Lifting injuries are among the most frequent workers’ compensation claims filed in Queens, and also some of the most underestimated. Whether you’re loading freight near JFK Airport, moving supplies at a warehouse in Maspeth, or hauling materials on a construction site in Astoria, the physical demands of your job can take a serious toll. At Bangel, Cohen & Falconetti, our team represents Queens workers injured on the job, including those hurt by lifting at work. If you’re in pain and wondering what your options are, here’s what you need to know.
How Lifting Injuries Happen on the Job
These injuries don’t always happen in one dramatic moment. Sometimes it’s a single lift that goes wrong. Other times, it’s weeks of strain that finally break something down. Common causes include:
- Lifting loads that are too heavy for one person to handle alone
- Twisting the torso while carrying weight
- Reaching overhead or away from the body during a lift
- Working in cramped spaces without room to lift safely
- Receiving no instruction on safe lifting practices
Employers in Queens are required to provide safe working conditions. When they don’t, and you get hurt as a result, you have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim.
The Body Parts Most Affected
Lower back injuries are the most common result of lifting accidents at work, but the damage doesn’t stop there. Workers also suffer injuries to:
- Lumbar discs, which can herniate and cause pain radiating into the legs
- Muscles and tendons across the upper and lower back
- Shoulders and rotator cuffs from overhead lifting
- Neck tissue when straining upward or pulling a weight
A challenge with many of these injuries is that they may not show up clearly on X-rays. That makes proper medical documentation important for your claim.
What New York Law Says About Your Injury
Under New York Workers’ Compensation Law § 10, virtually every employer in New York is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. If you’re hurt at work, you’re entitled to benefits regardless of fault. Your employer cannot deny your claim simply by saying you “lifted wrong.”
Under NY WCL § 28, you have two years from the date of your injury to file. Don’t wait. Evidence fades, witnesses move on, and delays can give insurers a reason to question your claim.
Steps to Take Right After a Lifting Injury
- Tell your supervisor about the injury immediately and in writing.
- Get medical care right away and let the doctor know this happened at work.
- Hold onto all medical records, bills, and written communications.
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to the insurance company before speaking with our attorneys.
How Our Firm Can Help You
Insurance companies have teams dedicated to limiting what they pay out. They may claim your injury existed before this job, that it happened off the clock, or that it isn’t as bad as you say. Our firm works to make sure your version of events is backed by documentation, medical evidence, and a thorough knowledge of New York workers’ comp law. Queens workers deserve full benefits when they’re injured on the job, and we work to ensure they get them. Call 718-446-4400 or contact us online to get started with a free case review.
