Accidents can happen at any type of workplace, but some New York workers have risks that others don’t. Fortunately, the state’s workers’ compensation system can help these workers or their families when something terrible happens.
A New York City bus driver was killed recently when a man allegedly stole a truck and crashed it into the bus, sending the driver flying out of his seat. The 49-year-old driver had been working for the city for 17 years. He left behind a spouse and a teenage daughter.
Police later arrested a young man they say had stolen the truck after a night of partying. He had allegedly been kicked out of a bar and a hotel earlier in the night. Police suspected he was under the influence of alcohol.
When workers die from work-related injuries, their families may claim workers’ compensation benefits from the worker’s employer. It is not necessary to argue that the employer was negligent or did anything wrong in order to collect benefits, but those who collect benefits typically cannot file a lawsuit against the employer over the same injury. When the injury is caused by a third party, however, the injured or their families are typically free to pursue a claim against the third party as well as to collect workers’ compensation benefits.
The New York workers’ compensation system can be very important to families coping with the tragic loss of a loved one in a workplace accident. However, the system can be tricky to manage, and insurance companies often drag their heels about honoring these claims. It’s important for these families to have the help of a New York attorney with experience in workers’ compensation law.
Source: Daily News, “MTA driver killed after truck allegedly stolen by Tyson Beckford’s nephew collides with bus in Greenwich Village,” Marianne Garvey, Brian Niemietz, Barry Paddock, Pete Donohue, Joseph Stepansky and Larry McShane, Feb. 13, 2014
