New York Workplace Burn Injury Attorneys

Protecting People from Unsafe Working Conditions in New York

Construction workers built New York, and the city couldn’t survive without them. If you’re one of those people who brings a toolbelt to work every day, you deserve to take a lot of pride in what you do. But we can never forget that construction work is extremely hard and it’s also dangerous.

Falls, equipment malfunctions, forklift accidents, and repetitive stress injuries are just a few of the hazards that construction workers face every day. One common type of construction injury that people don’t always think about is burns.

Workplace burn incidents cause thousands of devastating injuries every year. If you were seriously burned in a New York workplace accident, contact the trial lawyers at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP by calling (212) 986-7353 today. Our clients have recovered over one billion dollars in settlements.

Back to Top

What Causes Burn Injuries in the Workplace?

Employers are constantly cutting corners to make an extra dollar, and they’ll often ignore state laws and FEMA rules designed to protect workers. When this happens, people get hurt.

In the construction industry, workers can suffer from thermal, chemical, electrical, and radiation burns caused by laxed controls and preventable mishaps. Hazards that are likely to result in construction site burns include:

• Gas line explosions
• Chemical spills
• Hot surfaces
• Electrical fires
• Open flames
• Scalding liquids
• Temporary heater explosions
• Welding and soldering accidents
• Electrical shock and electrocution
• Sparks from grinding tools that cause fires
• Exposure to acids, paint thinner, cleaning solvents, and lye
• Lithium battery explosions

Of course, construction workers aren’t the only people who are at risk for severe burns at their places of employment. Additional industries where people are often subject to workplace burns include:

• Janitorial work
• Factory workers
• Food services workers
• Healthcare workers
• Firefighters
• Mechanics
• Factory workers

Back to Top

Harm Caused by Burn Injuries

No matter what type of burn injury you suffer, it’s going to damage your skin. Burns are classified by their severity and how deeply they penetrate the skin:

• First-degree burns affect the outer layer of skin known as the epidermis, leaving it red and painful.
• Second-degree burns penetrate a lower level of skin called the dermis, creating painful blisters and swelling.
• Third-degree burns penetrate the deepest level of skin, the subcutaneous tissue. Skin may appear white, blackened, or charred.
• Fourth-degree burns penetrate the tissue beyond your skin, damaging bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, and organs. These are life-threatening injuries that cause severe infections and other health problems.

Long-term complications from burn injuries may include:

• Bacterial infection
• Fluid loss
• Organ damage
• Loss of limb
• Breathing problems
• Scarring and dismemberment
• Bone and joint problems

Back to Top

What to Do After a Workplace Burn Injury

If you were seriously harmed by a workplace burn injury, call 911 right away. Make sure to keep records of all your medical treatments. Follow your doctor’s recommendations and attend your medical appointments. Physicians in New York are legally required to report serious burn wounds within 72 hours.

When any type of work injury occurs, make sure your supervisor is notified as soon as possible. You’ll also want to contact a personal injury lawyer and file a worker’s compensation claim right away.

Back to Top

Who’s Liable for Workplace Burn Accident Injuries?

Your New York construction accident injury attorney will investigate the accident. Then they’ll file claims against anyone whose careless behavior contributed to your injuries. This may include:

• Property owners
• General contractors or subcontractors
• Vendors who supplied faulty materials
• Manufacturers of defective equipment
• Engineers, architects, or designers responsible for unsafe conditions

Back to Top

Compensation Available for New York Workplace Injuries

Burn injuries cause serious physical and emotional harm. Victims may be unable to work for an extended period of time. You might never be able to go back to doing construction work. The following types of damages may be recovered in a workplace burn injury settlement:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Reconstructive surgery
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death

Back to Top

Were You Burned at Work?

You shouldn’t have to pay for your own medical treatment when your injuries were caused by someone else’s careless behavior. At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, we’ve recovered millions of dollars in settlements for construction workers who were injured on the job.

You won’t owe us anything unless we win your case. Call (212) 986-7353 to schedule your FREE consultation today.

Back to Top