On the Job Injury Lawyer Buffalo, NY
According to national statistics, there are more than one million workers who suffer workplace injuries each year in New York and across the country. But reporting by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that number to be much higher because their investigations suggest that approximately two-thirds of all workplace injuries and illnesses go unreported by employees and/or their employers. If you have been injured on the job, you need a skilled on the job injury lawyer Buffalo, NY victims trust advocating for you.
Employers and Their Reporting Responsibilities
According to OSHA regulations, any employer with 10 or more workers is required to report every work-related injury or illness that results in anything other than first aid. Those injuries and/or illnesses must be treated within 30 days to be covered by workers’ compensation. Failure to do so can result in a denial of the claim, both for medical needs and for any time that they may need off from work to recover. More serious injuries, such as those that result in permanent disability, chronic pain, or even death, can go unpaid by workers’ compensation as well, leaving the employee and their family in a financially devastating position.
A Multi-Faceted Problem
A workers’ compensation lawyer Buffalo, NY clients recommend knows that in some cases, an injury or illness will go unreported because the employee assumes the injury is not serious enough to warrant an official report. Some may hide their injuries for fear of losing their jobs or being denied work that they desperately need. And at least one-fourth of all construction workers fail to report an injury, simply assume that pain, illness, or injury are just a part of the job and never mention an injury to their employer. In these situations, it is essential that employers foster an environment in which employees know and trust that the reporting of injuries and illnesses can be critical to their long-term health.
There are many situations in which employers find their way around the system, however. They may ask employees to lie on paperwork, cart their employees around to various doctors and facilities until someone will treat an injury as first aid to avoid reporting it, or they will discourage employees from seeking medical treatment because they do not want the report filed. Alarmingly, all of these issues happen entirely too often, and it is the blue-collar workforce that suffers because of it.
Fear and Injuries in the Workplace
When symptoms progress or worsen, and employees are victims of bad employers who have shoved the injury under the rug, many are afraid to seek assistance from outside sources. Again, they fear the loss of their jobs, and they fear how it might make them look to future employers. They may also be afraid that they do not have a case against their employer.
Injured on the Job? Hire Legal Representation Today
If you have been injured on the job, you deserve fair compensation. You and your family should not have to suffer, nor should you have to struggle when it comes to paying medical bills associated with your injury. If you have been told otherwise, it is important that you seek experienced legal counsel immediately.
Get the kind of representation you deserve by hiring an attorney that will work closely with you to gather evidence and build a strong case. Call Hurwitz, Whitcher, and Molloy LLP to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a Buffalo, NY on the job lawyer to find out how we can help.
