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Tag Archives: worker’s comp

Injured accident victims when a jeep crashes into a storefront

New York – A bagel store in Westchester was the scene of a surprising car crash that left at least three injury victims. The driver of a jeep was apparently leaving the parking lot, having been parked in a spot directly in front of the restaurant in New Rochelle, NY. It is believed that the driver became confused when he put the car into drive instead of reverse and then pressed the gas. This caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle and slam into the storefront and hit several pedestrian workers in the store. It ripped apart the entire front of the store when the vehicle jumped the curb and drove through the front glass wall. The pedestrian accident left the workers injured and in need of emergency evaluation for unclear wounds. The injured workers were not the only ones who suffered wounds during the motor vehicle accident (MVA), as the driver of the vehicle also suffered accident injuries. The injured workers will likely be treated using their worker’s compensation insurance, also referred to as worker’s comp. However, in certain circumstances such a car collision at work is treated using the car insurance policy. See this article for further information about this MVA.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: fredsharples [License]

Police officer injured on the job during truck crash investigation

New York – A state police trooper suffered a serious work injury during a motor vehicle accident investigation. The injured policewoman was sitting in the driver’s seat of her police car when her car was rear-ended by an SUV truck. According to reports, the officer was on the scene of a prior truck accident, parked on the side of a highway and situated just behind the truck. The Chevy SUV driver apparently violated the New York “move over law” that instructs drivers to move over a full lane when emergency vehicles are operating on the shoulder or lane of a highway. This violation may constitute negligence or even reckless driving and can be grounds for a moving violation ticket as well as a personal injury lawsuit. Meanwhile, the injured worker cop was taken to the hospital for various injuries. These work injuries may very well leave this New York State trooper with significant permanent disability issues. On-the-job injuries are a common problem for all types of workers but these types of accidents are extremely serious when it comes to police officers involved in work injuries. Worker’s compensation, or worker’s comp, is supposed to cover work related accident injuries. However, some workers find it necessary to get the assistance of a specialized work injury lawyer in order to get the care and funds that they deserve. You can see this article for more about this officer’s job related car accident with injury.

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Police officers injured on the job in car crash

A car accident occurred on the highway leading to the Holland Tunnel approach into New York City. This set the scene for a subsequent car crash that injured several police officers. Reports show that responding police officers from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as well as Jersey City police departments were at the scene of the initial car collision. They were taking care of the accident scene and injured driver when another vehicle lost control and hit a barrier. That vehicle then hit one of the policemen and a police car, causing multiple accident injuries. The pedestrian accident caused one officer to suffer with serious injuries and several other cops suffered injuries as well. It is unclear why the two accidents occurred but specialists explain that distracted drivers often cause secondary collisions like this. They note that drivers often concentrate on the initial accident scene and flashing emergency lights and lose control over their vehicle. This is one of the reasons that many states, including New York, have created “move over laws” that require drivers to move over an extra lane on the highway or roadway when possible. This allows police, EMTs, paramedics and fire fighters a safer work environment. The prevention of workplace accidents and a work injury in these types of environments is challenging but necessary. On the job injuries are usually covered by worker’s compensation insurance. However, these insurance coverages can often lack a fair process or control to patients over their healthcare. Some find it necessary to hire a workers comp lawyer to help them fight for their rights. You can read more about this work injury here.

