Call our scaffold accident attorneys in Hempstead, NY, to learn your legal options after an accident. These accidents are often more severe and expensive than other workplace accidents, but we can help you get the compensation you need.
Workers’ Compensation and Scaffold Accidents
Most scaffold accidents will happen to a worker on the job, so the first place to seek compensation is through the workers’ compensation system. It is usually the fastest way to get compensation after a workplace accident.
Workers’ compensation will cover your medical bills and some of your lost wages. You may also qualify for disability payments and vocational rehabilitation. Survivors can also claim compensation if the accident was a fatal one.
However, workers’ compensation does not cover all potential damages. Since scaffold accidents are so dangerous and expensive, you deserve to know if you can get more compensation through a lawsuit. Our scaffolding injury lawyers can help you learn if you can.
Suing Under New York Labor Laws
Workers’ compensation comes with some catches. You get compensation faster and without the need to prove fault, but you cannot sue your employer afterward. However, New York has strong laws about workplace accidents.
There may be a third party that you can sue under these laws. If so, there is a good chance that you’ll win your case. That’s because the laws make proving liability much easier than other personal injury lawsuits.
In particular, Labor Law 240 covers all gravity-related accidents for people in the building trades and could allow you to sue along with claiming workers’ compensation. If you can sue a third party, your scaffolding injury attorney will probably use this law to press your claim and help you get compensation.
What Compensation Can I Get Through a Lawsuit?
Workers’ compensation only pays for medical bills, partial wages, and a few other benefits if you cannot return to your old position. You can get compensation beyond this by filing a lawsuit. You could receive money for:
- The rest of your lost wages
- Non-economic damages like pain and suffering or disfigurement
- Additional wrongful death damages, if you’re suing on behalf of a loved one who died
- Other damages not covered by workers’ compensation
One way that non-economic damages are valued is by multiplying the amount of economic damages (e.g., medical bills and lost wages) by a number agreed upon by the lawyer and the insurer. They could be worth much more than your bills, and you deserve to have that money if someone else’s negligence caused your scaffold accident.
How Will Your Scaffold Accident Lawyers in Hempstead, NY, Help Me?
Having a scaffold accident lawyer at your service will help you maximize your compensation and open up your legal options. Without one, the only way to get compensation after a scaffold accident is if you’re a worker and you file for workers’ compensation.
The insurers paying for workers’ compensation and lawsuit settlements will likely fight back against your claims to pay as little as possible. They have far more experience with the system, but with a lawyer on your side, you even the odds of getting a fair settlement.
Lawyers also protect clients while they pursue cases, and they give victims the opportunity to take their complaints to trial. This legal threat pushes most personal injury cases to a settlement because insurers could lose far more money if you win.
How are Your Lawyers Compensated?
All victims deserve access to the law when someone injures them. Our scaffold injury attorneys in Hempstead, NY, get paid through contingency fees. This means that you will owe us nothing for our services unless you win compensation.
Contingency fees also push lawyers to work as hard as possible. The more money you get, the more money they get. Plus, they can only get paid back through your compensation. Lawyers are allowed to charge a reasonable percentage of the winnings as their fee.
That amount depends on the difficulty and complexity of your case. When you speak with any lawyer during a consultation, ask them about their contingency fees. Any lawyer worth your time will explain how they will get you more money than you would through pursuing a claim on your own despite their fee.
When Should I Contact a Lawyer about a Scaffold Accident?
The best time to contact a lawyer after an accident is soon after you’ve received medical attention. It’s always better to start cases as soon as possible after an accident because there are legal deadlines you must meet.
If you plan to file for workers’ compensation, you must report the accident to your employer within 30 days of the injury. You may also need to get an examination by a doctor of their choosing unless you had an emergency, which is likely after a scaffold fall.
For a lawsuit, you have two years after the injury to file before you reach the statute of limitations. After this point, the court will usually dismiss your case. The longer you delay before starting, the less time your lawyer will have to build a strong case.
Contact Morelli Law for Scaffold Injury Representation
If you’ve been hurt in a scaffold accident in Hempstead, NY, contact Morelli Law to speak with one of our scaffolding accident lawyers. We could get you more compensation than what you can through workers’ compensation.
To request a free case evaluation, contact our offices at the number on your screen or click this link to contact us by email. New York law is on your side if someone has hurt you in any accident involving heights. Call now to learn your legal options and fight for what you’re owed.
