Albany Workers Compensation Lawyer
A workplace injury can affect your life for years, whether you spend your days at a construction site or inside an office. Serious workplace injuries caused by defective equipment, improper safety protections and repetitive strain on the body are a tragic reality for workers regardless of occupation. These injuries can leave people unable to support themselves and their families, with devastating long-term consequences.
At Belluck & Fox, LLP, our Albany work injury attorneys have extensive experience in representing people who have been hurt on the job. Our dedicated personal injury lawyers have successfully recovered more than $1 billion for individuals and families throughout the Capital District and across the State of New York. We are committed to holding negligent corporations accountable when workers are unjustly injured.
If you or a family member has been injured on the job, contact our workplace accident lawyers in Albany today by calling (518) 621-2699 or by filling out our online form. We will review your claim at no cost to you and discuss all of your options for pursuing fair compensation for your injuries.
Know Your Albany Workplace Injury Rights
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As a worker, you have specific rights under the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, specifically, how your employer must provide an environment “free of known health and safety hazards.” If you are injured on the job in Albany, you have a legal right to compensation through a number of sources:
- Workers’ Compensation: Seek medical treatment as soon as you are hurt on the job and report your injury to your employer to start the workers’ compensation claim process. This process can seem daunting and complicated, so you also should speak with a knowledgeable Albany workers’ compensation attorney right away. Workers’ compensation cases involve many deadlines, including notifying an employer in writing within 30 days of an incident causing injury.
- New York Labor Law: New York State has specific protections for construction workers and others working at heights. Often referred to as the “Scaffold Law,” this provides for compensation for those injured when proper safety precautions were not taken, whether an injury occurred because of a fall, being hit by an object or other circumstances.
- Wrongful Death: OSHA has said that no one should have to sacrifice their life for their livelihood. Tragically, some people do die because of incidents in the workplace. In those cases, surviving family members may be able to pursue justice and compensation through a wrongful death claim. The dedicated Albany workplace accident lawyers at Belluck & Fox can explain your legal options with compassion and sensitivity.
Why Choose the Top-Rated Albany Work Injury Attorneys at Belluck & Fox?
- Excellent track record of success, earning more than $1 billion for clients and their families
- Top-rated Albany injury attorneys with more than two decades of litigation experience
- Quality legal representation in cases regarding all types of work injuries
- Authorized to handle a range of workplace injury claims, including wrongful death cases and Scaffold Law claims
- Committed to crafting solid legal strategies to achieve the best possible outcome for clients
- Strong relationships with respected expert witnesses who consult on complex work injury claims
- Recommended consistently by both satisfied clients and legal professionals
- Devoted to maintaining open client communication throughout the legal process
Types of Serious Workplace Accidents and Injuries in Albany
Workplace accidents are often preventable. Employees have a right to feel safe at work, and they should be trained and equipped properly to perform their duties safely.
Yet debilitating workplace injuries do occur. Business Insurance magazine notes that the most common types of serious workplace injuries in New York State and throughout the United States are as follows:
- Employees who overexert themselves when they push, hold, lift, pull or carry more than their bodies can handle
- Workers injured in falls to a lower level, such as a fall from unsafe scaffolding, as well as slip-and-falls and trip-and-falls
- Those whose bodies react to physical tasks, such as standing, reaching, climbing, bending, sitting, slipping or tripping (without falling)
- An object striking an employee
- Other common injuries involving repetitive motion and poor ergonomics, workers hurt by being “caught in/compressed by” something, equipment failure, lack of appropriate safety precautions, and work-related roadway accidents
No matter your injury, if you have been hurt while on the job, you should talk with an experienced workplace accident lawyer in Albany to assess your options for pursuing compensation. Injured workers often are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, a process that involves strict deadlines and detailed documentation. The Albany workplace accident lawyers at Belluck & Fox, LLP, can help you identify what steps you need to take to start the compensation process.
Occupations Most at Risk for Workplace Injuries and Accidents in Albany, NY
If you have been seriously injured in a workplace accident in Albany, you are not alone. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says there were 203,100 nonfatal workplace injuries reported in New York State in 2017. In addition, 313 people died in workplace accidents statewide that same year.
Some occupations understandably had more reported injuries than others. For instance:
- Educational, health care and social assistance workers: 41,600 New Yorkers reported being injured on the job while working for nursing homes, hospitals, home health care providers, residential care facilities and schools.
- Local government employees providing services: 50,200 New Yorkers reported being hurt while working at service positions such as administrative or education jobs.
- Retail trade employees: 17,600 people were injured on the job while working at automotive dealerships, department stores, grocery stores and other retail establishments.
- Leisure, entertainment and hospitality workers: 16,500 people reported injuries at workplaces such as amusement parks, bars, restaurants and other entertainment establishments.
- Manufacturing workers: 11,600 people reported being hurt while working manufacturing jobs at facilities that produce food, beverages, chemicals, machinery and other products.
- Professional and business services: 11,000 New Yorkers were injured on the job in fields such as administrative services, waste management, building services, security, engineering and architecture.
- Construction workers: 9,100 people were hurt while working in construction. This includes electrical contractors, plumbers, heating and air-conditioning contractors, scaffold workers, and foundation and exterior contractors.
It is a sad reality that no workplace is immune from injury. However, a serious injury can change your life and the lives of your family members profoundly.
The experienced Albany workplace accident lawyers at Belluck & Fox have seen this firsthand and are dedicated to helping our clients manage all aspects of their pursuit of compensation. Our goal is to take the burden off you so that you and your loved ones can focus on your recovery.
Contact an Albany Work Injury Lawyer Today
We have seen how injured workers often feel shock and anxiety after being hurt on the job. Any physical pain sometimes can be eclipsed by the mental stress of not being able to return to work right away.
The experienced Albany personal injury attorneys at Belluck & Fox are here to help. Our workplace accident lawyers take pride in fighting for the rights of injured workers throughout New York State, and we are committed to providing you with professional and personalized legal representation.
Whether you are seeking justice on behalf of a loved one or yourself, our attorneys are ready to assist you in investigating your claim and identifying all avenues for compensation. Please call us today at (518) 621-2699 to schedule a free consultation.
Sources:
- Business Insurance: Top 5 workplace injury causes make up 72% of direct workers comp costs: Analysis
- New York State Workers’ Compensation Board: Understanding the Claims Process
- Occupational Safety & Health Administration: Know Your Rights
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: New York Occupational Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities