Workplace Injuries

Philadelphia County PA
Hurt at Work - Struck by Cement Chute

Our Client, a 26 year old single man from Hatfield, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania  enjoyed playing soccer.  He worked as a construction laborer pouring concrete for footers and foundations.

On a warm summer day, our Client was working on a job site in Philadelphia.  A basement had been dug and the foundation was being poured.  Our Client was moving and smoothing the concrete that a cement truck was pouring down a chute and into the hole.  Suddenly, without any warning and without regard for the workers in the hole, the cement truck operator swung the chute around and struck our Client in the head.

Our Client was knocked unconscious.  He was removed from the hole and transported by MedEvac to the University of Pennsylvania Trauma Center.  While he regained consciousness, he suffered very significant brain injuries that affected him cognitively and physically. 

Our Client’s family hired the law firm of Naftulin and Shick, P.C. to represent the young man in both his workers compensation claims and his claims against the cement company and their operator who caused the catastrophic injuries.

A law suit was filed in Philadelphia County.  Attorney Linda Shick negotiated a substantial settlement with the insurance company insuring the cement company and its employee. Our firm assured that the Client’s past and future medical bills are paid; our Client receives his wages; and that he is compensated and taken care of for the rest of his life.

Lehigh County PA
Hurt at Work - Ironworker Struck by Crane

Our Client, a married ironworker from Whitehall, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania was working on a job site in New Jersey.  Iron beams and columns were being set for the construction of a large building.

Our Client was standing on a 24' extension ladder that was placed against a vertical steel beam or column to do his job.  A crane operator was trying to place a horizontal steel beam.  As our Client attempted to attach the beam to the column, the crane operator jerked it away, knocking our Client off of the ladder.  He suffered a broken pelvis, sacrum and coccyx.

An ambulance took our Client to a local hospital in New Jersey.  Because his injuries were serious, he was transferred to Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.  A number of surgeries were performed to correct his broken bones.  He attended long courses of physical therapy at Lehigh Valley Hospital Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.  Eventually, he was able to walk again. 

Our Client had been an ironworker for many years.  Because of the seriousness of his injuries, he could not return to his job.  He hired the law firm of Naftulin and Shick, P.C. to represent him in his workers compensation claims and his claims against the crane company and operator who negligently caused him to be injured.

Attorney Linda Shick filed suit in Federal Court in Philadelphia.  After depositions and prior to trial, the case was settled with the assistance of a Federal Magistrate.  Our Client was compensated for his life changing injuries; his medical expenses were paid; and he received his lost income.

Northampton County PA
Hurt at Work - Fall Protection

Our Client, a 24 year old ironworker from Effort, Pennsylvania, was working on a job site in New Jersey.  A six story storage facility was being constructed with a framework of iron beams.  Our Client was on the stairs between the 5th and 6th floors preparing to weld galvanized steel sheets for the landing.  The galvanized sheet was placed upon two I-beams across the landing opening.  It moved and he fell head first through the landing opening to the ground below, suffering very serious and permanent injuries to his head, shoulders and arms.

The injured worker was transported to Jefferson Hospital in Phildelphia, Pennsylvania for treatment of his life threatening injuries.  Numerous surgeries were performed and many months were spent in rehabilitation and therapy.  Although he recovered some use of his arms, he was unable to return to work as an ironworker.  In addition, he has constant pain.

Our Client’s family hired the law firm of Naftulin and Shick to represent the seriously injured ironworker.  Claims were made for workers compensation benefits so that the young man could receive necessary medical treatment and continue to receive wage benefits.  A law suit was filed in Federal Court in New Jersey against a number of contractors and subcontractors who created the dangerous workplace by failing to provide fall protection and by directing the workers to build the stairway from the top down rather than from the bottom up.

During litigation in Federal Court, the insurance companies agreed to attend mediation in Philadelphia.  Naftulin and Shick, P.C. achieved a significant settlement for our Client that provides for life time medical treatment and care in addition to lost income and compensation for pain and suffering.

