Securing appropriate compensation after fatal workplace incidents

On Behalf of | Jan 30, 2023 | Wrongful Death |

Technically, workers’ compensation in New York provides coverage for those who lose a family member unexpectedly. However, the death benefits available through workers’ compensation can leave a family permanently struggling.

After all, workers’ compensation does not fully cover someone’s lost wages. Especially when a professional was the primary or sole wage earner for a family, their sudden death at work could mean a drastic reduction in resources for the remaining family members.

Often, those grieving a sudden loss don’t really know how to advocate for themselves. They may accept paltry settlements or fail to recognize that they can take legal action. Our firm has a dedication to pursuing complicated claims on behalf of our clients, especially when negligence results in a preventable worker fatality.

New York City stats for on-the-job fatalities

In 2020, 59 people died from work injuries in New York City. The most common causes of on-the-job fatalities were, in order:

  • Exposure to harmful substances or environments
  • Slips, trips and falls
  • Violence and other injuries caused by people and animals
  • Fatal contact with objects and equipment

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The industry with the highest number of fatalities continues to be construction. Construction deaths accounted for 24% of all on-the-job fatalities in New York, compared to nationwide at 21%, according to the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH). This makes construction work in New York and New York City the most deadly profession in the country.

When someone works in construction, including if they work with electrical power, they know that their job comes with substantial risk. However, their employers and those that own properties have a responsibility to provide safe work environments and full information for professionals trying to repair or upgrade facilities.

Tragic cases require aggressive strategies

Families should not have to absorb hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses and a lifetime of lost wages all because companies want to keep their costs low. When obvious failures on the part of a business lead to someone dying, surviving family members may have the right to pursue not just workers’ compensation benefits but also a wrongful death lawsuit.

Partnering with a firm that has a history of successfully navigating wrongful death claims can help breeding family members pursue justice for the loss they have experienced.