipment accident happened.
- Identify all potentially liable parties that may owe damages.
- Obtain photographs, video footage, incident reports, and witness statements.
- Review records showing how the equipment was serviced and maintained.
- Determine which insurance policies may apply.
- Document your injuries, lost income, and other losses.
- Lead negotiations with insurance companies.
- File a lawsuit, if applicable.
- Prepare your case for trial, if necessary.
Insurers may try to minimize what the accident has cost you or argue that your injuries are not as serious as claimed. We’ll use the evidence to present a clear picture of your losses and how the injury affects your ability to work and live day to day.
Construction Experience Shapes How We Investigate These Cases
Principal attorney Ian Chaikin grew up around construction, so he knows the work that takes place on a job site and the equipment workers use.
He brings that practical background to each legal investigation, looking closely at how the accident happened, who controlled the work, and whether a safety problem or equipment failure contributed to the injury.
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Equipment Accidents Can Cause Serious Workplace Injuries
The force and weight of workplace machinery can lead to injuries that require surgery, therapy, or months away from work. These may include:
- Broken or crushed bones
- Severe cuts and lacerations
- Amputations
- Burn injuries
- Head and brain trauma
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Nerve injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
The extent of the injury affects much more than the value of a claim. It can determine whether a worker returns to the same job, needs help at home, or requires medical care for years.
Your Queens machinery injury lawyer will look beyond the expenses you or a loved one has now if the injury causes permanent limitations.
Who Can You Hold Liable for a Workplace Equipment Accident?
Workers’ compensation is generally the main source of benefits when employees get hurt on the job. It may cover medical care and part of their lost wages. Workers’ compensation also generally protects an employer from being sued by an injured employee.
A separate claim for damages may be possible when another person or company contributed to the accident. Our investigation into the matter may point to one or more responsible entities besides your employer, such as:
- The owner of the property or the project’s general contractor
- Another contractor
- The manufacturer or supplier of the equipment
- A company that rented, installed, serviced, or repaired the equipment
- Another business working at the job site
It is also possible that several insurance policies may apply. We will look for all sources of insurance coverage and determine where a claim should be made.
What Damages Can an Equipment Injury Claim Recover?
Medical bills are only one part of what an equipment injury may cost you. If you qualify for a third-party lawsuit, you may also be able to seek damages for:
- Care you may need later because of the injury.
- Paychecks you missed during your recovery.
- Loss of future income if you cannot return to the same type of work.
- Physical pain and how the injury affects your life.
- Therapy and other care needed during recovery.
- Lasting physical limitations.
- Scars or permanent changes to your appearance.
Families May Have a Claim After an Equipment Accident Causes a Death
If your family has lost someone in a workplace equipment accident, we are sorry for your loss. We understand that legal and insurance concerns can feel especially unwelcome when your family is dealing with an unexpected death.
In New York, the law allows the personal representative of an estate to bring a wrongful death action when a wrongful act, neglect, or default caused the death. Your Queens wrongful death lawyer will explain which damages may be pursued for the benefit of the family, such as lost financial support.
We can take over the investigation and communications with the insurance company to protect your family’s interests. You will also have the time you need to honor your loved one and take care of your family. Call today to learn how we can help during a free consultation.
New York Labor Law May Apply to Equipment Accidents on Construction Sites in Queens
Construction workers may have additional rights and protections under New York Labor Law. Labor Law § 240 addresses certain elevation-related hazards and specifically refers to safety devices, such as hoists, pulleys, ladders, scaffolds, and slings.
Labor Law § 241 requires reasonable and adequate safety protections in construction, excavation, and demolition work. It also addresses dangerous machinery used in connection with that work.
Whether either law applies depends on the worker’s job, the type of work being performed, the equipment involved, and how the accident happened. Our Queens equipment accident attorney will review those details and explain how they could affect your case.
Undocumented Workers in Queens May Still Have Injury Claims
Workers without legal immigration status may have questions about whether they can bring a claim after getting hurt on the job.
Our undocumented construction worker injury lawyers in Queens will look at the circumstances and determine what rights you may have based on how and where you were hurt. Our team is bilingual in Spanish and English, so workers and families who speak Spanish can communicate with us directly.
Our Queens Equipment Injury Lawyers Will Fight for You – Call Us
If an equipment accident has taken you or a loved one off the job, you may have questions about your income, medical care, and who is responsible. At Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll work hard to give you clear answers and tell you what you can realistically expect.
At our firm, we treat our clients like family and keep their cases moving forward. When you work with us, you will get your attorney’s cell phone number so you can speak to them directly. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay attorney fees unless we win your case.
Our bilingual team can assist you in English or Spanish, and if your injuries make it hard to come to us, we can travel to you. We prepare every case with trial in mind and are relentless when an insurance company tries to downplay a valid claim. Call for a free consultation to discuss your injury and your legal options. Come in as a client, leave as a friend.
