Hudson Valley Unsafe Equipment Injury Attorneys
Millions of workers are hurt on the job every year across the country. The lion’s share of injured employees work in construction, where they are exposed to significant hazards every day. Contractors and employers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their workers. When they utilize unsafe, outdated, or defective equipment, employees have the right to seek compensation for any injuries that result. If the equipment was defective as built or designed, injured workers could have additional claims for damages.
If you were hurt in an accident caused by unsafe equipment in New York, you have the right to seek compensation. To protect your legal rights and maximize your recovery, you need help from a dedicated New York personal injury law firm. The Goshen personal injury attorneys at Dupée & Monroe, P.C. are ready to help.
Machinery Accidents at Work
The Goshen personal injury attorneys at Dupée & Monroe have spent decades helping accident victims recover after being injured at work. If you were hurt in a workplace accident as a result of faulty or unsafe equipment, you have the right to seek compensation. Depending upon your circumstances, you may be able to seek damages beyond those available in a workers’ comp claim.
Our dedicated New York unsafe equipment attorneys help accident victims injured as a result of any sort of unsafe or defective devices, including the following:
- Forklifts
- Tractors
- Safety gear
- Bandsaws
- Welding machines
- Printers
- Cutting machines
- Power tools
- Packaging machines
- Bulldozers
- Ladders
- Goggles
- Scaffolding
- Dump trucks
- Excavators
- Chainsaws
- Drill presses
- Cranes
Employer Liability for Unsafe Equipment
State and federal laws require employers to maintain a safe workplace for employees. That includes providing appropriate safety equipment, using equipment in good working order, training employees on the use and maintenance of workplace equipment, as well as keeping equipment maintained and up-to-date. Employers may face sanctions if they alter safety features, intentionally purchase outdated or worn equipment, fail to maintain the equipment they do have, fail to supply personal protective equipment (PPE), ignore warnings about malfunctioning equipment, or otherwise put workers in danger.
If you are injured at work as a result of unsafe equipment, you are entitled to workers’ compensation. Workers’ comp will cover your medical bills, lost wages, and certain other benefits to get you back into the workforce. Under most circumstances, employer liability to employees is limited to workers’ comp coverage, even when it’s caused by unsafe equipment.
You may still be able to take certain legal actions to protect yourself and your coworkers against future accidents. If you believe working conditions are unsafe, you can report the incident to your supervisor. If your employer fails to remedy the situation, you can report the condition to the appropriate city or state agency, or the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Companies can face sanctions for failing to adhere to workplace safety standards.
Your employer cannot retaliate against you for reporting unsafe working conditions. Moreover, if your employer intentionally or knowingly puts you in a dangerous situation, you might have a claim against your employer. Under the right circumstances, you can refuse to work in a dangerous situation without fear of reprisal. Talk to a workplace unsafe equipment attorney for advice on your rights.
Third-Party Liability for Unsafe Equipment
Although most employees are limited to workers’ compensation after a workplace injury, if you were hurt due to a defective piece of equipment, you might have additional claims. If you were utilizing a piece of machinery or other equipment, the equipment was faulty, and the problem lies with the manufacturer–it was defective as designed or manufactured–you can bring a claim against the product manufacturer.
Personal injury lawsuits based on design defects can potentially lead to a significantly greater recovery than a workers’ comp claim. Workers’ comp benefits are limited to two-thirds of your lost wages, for example, while you can seek all of your wages lost due to your accident in a third-party personal injury claim. Additionally, unlike a workers’ comp claim, a defective products claim allows you to seek pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other non-economic damages caused by your incident.
Seasoned New York Unsafe Equipment Accident Attorneys Working for You
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of defective equipment at work in Orange County or throughout the mid-Hudson Valley, find out if you should file a claim for damages by contacting the knowledgeable and successful Goshen unsafe equipment injury lawyers Dupée & Monroe at 845-294-8900.
