Everyone deserves to have a safe working environment. Unfortunately, due to problems like cost-cutting, lax maintenance, and manufacturing defects, industrial accidents can strike at any time. If you were seriously injured by a malfunctioning or defective industrial machine, or if a loved one passed away from their injuries, you may have a strong claim to compensation for the suffering and losses your family has endured. While worker’s compensation may be able to offer some assistance, you may be missing out on the full extent of the benefits you can claim if you were injured through the fault of another person or company.
At Sullivan & Galleshaw, our legal team has more than 16 years of experience representing personal injury and wrongful death victims throughout the greater New York metropolitan area. Call our New York industrial accident attorneys today at (718) 843-0300 to start discussing how we can help. Our consultations are always confidential, and your initial case evaluation is completely free of charge. You may be entitled to financial compensation, so contact us today to learn more about your legal options.
Work Fatality Statistics and OSHA Safety Violations
OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, was formed in 1971 with the purpose of protecting employees from dangerous workplace conditions. OSHA conducts facility inspections, compiles worker injury and fatality statistics, and tracks common violations of safety standards. OSHA reports that in 2013, there were more than 4,400 worker fatalities across the country, with 160 deaths in New York, or about 3.6%. Many fatalities are related to construction jobs, which accounted for about one in five worker deaths in 2013.
In 2014, OSHA identified its top 10 most frequently violated workplace safety standards. Unfortunately, several of these common violations related to issues with machinery and industrial equipment. The fifth leading violation was related to powered industrial trucks, while the ninth leading violation was related to machinery and machine guarding. If your workplace was in violation of federal OSHA standards, your company may be liable for your injuries and financial losses. Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your accident to determine whether someone’s negligence or willful violation led to your injuries.
Types of Workplace Injury Claims Our Attorneys Handle
Our attorneys handle claims from a wide variety of industries. According to OSHA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some industries with a statistically heightened risk of death or injury to workers include:
- Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting (479 deaths)
- Construction (796 deaths)
- Manufacturing (304 deaths)
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (154 deaths)
- Professional and Business Services (408 deaths)
- Transportation and Warehousing (687 deaths)
- Utilities (23 deaths)
Some common types of industrial machines and equipment which can cause injury include:
- Concrete Mixers
- Conveyor Belts
- Cranes
- Fork Lifts
- Glass Crushers
- Lathes
- Nail Guns
- Saws
Depending on the type of industry, setting, and equipment involved, many different types of accidents and injuries can occur. Our attorneys handle a broad spectrum of injury claims, such as:
- Back Injuries
- Bone Fractures:
- Compound
- Greenstick
- Oblique
- Simple
- Transverse
- Burns:
- Chemical
- Cold
- Friction
- Radiation
- Thermal
- Disfigurement
- Dismemberment and Amputation
- Electrical Shocks
- Electrocution
- Facial Injuries:
- Broken Jaw
- Broken Nose
- Ear Injuries and Hearing Loss
- Eye Injuries and Vision Loss
- Scarring
- Head Injuries
- Lacerations
- Organ Damage
- Toxic Substance Exposure:
- Ammonia
- Chlorine
- Formaldehyde
- Hydrogen Bromide
- Hydrogen Chloride
- Nitric Acid
- Phosgene
- Sulfur Dioxide
- Sulfuric Acid
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
If you think you may have a claim, it’s very important that you consult with an attorney immediately. New York sets a very strict time limit on how long you have to file a claim following an accident, known as the statute of limitations. New York’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident, or two years from the date of death in wrongful death claims.
If you were injured by a faulty, broken, or malfunctioning industrial machine, you deserve to seek out justice and compensation for your suffering, pain, and losses. To arrange a completely free and private case evaluation, call the law offices of New York industrial accident lawyers of Sullivan & Galleshaw at (718) 843-0300.