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New York City Police accident causes injuries in Brooklyn

New York – Borough Park in Brooklyn was the scene of a New York Police Department (NYPD) car crash involving one of their police cruisers. The police car accident occurred while the police officers were responding to an emergency call for help. Reports show that a second vehicle slammed into the officer’s vehicle during the late evening collision. The police car jumped the curb and then struck two pedestrians and finally hit the storefront of a nearby building. The cause of the on-the-job accident is unclear but specialists note that the officers’ injuries should fall under their worker’s compensation insurance. Workers, especially those at high risk for getting injured at work, are dependent on their worker’s comp insurance provider to help them. Meanwhile, the other injured pedestrian patients in this police accident are possibly covered by a car insurance policy. However, it can sometimes be unclear when it comes to a pedestrian accident. In the case of a pedestrian struck, the injury victim may be denied care from multiple sources. Unfortunately, some injury victims find it difficult to obtain their healthcare services from the insurance companies. Many seek the assistance of a personal injury lawyer or workman’s comp attorney for assistance in getting their injuries cared for and covered. For further details about this work accident with injuries please see this article.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Jason Lawrence [License]

New York EMT injured at work on emergency call

New York – This is the second time within a couple of weeks where we report about an emergency medical technician (EMT) who suffered a work injury. Once again we learn of a story of an ambulance worker who was assaulted while on-duty, this time by the patient. The EMT was pregnant herself and taking care of an injured but intoxicated man, when she was assaulted by the patient. The drunk man punched the pregnant EMT in her stomach and then fled the scene. The emergency responder suffered injuries during the attack and was taken to the hospital for evaluation and treatment. Meanwhile, her attacker ran away and is being searched for by police. An injury lawyer specialist in Manhattan explained that a claim will need to be filed with the worker’s compensation insurance carrier since the injury occurred on the job. Worker’s comp insurance is a requirement for employers to take care of injured workers or those who become sick due to their job. In addition, the attacker in this case can face both criminal charges for the assault as well as a personal injury lawsuit from the woman. This could include not just injuries to the woman herself but also injury to the fetus. This more recent assault on an EMT worker and possible fetal injury is further discussed in this article.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo by Kevin.B (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Two workers hit by a subway in Brooklyn train accident

New York — A Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway train accident injured one worker and killed a second victim in Brooklyn. The two transit workers were setting up warning lights to warn subway traffic into the Fort Hamilton station that construction and repair work was underway. The MTA uses these warning lights to signal train operators to slow down or stop. This safety system apparently failed when the workmen we struck by the train as it rounded a bend in the track. One of the MTA employees was injured in the work accident and taken to the hospital for care. However, the other laborer was killed in the train crash after suffering extensive and fatal injuries.

Investigators are looking into the cause of the collision to determine if any negligence may have caused the wrongful death. Union and work safety advocates note that more rigorous safety precautions are needed to protect workers as well as the public. They say that safety protocols must be reviewed and additional safety equipment should be issued to prevent future accidents or injury. Some have also pointed out that proper preventative maintenance is necessary to prevent an accident. Negligent maintenance has become an issue in many fast-paced workplace injuries according to specialists. To find out more about this workers comp injury please see this article.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Barry Pousman [License]

New York City construction accidents on the rise with inadequate safety

New York – Fast-paced building and renovation work in the city with a disproportionate increase in construction injuries and deaths has been noted recently. Worker safety experts explain that there has been a notable increase in the amount of construction but they fear that safety has fallen by the wayside. This can create a hazardous condition for workers as well as innocent passersby. Inspectors point to the fact that they have recorded many more construction deaths as well as worker injuries on construction sites. However, the statistics show that the accidents and injuries are not proportionate with the increased work volume. In addition, they note that many of the injured workers are undocumented laborers without proper worker’s comp insurance coverage by the employers. It has been suggested that this may point toward bosses pushing their employees to work too fast and not spend time and money on safety precautions. Regulations mandate employers to provide a safe work environment to ensure employee protection and to mitigate on-the-job dangers. Not doing so can make indicate a negligent employer with respect to the injury of a worker or bystander, and therefore liable for bodily injuries and wrongful death.

For an example of recent construction site disasters, see this article about a collapsed ceiling that hurt two workmen. You can also refer to this article about the rise in work injuries in New York building zones.

