Who Can I File a New York Construction Injury Claim Against?
No matter what safety precautions are taken, construction workers still get injured regularly at New York City construction sites. While workers’ compensation will help with many financial issues an injured New York City construction worker may face, it might not cover all their bills and expenses. In such a case, it may be beneficial for an injured worker to file a civil suit. But, determining exactly who is responsible for an injury at a construction site can be complex. With building owners, contractors, and other third parties working together at one location, finding out who is responsible for a worker’s injuries will require a New York construction site accident injury attorney.
Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP can help you build a viable injury claim against the at-fault party responsible for construction site injuries. Call us at (212) 986-7353.
Dangers of Cranes on New York Construction Sites
It’s common to see a crane, towering hundreds of feet in the air, at a New York construction site. Cranes are incredibly massive pieces of building equipment that can weigh several tons. When such large machinery is being used at great heights and around large teams of construction workers, injuries are bound to happen.
Common Causes of New York Crane Accidents
There are many different reasons that New York crane accidents happen. Federal laws and construction safety regulations are in place to keep construction workers and the general public safe in and around construction sites. But, even with strict rules about crane usage set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), mistakes are still made, accidents happen, and people get hurt. Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP has represented many New York construction workers injured in crane accidents. Here are some of the most common crane accidents we have seen over the decades:
Common Causes of New York Crane Accidents
Moving large, heavy loads and demolishing structures are critical to manufacturing and construction industries. Just as important is the safety of the tall cranes that make these jobs possible. One error can cause a tip-over, collapse or dropped load that results in serious injury or death of workers and passersby.
Crane accidents are the most common cause of construction site accident deaths. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates there are currently over 175,000 cranes working in construction and maritime building. That means that hundreds of thousands of construction workers could possibly be injured in a crane accident. This doesn’t include bystanders passing by construction sites.
Construction Worker Injured at Upper West Side Job Site
A construction worker suffered serious facial injuries while working in a four-story building on the Upper West Side. The construction accident occurred at West 86th Street and West End Avenue in New York City. Officials say the worker on the second floor was struck in the face by a falling piece of construction material dropped by a co-worker. His facial injuries are considered serious. The city’s Buildings Department has issued a violation for “failure to safeguard” as well as a partial stop-work order for scaffold usage.
Brooklyn Contractor Cited for Fatal Fall
A Brooklyn contracting company has been cited in connection with a construction site accident where a 51-year-old laborer was killed after falling while pouring concrete.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the laborer was killed while working at a construction site on Neptune Avenue in Brighton Beach back in April 2015. Officials say he fell while raking freshly poured concrete from the sixth floor.
OSHA has determined that his tragic death could have been prevented had proper safety precautions been taken. Investigators believe that the victim and his co-workers were not provided fall protection equipment such as harnesses or lifelines. Furthermore, their employer had not trained them on how to reduce fall hazards. OSHA ultimately decided to cite J&M Metro General Contracting for one willful violation for the lack of fall protection and five serious violations for other hazards.
Queens Construction Worker Death Leads to Manslaughter Charge
We now know more about the death of a 22-year-old laborer from Queens killed while working at a Restoration Hardware store construction site on Ninth Avenue in Manhattan on April 6, 2015.
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the general contractor and the victim’s employer failed to provide cave-in protection, which could have prevented the fatal trench collapse. Harco Construction LLC and subcontractor Sky Materials Corporation didn’t install cave-in protection, or brace a section of undermined sidewalk to prevent it from collapsing.
Officials with OSHA say the managers associated with the construction site were aware of the dangerous conditions and failed to remove their employees from the trench. After the construction site accident, OSHA issued each employer two citations for willful violations of safety standards. Officials from both companies have also been indicted for manslaughter in the New York State Supreme Court.
Car Plunges Into Yonkers Construction Site
A woman was injured when her vehicle plunged about 40 feet down into a construction site. According to a CBS New York news report, the car crash took place near the victim’s home in Yonkers.
Officials say her gray Toyota accelerated suddenly, forcing her vehicle through the chain link fence and over the cliff. The vehicle landed on its nose and flipped over onto its roof. The driver suffered a deep cut and lost some blood, but survived the crash. It’s unclear what caused the accident.
New York Construction Injuries Jumped 34 percent Over the Last Year
Recently, a construction worker fell to his death 30 feet down an elevator shaft at 577 Ninth Avenue, where a hotel is currently being built. The family of another worker who died after falling 24 stories down an elevator shaft in May just announced that it will sue companies involved at that construction site. Across the country, construction site injuries and deaths are rising, but the problem is especially bad here in New York.
What Do New York Construction Labor Union Lawyers Do?
Throughout New York, construction workers rely on their union to help them in many ways. The union advocates for better wages and safer working conditions for every person it represents. When an employer treats an individual worker unfairly, the union steps in. In some cases, however, the union’s expertise is not enough. When a specific legal issue threatens the safety or livelihood of one or more of its construction worker members, the help of an attorney may be required.
Crane Accident Demonstrates the Risks of Working on Construction Sites
A recent crane accident on a New Jersey construction site demonstrates that while cranes can be indispensable for working on large projects, they also pose serious risks when proper safety precautions are not taken.