Working underground can be an enormously dangerous endeavor. If you or a loved one works underground, and have been injured as a result of an excavation accident, you are entitled to benefits that will provide for your medical coverage as well as your lost wages as you recover from your injuries. If a loved one has tragically passed away due to an excavation accident, you may be entitled to benefits that can help pay for the funeral and compensate you for your pain and suffering. The New York excavation accident attorneys at Tucker Lawyers PC have the experience to ascertain the cause of the accident and to ensure that the negligent parties are held accountable.

While cave-ins are the most common danger in underground or trench situations, other risks sometimes present themselves, and other injuries have been known to be sustained. At Tucker Lawyers PC, we’ve handled virtually all types of excavation accident cases.

Here are some accident types we have represented in the past:

  • Cave-ins
  • Electrocutions
  • Equipment malfunctions
  • Falling objects
  • Slips, trips and falls
  • Inhalation of dangerous materials / gases
  • Fires
  • Explosions
  • Drowning
  • Low-oxygen situations

Luckily for workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has put guidelines in place designed to protect those who work underground or in trenches.

These are aimed to help minimize excavation accidents, and include the following rules:

  • The underground site or trench must be inspected at least once daily
  • The slopes of excavated areas cannot exceed a certain degree of steepness
  • Dirt, gravel and any other refuse must not be piled within two feet of walls
  • A continuous flow of fresh air must be supplied to the work area
  • The working surface must be flat and free from unnecessary hazardous objects
  • Pipes, wires and utility lines must be clearly marked and highly visible; work should not be done unnecessarily close to these obstacles
  • Equipment must be kept away from the edges of the dug-out area
  • A supervisor must be in charge of monitoring water levels and weather conditions
  • A clearly marked and easy-to-use exit must be available to all workers

There are many types of workers whose job entails them entering an underground space. If you are a plumber, carpenter, HVAC worker, heavy equipment operator, mason, ironworker, electrician, demolition expert or elevator installer you may be at serious risk. If you’ve suffered from a head injury, broken bones, burns, neck, back, cuts, or significant soft tissue injury while working in an excavation site you have the right to sue for your injuries.

Contact our New York Excavation Accident Lawyers

Knowing the high level of risk present in underground situations, New York State has put in place special regulations that try to both ensure excavation workers’ safety and provide for them if an accident does take place. At Tucker Lawyers PC, Our Staten Island car accident lawyers can help evaluate your claim and then apply our expertise to your legal proceedings. We understand the significant danger you risk on a daily basis, and we believe that you should be provided for in the event something goes wrong. An excavation accident can be a traumatic and painful incident to endure, and you should not be held responsible to pay expensive medical bills on top of your pain and suffering. Contact us today for a free consultation, and we can help you get started in seeking the compensation that you deserve.

john tucker

Managing Attorney John. J. Tucker, Esq.

John has personally handled thousands of clients who were victims of another’s negligence and fights relentlessly for their rights. John enjoys bringing closure to a client’s matter so that the injured party can move forward with their life. His background enables him to evaluate complex liability related claims and bring resolution to claims in a record time frame. [ Attorney Bio ]

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