Illustrative Photo Credit: John Hoey [License]

Long Island gas station fire causes multiple injuries

New York – A closed gas station in Nassau County, NY was the scene of a dangerous fire that injured at least four people this week. Fire department officials explained that three workers were injured while doing construction renovation on the gas station’s fuel tanks and one fire fighter suffered from dehydration while working at the scene. They note that the gas tanks caught on fire when fumes from residual gas sparked into flames. According to reports, the gas station was closed and the fuel tanks were being removed by an environmental and construction company. It is unclear as to why the station was closed and who was responsible to make sure that the gas tanks were empty and safe. Safety inspections will be necessary to determine if the owner of the property, as well as the employers of the injured workers, had followed proper protocols to ensure the health and safety of the public and their employees. The town mayor of Freeport explained that the workmen were taken to the hospital for multiple burn injuries and the fireman was treated in the emergency room as well. Further details about their injuries and recovery are unavailable at this time. However, trauma specialists note that the nature of this work accident can leave the injury victims with permanent disabilities, preventing them from returning to work or even their normal lives. These can include inhalation burns, physical disfigurement and emotional injuries. Worker’s comp insurance should cover the cost of treatment of their injuries but some victims find it necessary to seek legal advice regarding their rights. See this article for further details about these fire victims and injuries.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Loco Steve [License]

Dangerous construction accidents in New York investigated

New York – Construction injuries have, unfortunately, become an expected reality in the industry, according to work safety advocates. They say that employers sometimes shirk their responsibilities by not following safety codes and create a hazardous condition for their workers. One hardhat construction worker suffered a fall injury in the World Trade Center site when he fell from a scaffold to the ground, nearly 20 feet below. Witnesses contend that the work accident occurred because the shoring equipment was unstable and no ladder was provided by the construction company. They note that the scaffold tipped over and collapsed, causing the worker to suffer a spinal injury with back pain, fractures and a permanent disability. The man’s injuries also included broken ribs and a head injury according to doctors. Accusations against various construction companies and contractors have since arisen, claiming that employers have tried to cover up accidents and injuries. Workers have reported that bosses have ordered the clean-up of the site of a construction injury in order to hide evidence of negligence. In addition, investigations have shown that employers have been known to avoid reporting workplace accidents, with as many as 34 serious on-the-job injuries going unreported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the federal agency tasked with ensuring work safety. These accidents have been documented to have caused hips fractures, broken bones as well as neck and back injury. Worksite safety activists explain that these employers may have been trying to avoid negligence lawsuits and worker’s compensation injury claims while ignoring the damage they caused to the lives and families of the injured workers. Read details about the investigations into the unreported occupational worker’s comp injuries here.

Illustrative photo by Saberwolf116 at en.wikipedia [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Police van accident leaves multiple victims injured and one dead

New York – Last week’s police van crash killed one NYPD officer after it crashed on the Bruckner Expressway in the Bronx. The on-the-job accident left eight others with multiple injuries, including at least one victim with a head injury and shoulder injury. Investigators were looking into the possibility that the driver was speeding or even driving recklessly. According to reports, the van was coming around a sharp bend when it lost control and hit a road barrier, ejecting one victim. That victim was the one who died of his accident injuries shortly after the collision. The police vehicle was not on its way to an emergency call and so the lights and sirens were not being used at the time. Motor vehicle collision specialists say that a reckless driver can easily cause a wreck such as this one, especially when driving a larger and heavier vehicle like a van. In fact, this type of vehicle can easily roll over in an accident due to the higher center of gravity. These facts make it more dangerous to operate such a police vehicle and experts say that these drivers require extra training. Internal investigations will be needed to determine if the driver was properly trained and following all necessary safety precautions to prevent accidents or injury. A worker’s compensation lawyer notes that the injuries incurred in this work accident should be covered by the police department’s worker’s comp insurance. However, if proper safety precautions were not being employed at the time of the crash, an attorney may be advisable for the injured victims as well as the family of the man who was killed in the collision. See this article for more details about the police car accident.

Illustrative photo by Youngking11 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons