Common Workplace Injuries For Sanitation Workers: Filing for Workers’ Compensation in New York

Sanitation workers are essential to keeping New York’s streets and buildings clean. Unfortunately, sanitation workers encounter dangerous situations daily and have the fifth-highest fatality rate of any industry. If you’re a sanitation worker who recently suffered an injury, New York’s workers’ compensation benefits can give you a much-needed financial lifeline as you recover. Learn more about how to file a claim and how our attorneys can help.

Most Common Workplace Injuries For Sanitation Workers

A sanitation worker encounters plenty of safety hazards that may cause an accident. Understanding which injuries are the most common in the industry will help you take the necessary precautions to stay safe.

Common injuries for sanitation workers that lead to workers’ compensation claims include:

• Slip and falls
• Shoulder Injuries
• Back injuries
• Knee and hip injuries from jumping on/off truck
• Muscle sprains and strains
• Bone fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries

What Causes Workplace Accidents For Sanitation Workers?

The sanitation industry is physically demanding, requiring long hours, repetitive heavy lifting and has many additional occupational hazards. For these reasons, a sanitation worker is more prone to experience at least one workplace accident throughout their career if not many more.

Some of the leading causes of these accidents come down to the following:

• Working too hard and under time restrictions
• Poor training
• Vehicle collisions
• Outdated equipment
• Equipment failure
• Bad weather conditions
• Broken sidewalks
• Icy or damaged roads

How To File A Workers’ Compensation Claim In New York

Notify Your Employer

New York’s laws give employees up to 30 days to notify their employer of what happened after their accident. However, try to do it as soon as possible. The earlier you tell your employer, the sooner your employer can file the paperwork with their insurance company and begin the process.

Seek Emergency Treatment

Some injuries can be acute or may not appear until weeks or months after the initial incident. For this reason, always seek medical treatment, even if you think the accident was minor. Easiet way is to go to a local urgent care such as City MD. There, the doctor will give you a full evaluation of any potential injuries to ensure you’re healthy. This initial documentation can also support your workers’ comp claim. Please make sure that all conditions are formally diagnosed by the doctor.

Submit Your Paperwork

Injured workers need to fill out a C-3 Form and submit it to the NY Workers’ Compensation Board. While you could submit everything on your own, the paperwork can be complicated to fill out without the help of an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer. They will help you review everything and ensure you don’t have any mistakes that could delay or be fatal to your claim.

Gather Evidence

A simple overview of your accident won’t be enough to get your claim approved. The Board wants detailed evidence of your injury and how it’s affecting your ability to perform your work duties.. Always provide medical records, names of witnesses and any other relevant information that could strengthen your case.

Our Lawyers Are Here To Help

If you’re a sanitation worker filing for workers’ compensation in New York, you’re not alone in this process. Our attorneys at Turley, Redmond, & Rosasco, L.L.P. have stood up for injured workers and represented many different unions in NYC and Long Island for over 35 years. We’ll answer any questions you might have and guide you through the entire process. Please contact us at 855-905-4452 for a free consultation today.