We are proud to announce that WRSMH attorney Konstantin Burshteyn successfully secured a $3,000,000 settlement. Our client was a Local 18A union concrete and cement worker who suffered severe injuries after a slip-and-fall accident at a New York City construction site.
Our client, a dedicated laborer, was performing his routine job duties of stripping walls from formed columns and moving materials across the site when the accident occurred. While carrying a large piece of plywood across a passageway, he stepped on construction debris scattered over loose pipes, causing him to fall to the ground.
After the accident, our client tried to work through the pain and did not immediately report the fall to his employer, thinking he would be fine. He reported the accident days later as his condition worsened.
Defendants tried to take advantage of this gap in time, and it became a key point of contention throughout the case, with the defense using it to question whether the fall ever occurred as described.
Following the accident, our client underwent conservative treatment, including physical therapy and pain management, but unfortunately, his condition worsened. Ultimately, he required a multi-level lumbar fusion surgery to address the severe spinal injuries he sustained. The defense, however, aggressively disputed both liability and causation, arguing that our client’s treatment was excessive and unrelated to any worksite fall. They argued that there was no corroborating evidence in early medical records to confirm the accident and that, while he may have been hurt, there was no indication from any witnesses or records that there was an actual fall or recoverable event that led to his treatment.
Facing these challenges head-on, Konstantin and the WRSMH team undertook extensive trial preparation, retaining medical experts, economic experts, and vocational specialists to demonstrate the true cause and extent of our client’s injuries, as well as the long-term financial impact on his ability to work and provide for his family.
Through both expert testimony and legal precedent, Konstantin highlighted that the exact details of how the fall occurred were not critical to diagnosing and treating the type of injury our client sustained. The trauma to his spine was consistent with a serious fall, and our medical experts provided clear, credible opinions tying the injuries directly to the construction site incident.
Despite the defense’s assertive no-pay stance throughout litigation, our comprehensive preparation and willingness to take the case to trial brought the defendants to the negotiating table at a private mediation just before the trial was set to begin. Thanks to Konstantin’s strategic advocacy and our firm’s dedication to building the strongest possible case, we were able to secure a $3,000,000 settlement for our client, providing him with critical financial security for his future.
This case was referred to WRSMH by a smaller New York City personal injury firm, and we are proud to have delivered this exceptional outcome, not just for our client but also for the referring firm that entrusted us with this complex litigation.
At WRSMH, we fight tirelessly for union workers, laborers, and construction professionals who suffer serious injuries on the job. If you or someone you love has been hurt on a construction site or worksite, our experienced trial team is ready to stand up for you.