The Law Office of Dennis P. Ryan knows lodi law
The Law Office of Dennis P. Ryan has represented New York City Sanitation Workers for over a decade. As the son of an NYC Sanitation worker, he knows the impact a LODI accident can have on sanitation workers and their families.
Fighting for DSNY workers is our specialty. It’s what our firm does.
- Every year, thousands of Sanitation workers are seriously injured from car/truck accidents, unsafe conditions at DSNY garage, tripping/slipping hazards along their routes, defective trucks/mechanical brooms/Front-End Loaders and exposure to hazardous materials. If you are a DSNY worker who was involved in a Line of Duty Injury (“LODI”), you may have a case against either the City Of New York or a 3rd party who caused your injury.
- DSNY Workers are entitled to bring a lawsuit in addition to seeking a "3 Quarters" Accidental Disability Pension. Time is of the essence when you are injured in a LODI. If the City of New York is responsible for your accident, you must file a Notice of Claim with the Comptroller's Office within 90 days of the accident. It is in your best interest to contact an attorney who is familiar immediately following an accident.
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Workplace Accidents and Injuries for Sanitation Workers
- New York City Department of Sanitation Workers face the risk of serious injury every day they serve our City and its residents. A report published in 2016 by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) showed that sanitation workers have job fatality risks that are 10 times higher than other kinds of workers.
- Sanitation workers face dangerous situations that most workers never have to deal with. Because of this, Sanitation Workers are often involved in the following Some of the common accidents a sanitation worker might have on the job include:
- Falls: Sanitation workers are at risk for falls both when working on their routes, in their own garages, in DSNY parking lots and even in their own locker rooms. Many of these falls happen on conditions that have been reported for years but have never been properly fixed.
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Other Drivers on the road often do not want to wait or "get stuck" behind a DSNY truck. Drivers often try to unsafely pass by DSNY trucks. They attempt to squeeze through tight spaces at high rates of speed. These drivers place Sanitation workers at a high risk of danger.
- Unsafe Equipment: Sanitation workers work on Trucks, Street Sweepers, Plows, Front-End Loaders and other heavy and sometimes dangerous equipment to do their job. This equipment is not always properly maintained, repaired and inspected. Accidents involving these machines can result in catastrophic injuries that may require the worker to undergo surgeries and have to retire early.
- Falling Objects: Many Sanitation garages are not properly repaired. Rather than fix the ceilings of the garages, the City will put up nets to try to catch falling debris. Unfortunately these nets don't catch everything. These falling objects can cause significant damage, including head injuries.
- Injuries from these types of accidents can include: Knee/Shoulder Injuries with torn ligaments that often require surgery; Broken Bones; Herniated/Bulging Discs that lead to Spinal Cord Injuries; Deep lacerations/cuts that require stiches; Brain Injury; and more.
What To Do After a Line of Duty Injury (LODI) Accident
- Immediately following a Line of Duty Injury (LODI), a Sanitation Worker should make sure to report the incident. If you don't report the incident, you may not be able to make a claim for LODI Benefits. You or your partner should also take photos of the scene of your accident.
- The City of New York will file a Line of Duty Injury (LODI) and an Unusual Occurrence Report. It is important to make sure that these reports reflect the dangerous condition and situation that led to your injuries and anything that the CIty or a 3rd party could have done to prevent your accident. The LODI and Unusual Occurrence Reports are critically important for any Personal Injury case or 3/4 Pension Application.
- If you have a direct claim against the City of New York, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of your accident. If your LODI Report is detailed enough, you can sometimes get around this rule. You should speak with an experienced and knowledgeable Sanitation Injury attorney to figure out what needs to be done to help your case.