Six Important Steps to Take When a Sanitation Worker is Injured on the Job

Accidents must be reported no matter how serious the injury so that your rights are protected
Depending on how you get hurt you may be entitled to both sick leave benefits and a third party case.

Keep the accident report simple and to the point.
If the accident occurred because of defective equipment or a dangerous condition say so. For example:
- “I fell because handle on truck was missing”
- “I fell because of oil on the garage floor ”
- “I was hurt because of a defective truck”

A notice of claim must be filed against the city of New York within 90 days of the date of the accident in order to bring a 3rd party case
Sanitation workers have the right to sue the City of New York if they are hurt as the result of a dangerous/defective job condition.
Filing an accident report on the job is not the same as filing a Notice of Claim
You should speak to an attorney to determine if you have a 3rd party case. The attorney should file the Notice of Claim on your behalf.
If you have missed the 90 day deadline your attorney may be able to get permission from the court to file a late Notice of Claim, but you should seek legal advice without delay.

Witnesses are very important in helping you prove your case.
Get contact information for anyone who witnessed your accident or the condition that caused your accident. Tell the witness that you will give it to your lawyer and that they will be contacted privately.

Conditions of equipment and accident sites change daily.
Pictures which show the area of the accident or the condition that caused the accident are very helpful in proving your case.
Cell phone pictures can be very helpful.

Do not be reluctant to leave the job to get medical attention.
It’s important for you to get medical attention/evaluation as soon as possible after an accident so that your injury is documented and cannot be questioned later on.