New York Construction Site Roof and Ceiling Collapses
In New York City, construction is booming, with high rise apartments, skyscrapers, office buildings, and condominiums being built in record numbers. With the construction of new buildings comes a slate of new construction jobs that require workers to risk their lives on a daily basis. Many of these construction projects are associated with poor supervision, hazardous conditions, and a lack of proper safety equipment, as well as pressure on employees to work in unsafe environments.
Common construction site accidents that our personal injury attorneys at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP see are ceiling, roof, and wall collapses. Construction workers often work on buildings that are only partially completed. These environments contain such hazards as half-built walls, poorly secured ceilings, faulty plumbing within walls, shoddy construction, and unsafe architectural plans. These conditions can contribute to the collapse of a ceiling, wall, or roof. If you or a loved one has been injured in such an accident, our firm can help you file a personal injury claim. We will review your accident, answer your questions, explain the law, and discuss your options. To speak with a skilled and experienced New York City construction accident attorney, call us at (212) 986-7353.
Common Causes of Ceiling and Wall Collapses
Construction foremen often pressure workers to cut corners and work quickly under unsafe conditions in order to finish projects on time and within budget. These practices put lives at risk. Though construction is a heavily regulated industry in New York, ceiling, roof, and wall collapses still occur. Below are some frequent causes of such accidents.
Improperly secured walls or ceilings: A wall or ceiling without proper support may succumb to gravity or weight placed on it, collapsing and crushing those next to or underneath it.
Falling debris: Heavy debris or equipment such as steel rods may be accidentally dropped, landing on the roof and causing it to collapse.
Malfunctioning equipment: Machine or operator error of large construction equipment may cause the wall to topple or roof to come crashing down.
Plumbing and duct issues: Pipes and air ducts are often installed in walls and ceilings. If installed improperly, the weight of the pipes or ducts may cause collapse. In addition, water damage caused by a leak may result in an unexpected collapse.
Common Ceiling Collapse Injuries
The nature and severity of the injuries will vary, based on multiple factors, such as whether the worker was wearing a helmet. However, common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Neck and spinal injuries
- Amputations
- Impalement
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Joint injuries
- Lacerations
Proving Liability in a Construction Accident Case
Construction accident cases fall under personal injury law, which provides compensation for victims of negligence. Construction operations commonly involve a network of parties, including developers, architects, landowners, tenants, construction companies, machinery manufacturers, insurance companies, and more. The plaintiff must prove that the defendant had a duty of care toward the plaintiff. Often times, there are multiple responsible defendants in a construction accident case, such as the construction company responsible for supervising the labor and the architectural company responsible for the faulty blueprints. The plaintiff must prove that the defendant(s) breached the duty of care to maintain a safe construction site, free of dangerous conditions. This can be established, for example, by proving a lack of proper supervision or safety gear. The plaintiff will need to demonstrate that the responsible parties either knew or should have known of the dangerous condition and did not fix it.
Consult with a Skilled New York City Ceiling Collapse Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one was injured by a sudden and unexpected ceiling collapse at a construction site, contact the experienced and dedicated New York personal injury attorneys at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP now to schedule a free consultation at (212) 986-7353.
Additional Information
Our Construction Accident Case Results
$18 Million - Verdict for Construction Worker Who Fell from a Defective Scaffold
The laborer fell three stories from a defective scaffold and suffered comminuted fractures of his left calcaneus, osteomyelitis in the left heel and a painful neuroma in his foot.
Philip Russotti
$11.76 Million - Labor Law Construction Accident with Single-Level Lumbar Fusion
Frank Lombardo obtained $11.76 million in Queens County for a seriously injured Union Local No. 1 journeyman plumber.
Frank Lombardo
$11.1 Million - NY Construction Worker Fell from Ladder
Phil Russotti obtained an $11.1 million verdict in Queens County Supreme Court, for a 53 year old man who was injured on a construction site at a New York City High School.
