A 37-year-old woman was killed recently after she was struck by a piece of plywood that was ripped loose from a nearby construction site in Greenwich Village by high winds. The 4-by-8 piece of plywood hit the woman as she was walking home along east West 12th Street, slamming her into a brick wall and causing severe head injuries, bruising, and lacerations. She was pronounced dead shortly after the incident at Bellevue Hospital.
According to a New York Post report, at the time of the incident, the winds were reaching speeds of up to 45 mph. The plywood was torn from along a security fence surrounding the construction site of a luxury apartment building just across the street and sailed nearly 50 feet before hitting the woman.
The NYC Department of Buildings issued an immediate stop-work order on construction of the former St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan in order for inspectors to evaluate the site. A spokesman from the DOB said it was too early to say whether any action would be taken against the firm operating on the site, Turner Construction.
This is not the first time that Turner Construction and the property owners have been cited for several serious violations, including failure to safeguard property and facility to provide plans for the construction fence.
Construction site managers and building owners are required to take special precautions to ensure that the property is compliant with safety codes and does not create a dangerous environment. Failure to do so can result in serious injuries and deaths to not only workers but also pedestrians.
If you have lost a loved one as a result of negligence on a construction site, please contact Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP for a free and thorough case evaluation. We can help you pursue your legal right to compensation.