Welding Accidents

New York Welding Accident Lawyers Who Understand Serious Injuries

Welders put their health on the line daily to get the job done. They’re exposed to intense heat, toxic chemicals, and sometimes dangerous working conditions.

When welders get hurt on the job, they have access to workers’ compensation benefits. However, the system is complex and often difficult for injured workers to navigate. To maximize compensation, it’s wise to contact an experienced New York welding accident lawyer. As work injury lawyers serving New Yorkers for over 90 years, we are prepared to put resources and experience to work for welding accident victims.

The dangers of the welding profession

Perhaps the most common welding accident is electric shock. Because welders work with metals and electrified equipment, they are highly vulnerable to electrocution injuries. A secondary voltage shock can happen if a welder accidentally touches the electrode and work-piece, particularly in wet or damp conditions, due to the constant current power supply that is conducted across the arc through the metal vapors and ionized gas known as plasma.

Another very common incident is a flash burn, also known as arc eye. The extremely bright ultraviolet light of a welder’s arc can cause inflammation of the cornea in one or both eyes. While flash burns are treatable, they can also lead to complications such as infections that can cause vision loss. Though helmets with magnetic shields are intended to protect eyes from damaging UV light, welders often develop cataracts, even with the best protective welding gear.

It’s no surprise that welders risk a long list of burn injuries. Because gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) produces temperatures of up to 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit, a welder’s iron rods and iron rod particles are particularly damaging if they come in contact with skin. A dropped welding torch can cause a full thickness hot metal slag burn injury, requiring an immediate trip to the emergency room.

Exposure to chemicals and fumes is also a risk to welders, as the process uses hazardous vapors and toxic gases such as carbon dioxide, which can cause neurological damage if inhaled, and manganese, which can lead to manganism (Welder’s Parkinson’s disease). Too often, welder workstations are not properly ventilated with extractor fans, causing welders to become dizzy or disoriented. Fires and explosions can also occur due to compressed gases being close to the arc flame.

How a knowledgeable welding accident lawyer in New York can help

Welding accidents can be high-stakes cases. If you were seriously injured on the job, you should get workers’ compensation benefits for your medical expenses, lost wages, and certain other benefits if you have a permanent injury. If your injury was caused by a negligent third party, such as an equipment manufacturer, you may also have a personal injury claim for additional damages. However, insurance companies fight hard to downplay or deny these claims. With the right welding accident attorney on your side, you can fight back.

If you are a welder injured on the job, let Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano fight for your rights. Call us toll-free at (800) 692-3717 or contact us online for a free evaluation. You shouldn't suffer for the hard work you do every day. We're here to fight for the compensation you deserve, whether you're in the Bronx, Queens, Kings County, Rockland County, Nassau County, or Manhattan.