Plumber Injury Attorney in Boston

If you are a plumber who has been injured on the job, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Maybe you are unable to work or have a pile of medical bills that you cannot pay.

The plumber injury lawyers at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers in Boston are ready to provide you with the legal advice you need at this difficult time to help you get back on your feet.

Our law firm has helped many tradespeople throughout Massachusetts recover maximum compensation for medical bills, and lost wages. Our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys can do the same for you.

Regardless of whether your injury occurred while working for a plumbing company, on a construction site or at someone’s home, our law firm will sort through the facts of your case and identify all parties who could be held liable for your injury.

We understand how hard a plumber works and how a work injury places your livelihood at risk and can derail your entire life.

Contact our law office as soon as possible so we can begin investigating your case and start the path to financial recovery. Any delays could hamper the investigation of your accident and negatively affect the compensation that you receive.

Our legal consultations are free and confidential. You don’t pay anything until we win your case.

Plumbers perform different types of work in a variety of settings. Some plumbers work for companies or in factories or plants, while other plumbers work for themselves as independent contractors. Plumbers perform residential or commercial work or a combination of both.

Plumbers who perform specialized plumbing work include pipefitters and steamfitters.

Our attorneys will perform a thorough investigation of your work accident to determine the best course of action.

If you work for a company that pays you to perform plumbing work, you’re most likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for your injuries. Workers’ compensation pays for medical treatment for work injuries and a percentage of lost wages. In certain situations, injured workers are eligible for vocational rehabilitation to help them get back to work.

You can read more about workers’ compensation in Massachusetts on the state’s website at mass.gov.

Our law firm workers’ compensation department can make sure that you receive the benefits you’re entitled to and can handle any appeals if your claim is denied. If your work injury is serious, having a skilled and experienced work injury attorney on your side is crucial. The claim process can be complicated, and it’s not uncommon for employers and their insurance providers to deny claims.

If you’re classified as an independent contractor, your entitlement to benefits isn’t as clean cut. Generally speaking, independent contractors aren’t entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. However, your classification could be wrong if you work consistently with the same company and take orders from a supervisor. There are a number of factors that are looked at when determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. An attorney can look at the specifics of your work situation and see if you’ve been improperly classified.

If you work as an independent contractor, another party could be liable for your injury if their negligence caused your injury. For example, if you slip and fall on a snowy walkway while making your way to an appointment to fix a leaky pipe, a property owner could be held liable for failing to remediate the hazardous condition. In such a case, a homeowner or business owner’s insurance policy could provide coverage for your injuries.

A plumber injured on a construction site could have a valid claim against a general contractor or subcontractor. Maybe the general contractor failed to maintain a safe job site or violated safety regulations, or a subcontractor performed work in a dangerous manner.

Again, a plumber injury lawyer can identify all potentially liable parties and advise on the next steps to take to obtain compensation for your injuries.

Your attorney will be able to help you proceed with a personal injury claim against the negligent parties. You might be able to pursue a slip-and-fall claim or premises liability claim. If your work injury was caused by a malfunctioning tool or piece of equipment, you might be able to file a product liability claim against the tool or equipment manufacturer.

Plumbers face a variety of on-the-job risks. Here’s a list, as compiled by Plumber Magazine, of some of the hazards that plumbers should be aware of when performing their work:

Working at high heights: This is the most common cause of workplace accidents. Plumbers should have proper safety equipment such as harnesses, or they should work from scaffolding or cherry pickers when appropriate. Even a fall from a short distance can cause an injury.

Working in confined spaces: Fatal injuries often occur in closed spaces with unsafe oxygen levels. Plumbers working on boilers, storage tanks and sewers can face breathing challenges.

Repetitive movement: These types of injuries occur over time and can be hard to identify.

Eye Injuries: Plumbers are often exposed to bacteria and other hazardous substances on job sites. Safety glasses can protect against these types of injuries.

Asbestos: Asbestos is a fibrous mineral composed of thin fibers that when breathed in can cause a fatal type of lung cancer known as mesothelioma. Older buildings often have asbestos-containing boilers, pipes, insulation and other materials. One study found that plumbers are 16 times more likely to develop mesothelioma than the general population.

Hearing Loss: Loud tools and machinery can cause permanent hearing loss.

Extreme temperature injuries: Extreme heat can lead to injuries like heat stroke while freezing temperatures can cause frostbite.

Tool injuries: While all tools pose a risk of injury, tools that are defective in design and manufacturing can cause serious injury and even death to a plumber. Tools should come with adequate instructions and warnings.

Mold: Toxic mold can be hidden behind paneling or under sinks and can cause severe health problems when inhaled.

Plumbers are at risk of suffering a wide range of work injuries, including:

• Soft tissue injuries
• Back and spine injuries
• Lacerations
• Broken bones
• Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries
• Burns
• Electrocution
• Toxic exposure

In certain situations, a work injury can cause permanent disability or impairment and can even be fatal.

If your loved one died as a result of a plumbing injury, the plumber injury lawyers at the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers can help you pursue a potential wrongful death claim against all liable parties.

Plumbers are routinely exposed to a wide variety of hazardous chemicals and other toxic substances. These toxic substances can cause serious burns and produce fumes that can cause serious and permanent respiratory damage when inhaled. Certain materials such as asbestos are carcinogenic.

It’s not uncommon for plumbers to be exposed to these toxins:

• Lead
• Sulfur dioxide
• Mold
• Asbestos
• Solder
• Drain cleaners and other chemical solvents
• Raw sewage

Raw sewage, soil, and water contaminated by raw sewage present plumbers with a unique threat. Plumbers often perform work on sewage pipes and septic systems. Due to this, they are at risk of developing infections caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

An infection can lead to many diseases such as:

• Encephalitis
• coli
• Gastroenteritis
• Giardiasis
• Hepatitis
• Typhoid fever
• COVID-19

Plumbers working on sanitary systems or sewers can contact water and aerosols that contain the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Experts recommend that plumbers wear a full face shield, safety glasses, and gloves to protect themselves from being infected.

Working with flammable materials and electricity provides other unique hazards. Plumbers can suffer an electric shock when installing appliances or working near electrical wiring. Blowtorches can be dangerous and cause serious burns. Even hot water presents an on-the-job hazard.

Safety Precautions That Plumbers Can Take to Protect Against Injury

Plumbers should use extra care when working with or around:

• Flammable materials
• Gas lines
• Boilers
• Welding and soldering equipment
• Steam pipes
• Hot water
• Electrical tools and equipment
• Electrical wiring

There are some precautions that plumbers can take to keep themselves safe on any commercial or residential job site. Wearing personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, hard hats, and gloves are a good place to start. Plumbers should also research all plumbing projects and only use tools that are right for the job and in good condition.

When handling sewage or other biohazards, plumbers should thoroughly wash their hands before eating, drinking, or using the bathroom. Eating and drinking should take place in clean areas, and only after contaminated clothing has been removed. Any cuts should be bandaged to prevent them from being contaminated. Waterproof gloves and rubber boots also provide protection from dangerous sewage. All work clothing should be disinfected after every shift. A gas detection meter can protect a worker from dangerous and potentially deadly fumes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers guidance for reducing health risks to workers handling sewage and other hazardous materials.

To learn more about how our work accident attorneys can help you with your plumber injury claim, contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers today at (617) 777-7777 or use our online form.