Monroe County PA
Hurt at Work - Falling Drywall

Our Client from East Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pennsylvania worked as a carpenter doing insulation installation. He was on a new home construction site in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. A building supply company from Bucks County, Pennsylvania delivered a load of drywall to be installed in the home. The building supply company employees improperly stacked the drywall vertically against a wall in an area where our Client was installing insulation. A number of other carpenters were also working in the area.

As our client walked through the construction site, the sheets of drywall began to fall. Although he tried to get out of the way, the drywall fell onto his right foot and leg. He suffered very serious injuries to his right leg and ankle.

Our client was transported by Medevac to the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania for emergency treatment of crushing injuries to his leg and foot. He underwent a number of surgeries to repair tendon, ligament and bone damage. Because he was in the course of his employment at the time he was injured, our Client’s employer’s workman’s compensation carrier provided wage loss and medical benefits. They asserted a lien against his third party claims as pursuant to Pennsylvania law they are entitled to be reimbursed for those monies they pay on a worker’s behalf.

Due to the seriousness of his injuries, our client was not able to return to his prior occupation. A lawsuit was filed against the building supply company for their negligence in stacking sheets of drywall. After depositions and other discovery, an amicable and substantial settlement was achieved on behalf of the injured carpenter.

Montgomery County PA
Hurt at Work - Loss of Hand

Our Souderton, Pennsylvania client was a 26 year old married, father of three small children who worked at a production company in Telford, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania that mixed different grains for bird and animal feed. The different grains were fed into a hopper and funneled down through a very large grain mixer. It was necessary to clean out the bottom of the mixer between different batches as certain grains cannot be tolerated by certain birds and animals.

The mixer was controlled by a computer system that was located several floors away. The operator in the control room could not view the mixer from his station. Additionally, the door utilized for the clean out did not have an interlock that prevented the operator from starting the mixer. Nor was there any indicator on the computer that advised the operator that the clean out door was open.

In between runs, our Client opened the clean out door and was sweeping the residual grain out with his hand. Meanwhile, in the control room, the operator received a computer message that the next batch was ready to run. The operator started the mixer and the blades began to turn, cutting off the majority of the Client's dominant hand and causing serious injury to his wrist and arm.

The Client and his wife hired our law firm to represent them against a number of companies including the manufacturer and installer of the mixer and the control system. The case involved claims for negligence and products liability. We also represented them in their claim for workers compensation benefits to assure the medical bills were paid and the wages were received timely.

A negligence and product liability suit was filed, numerous depositions were taken and expert opinions obtained. The case settled for a substantial amount at a mediation prior to the first day of trial.

Lehigh County PA
Hurt at Work - Job Site Electrical Injury

Our Client in his mid 30s from Lehighton, Pennsylvania worked as a maintenance person at an industrial center near Route 309 and Route 22 in Allentown. As a part of his job duties, he was directed to change the settings on a timer that regulated outside lighting. Unbeknownst to him, an electrical technician from an outside contractor had worked on the system shortly before and failed to replace the insulating cover.

When our Jim Thorpe client opened the panel to set the timer, he received a large electrical shock that entered his right hand and traveled up his right arm causing significant injury and nerve damage. After the accident, he was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He suffered horrible pain and lost a portion of the use of his dominant hand and arm. He was unable to return to his job as a maintenance worker.

The Client and his wife hired our law firm to represent them in a negligence claim against the electrical company that carelessly failed to replace the protective cover. We also represented him in his workers compensation claim to make sure that his medical bills were paid and he received his wage loss benefits for the time that he was out of work. We began a lawsuit in Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas in Allentown, Pennsylvania against the company who failed to properly replace the insulated cover thus causing the client a very serious and permanent injury. The case was satisfactorily settled for a confidential amount prior to trial.