NEW YORK CITY NAIL GUN ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

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Construction workers in New York often use nail guns for various jobs on the site. While a nail gun comes with all sorts of safely mechanisms built in this handheld tool, it has the potential to inflict serious injury or even death.

Getting hit with a sharp nail in the eye or another vulnerable part of the body can cause organ damage or excessive bleeding. No matter where the nail impacts the body it can cause serious medical issues.

Our experienced nail gun accident attorneys at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff, LLP in New York City understand what kind of damage a defective nail gun or a lack of protective gear can cause.

If you or someone you love has suffered nail gun injuries on a construction site in New York, our attorneys will provide you with the right legal advice to pursue a claim for compensation.

High Incidence of Nail Gun Injuries

Two out of three nail injuries at construction sites occur where sheathing and framing work is going on. Roofing jobs, exterior siding or finish work are also some of the common jobs where construction workers are at a higher risk of getting injured by a nail gun. According to OSHA figures:

• 40 percent of apprentice carpenters suffer from nail gun injuries at some point during the first 4 years of their training.
• Over half of all reported nail gun injuries on construction sites involve hands and fingers.
• Legs and thighs are the second most injured area of the body in nail gun accidents.
• Nail gun injuries to the neck, head, spinal cord, eyes, or internal organs are known to result in brain damage, paralysis, blindness, organ puncture, or even death.

PNEUMATIC NAIL GUNS

Pneumatic nail guns are commonly used in many New York construction job sites. These guns make use of air pressure to generate the force required to drive the nail. A piston inside the nail gun creates a blast of compressed air, forcing the nail to shoot into the material.

ELECTRICAL OR GAS POWERED NAIL GUNS

These high powered nail guns have a potential to cause explosive accidents. When the construction worker needs to shoot a nail into some kind of hard material or wood, they may need a gun that can shoot the nail with a lot of pressure. The risk of explosive nail gun accidents exists with various models and makes of nail guns.

TYPES OF NAIL GUN INJURIES

According to the CDC, some of the common nail gun injuries, apart from damage to the upper extremities such as fingers and hands, include:

• Fracture from nail penetration
• Nail embedded in the body
• Eye damage
• Dental injuries
• Infected wounds
• Electrical burns
• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Sprains
• Nerve damage from excessive tool usage
• Dislocated fingers because of lifting the tool
• Hearing problems because of constant nail gun noise

How to Reduce the Risk of Injuries

The CDC recommends that construction workers should know which types of nail guns can put them at a higher risk of injury. Chances of injuries are two times higher with a “contact” trigger gun than with a “sequential” trigger gun.

When using a contact trigger gun, even a minor bump may result in a serious injury. Wherever possible, construction workers should be provided with sequential trigger nail guns to minimize the risk.

Construction workers should be informed that severe injuries with nail guns are more common that one would like to think. As many as 37,000 injured victims visit the emergency room every year because of nail gun accidents. Construction workers should also be trained to report every nail gun injury, even when they do not consider it to be serious.

Employers should provide appropriate training for nail gun use and establish proper nail gun operative procedures on the construction job site. Workers should be provided with PPE (personal protective equipment), and access to first aid and emergency medical treatment as needed.

If you have suffered a serious nail gun injury, speak to construction accident lawyer at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff for legal advice. We will you establish a strong personal injury claim depending on your case and get you the rightful compensation.

SAFETY TRAINING FOR NAIL GUN USE

Employers should provide for nail gun safety training to the construction workers on the job site. The training should include information about correct loading, firing, board placement, different types of triggers, air compressor operation, how to identify ricochet dangers, and how to protect against nail gun malfunction.

JOB SITE SUPERVISION

Negligent supervision is behind many nail gun injuries on construction sites in New York City. With proper supervision in place, employers can ensure that all the nail gun safety guidelines are followed and any careless or dangerous behavior can be stopped in time.

USE OF PROTECTIVE GEAR

Hard hats and goggles are important protective gear for nail gun workers on construction sites. Work gloves can protect fingers and hands against the risk of laceration injuries. Feet and toes can also be protected from nail gun dangers if the employer provides steel toe boots or other types of safety shoes.

Competent Nail Gun Accident Attorneys in New York City Can Help You Obtain Maximum Compensation

If you have suffered a construction site nail gun injury in New York City, which has resulted in high medical bills, and/or a lower pay or a lighter job duty, you could be eligible for damages through a personal injury claim or workers’ compensation.

Third party liability claims are possible if your nail gun injury occurred because of the negligence of a co-worker or non-employer or due to a faulty nail gun.

Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff, LLP was founded nearly a century ago, and we have recovered more than a billion dollars for our clients over the years. Get in touch with us to know about your legal options to maximize your compensation in your nail gun related personal injury.

We will not charge you a fee unless we win your case. Call us at 212-344-1000 to schedule a free construction, or contact us online today!