New York Sanitation Workers Injured by Discarded Toxic Chemicals

The man responsible for causing serious injuries to New York sanitation workers has been indicted for second-degree endangering public health. According to LoHud.com, the 68-year-old man was arraigned May 12, 2011 in a Westchester County Court. Back in early July 2010, three workers suffered injuries when they picked up six one-gallon containers of ammonium hydroxide in front of the man’s home. One of the sanitation workers, a 46-year-old man, was knocked unconscious by the toxic fumes. The workers experienced serious symptoms of toxic exposure, including burning, dizziness, vomiting and shortness of breath. The man, who did not properly mark the containers as containing hazardous materials, faces up to seven years in prison. The injured workers have since recovered.
It is unclear from the report if the injured workers were able to receive workers compensation benefits while they recovered from their injuries. Workers compensation benefits help provide injured workers with reimbursement for medical expenses and lost wages. However, New York workers compensation benefits are often inadequate when it comes to covering the cost of medical expenses stemming from serious injuries and covering expenses such as long-term care. These benefits also prove woefully insufficient when compensating families of victims who are killed on the job.
In such cases, it would be in the best interests of injured workers or their families to look into the possibility of filing a third-party claim. An experienced New York workers compensation lawyer will advise them if a party other than the employer can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Examples of third parties include contractors, sub-contractors, defective product manufacturers and negligent individuals. In injury cases where these types of third parties are involved, workers can file a third-party claim seeking compensation that is in addition to any workers compensation benefits they receive.
The experienced New York personal injury lawyers with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm, for the last 40 years, have protected the rights of injured workers in New York. If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, please contact us at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496) today. We can send our representatives to your doorstep in order to provide a comprehensive case evaluation at no cost to you. We can also help you with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit our website: www.work4youlaw.com
Source: LoHud.com