Were You Injured on the Job as a New York City Plumber?
Plumbers, along with electricians and other essential tradespeople, are the backbone of New York City. Without functional plumbing systems, the entire city is unlivable. Unfortunately, plumbers are often working in dangerous environments and fall victim to the negligence, carelessness, or ignorance of those around them – causing severe injuries that can take them out of work temporarily or for the rest of their lives.
If you’ve suffered a severe injury while working as a plumber in New York, there are various means of recovering compensation for your medical costs, pain, suffering, lost wages, and more, depending on the circumstances of your employment and the type of injury or illness. Workers’ compensation can provide for the cost of medical care and a percentage of your wages, as well as retraining. For others, a third-party lawsuit may be in order. Our veteran NYC work accident attorneys at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, have over 50 years of experience representing plumbers and helping them get the compensation they deserve.
What Are Some Risks for NYC Plumbers?
While some plumbing jobs are easy to perform and generally safe, many require working from large heights, in extreme temperatures, or expose workers to hazardous materials or environments. A job site can be dangerous, especially when those around you fail to adhere to the required safety practices. Some of the common risks and hazards plumbers face every day include:
- Falls from heights;
- Injuries from defective power tools;
- Exposure to toxic substances, such as asbestos, mold, and others;
- Eye injuries;
- Hearing loss due to constant exposure to loud work environments; and
- Repetitive stress injuries, such as tendonitis and others.
- Slips, trips, and falls;
- Getting struck by the tools and equipment of other laborers;
Workers’ Compensation
Many on-the-job injuries are covered by worker’s compensation, which allows you to recover compensation for:
- Medical costs;
- A portion of your lost wages;
- Compensation for permanent disabilities and wrongful death.
Filing a worker’s comp claim is a complex bureaucratic process, and having a lawyer manage your claim can help avoid a denied or delayed claim. While the workers’ compensation program protects your employer from a personal injury lawsuit, it doesn’t prevent you from filing a personal injury lawsuit against a third party to recover additional compensation.
When Might a Personal Injury Lawsuit be Appropriate?
In cases of severe injuries, it’s critical to review all factors that contributed to or caused your injury. In many cases, a third party may be liable. Property owners, independent contractors, equipment manufacturers, construction supervisors, and others could be held liable if their actions contributed to the injuries. Examples include:
- Injuries caused by unsafe conditions created by another contractor;
- Unsafe conditions created by a property owner;
- Faulty work from other contractors that cause you to trip or slip and fall;
- Faulty power tools that cause injuries;
- Tools and debris left around a job site that creates unsafe conditions; and
- Faulty harnesses and other safety equipment.
Our New York plumber injury lawyers at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, have successfully litigated such cases, resulting in settlements in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and into the millions. Some of our recent cases include:
- $6.1 million settlement for a union plumber in a trip-and-fall accident in which the victim suffered severe back injuries. This case also included medical malpractice in the treatment of the injury.
- $875,000 settlement for a plumber who fell in a hole at a construction site. Our attorneys discovered the specific safety regulations that were violated and held the defendant accountable.
- $330,000 settlement for a plumber who tripped on rebar and injured his hands and needed surgery. The victim fully recovered and was back on the job by the time the case was settled.
What Your Case Is Worth
Each case is unique, which is why our attorneys work closely with medical experts and other specialists to determine the maximum level of compensation possible in the case. Our clients often receive compensation for:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
How a New York City Plumbing Accident Lawyer Can Help
The litigation processes involved in filing workers’ compensation claims and third-party lawsuits require legal skills and experience. Filing deadlines must be met and recovering from severe injuries does not lend itself to paperwork. At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, our veteran trial attorneys take each case as if it’s going to trial and work diligently to gather all needed evidence, work with specialists, and do everything required to prove the liability of those responsible for your injury. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, and we know personal injury law inside and out.
We offer a no-cost initial consultation, so contact us at (212) 986-7353 today.
NY Plumber Injury Verdicts & Settlements
$11.76 Million - Injured Union Local No. 1 Journeyman Plumber
$4 Million - Plumber Injured at Construction Site
$1.750 Million - Plumber's Apprentice Falls From Ladder
$875,000 - Plumber Fell in Hole at Construction Site