Philip Russotti
$8.2 Million - New York Construction Worker Paralyzed in Fall
Plaintiff, a 40 year-old, undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, was working off the books for a roofing contractor when he fell through a hole in the first floor of a one family home he was working in.
Kenneth Halperin, Philip Russotti
$7.25 Million - Defective Scaffolding Injury in New York
Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP attorneys Phil Russotti and Ken Halperin settled the case of a union-affiliated painter in his 40s, who was injured while working at a chemical storage facility.
Kenneth Halperin, Philip Russotti
$6.5 Million - Carpenter Injured from Fall at Jobsite
David M. Hoffman obtained a settlement of $6,500,000 for a client who was injured in a fall on a jobsite resulting in suffered serious and permanent trauma to his head.
David Hoffman
$6.5 Million - Serious Fall by Undocumented Laborer
Konstantin Burshteyn successfully represented a client, an undocumented laborer from El Salvador, who was seriously injured in a fall while working as a roofer.
Konstantin Burshteyn
$6.4 Million - Injured Union Concrete Workers
WRSMH attorneys obtained a total of $6,400,000 for multiple cases involving injured union concrete workers who were hurt on a construction site.
Noah Katz, Michael Zisser
$5.9 Million - Construction Worker Struck by a Falling Object
Carmine Goncalves obtained a large settlement on behalf of our client, a union construction worker, who sustained injuries after being struck by a falling object.
Carmine Goncalves
$5.75 Million - Falling Beam Injuries on Construction Site
The firm successfully represented a construction worker who sustained injuries which required multiple surgeries after he was struck by a falling beam while working on a construction site.
William Hepner, Fatos Dervishi
$5.75 Million - Day Laborer Injured at Construction Site
50-year-old day laborer injured at his job site, an apartment building in the Bronx.
Bryce Moses
$5.4 Million - Faulty Chain Harness Drops Worker from Building
WRSMH attorneys represented a client, a concrete worker, who suffered serious injuries in a fall while performing his job.
Carmine Goncalves, Erin Hurley
$5.3 Million - Non-Union Construction Worker Injured by Table Saw
The firm successfully represented a non-union construction worker who was seriously injured while operating a table saw which lacked a safety guard.
Noah Katz, Fatos Dervishi
$5 Million - Staten Island Construction Worker Killed When Trench Walls Collapse
Clifford Shapiro and Kenneth Halperin worked together to obtain a $5,000,000.00 settlement for the family of a construction worker who was killed while working in a trench at a construction site on Staten Island.
Clifford Shapiro, Kenneth Halperin
$5 Million - Worker Injured in Trench Fall at Construction Site
David M. Hoffman obtained a settlement of $5,000,000 for a client who sustained multiple injuries after falling into an unprotected trench at a construction site.
David Hoffman
$4.5 Million - Union Carpenter Struck By Falling Object
Frank Lombardo and Ross Barbour successfully represented a 58-year-old union carpenter who was injured when he was struck by a falling object.
Frank Lombardo, Ross Barbour
$4.5 Million - Non-Union Laborer Injured in Construction Site Fall
Attorneys obtained a pre-trial settlement in the amount of $4.5 million for a non-union laborer who fell through an opening on the first floor into a cellar below a Manhattan high-rise building under construction.
Noah Katz, Kenneth Halperin
$4.5 Million - Union Bridge Painter Injured in Fall
Frank J. Lombardo and Carmine Goncalves obtained a large settlement on behalf of our client, a union bridge painter, who sustained multiple injuries in a workplace accident.
Frank Lombardo, Carmine Goncalves
$4.5 Million - Worker Injured in Slip and Fall on Construction Site
Carmine Goncalves and Bryce Moses obtained a large settlement on behalf of our client, a construction worker, who sustained multiple injuries in a workplace fall.
Carmine Goncalves, Bryce Moses
$4.27 Million - Paralyzed Construction Worker
Bryce Moses conveyed to the jury that the landowners were responsible for the accident and was able to obtain $4.27 million dollar recovery despite the fact there was only 4 Million Dollars in insurance coverage.
Bryce Moses