New York Workers’ Comp Claims for Bricklayers and Brick Masons
It probably wouldn’t surprise anyone to hear that being a bricklayer or a brick mason is hard work. But it’s also a very hazardous job. In addition to the strenuous lifting, kneeling, and repetitive motion they endure, bricklayers and brick masons also work with dangerous machinery.
If you are a bricklayer or brick mason who has been injured on the job, contact the New York City construction accident lawyers at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP by calling (212) 986-7353 today. Our team will review your eligibility for compensation to pay for your medical care and recoup the losses you incurred while missing work.
What Are Types of Injuries Suffered by Bricklayers and Brick Masons?
Bricklayers and brick masons are subject to sprains, strains, ligament damage, and chronic aches and pains caused by the rigors of their job. Machines that are heavy enough to cut brick and stone can also be very dangerous. The types of injuries commonly sustained by bricklayers and brick masons include:
- Broken bones
- Loss of limb
- Falls
- Electric shock and electrocution
- Toxic chemical exposure
- Head and brain injuries (TBI)
- Back, neck, and spine injuries
- Wrist, arm, and shoulder injuries
- Respiratory issues, including COPD, lung cancer, and silicosis from inhaling stone, concrete, and silica dust
What Causes Bricklayer and Brick Mason Injuries?
Most construction site injuries can be prevented when employers and supervisors follow OSHA guidelines and take the appropriate proactive safety measures. When workers have the right equipment and they have been shown how to use it safely, worksite accidents are dramatically reduced. Frequent causes of bricklayer and brick mason accidents include:
- Saws and grinders that don’t have the proper guards
- Failure to provide necessary training
- Poorly maintained equipment
- Handling excessive loads
- Wet surfaces and debris in walkways that result in slip and fall accidents
- Failure to provide fall protection equipment for employees working more than six feet above the ground
The Risk of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was commonly used in construction for many decades. But it has been discovered that asbestos is highly toxic. Today, the use of asbestos is highly restricted but not entirely banned in the United States.
Because it was used for such a long time, asbestos can still be found in ceiling tiles, insultation, flooring, furnaces, and other building materials. Asbestos commonly enters the body through inhalation, and exposure to it can be deadly, as it has been linked to mesothelioma, asbestosis, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer.
Asbestos was a major component in bricks, concrete, and masonry cement for many years, so a lot of currently working and retired bricklayers and brick masons face the risk of exposure. It can take 35 years or longer for exposure to result in a life-threatening illness.
Talk to Our New York City Workers’ Compensation Attorneys If You've Been Injured
If you are a bricklayer or brick mason who has been injured on the job, report your injury to your supervisor immediately and seek medical care. It’s also important to attend all your scheduled medical appointments and keep records of your medical treatments.
As soon as you can, you will want to get in touch with an experienced NYC workers’ compensation lawyer. Call Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP at (212) 986-7353 today. Our attorneys will help you get a fair settlement to pay for your medical expenses and other costs related to your injury.
Additional Information
Our Workplace Accident Case Results
$5.95 Million - Union Bridge Painter Fell from Steel Support Beam
WRSMH attorneys successfully represented a union bridge painter who was injured when he fell from a steel beam bridge support.
Bryce Moses, Carmine Goncalves
$3.2 Million - Dock Worker Injured by Temporary Metal Staircase
Our client, a union dock worker, sustained multiple injuries while on the job.
Stephen Wagner
$3.1 Million - Paralyzed Laborer
Bryce Moses represented a 63 year old worker who was catastrophically injured when he fell from a ground level dumpster as he was loading construction debris.
Bryce Moses
$3.1 Million - Baggage Handler Injured by Airplane Striking Truck
Douglas Milch successfully represented a baggage handler who sustained injuries in a tarmac accident at the airport.
Douglas Milch
$3 Million - Injured Demolition Worker
A 44 year old demolition worker from Central America was injured when a brick wall that was being dismantled collapsed and fell on him.
Bryce Moses
$2.6 Million - Two Workers Injured in New York Elevator Accident
Two WRSMH clients obtained a large verdict after suffering injuries when they were in an elevator that crashed while at work.
Brielle Goldfaden
$2.3 Million - Painter Scaffolding Injury
A man fell from scaffolding while he was painting the canopy of an underground railway tunnel. He fell eight feet onto the train platform, injuring his shoulder, back and knee.
Bryce Moses
$2.2 Million - Scaffolding Fall Accident
Ken Halperin recently obtained a $2.2 million dollar settlement for a laborer who fell off a scaffold from a height of approximately 40 feet.
Kenneth Halperin
$1.95 Million - Worker Sustains Three Herniated Discs in Lower Back
Bill Hepner recently obtained a $1.95 million damages award at a binding arbitration on behalf of a client who was injured in a work-related accident.
William Hepner
$1.75 Million - Plumber's Apprentice Falls From Ladder
WRSMH attorney, Bryce Moses, recently obtained a $1,750,000 verdict for a thirty-nine year old non-union plumber who fell approximately six feet from a ladder while he was drilling holes in the ceiling for piping.
Bryce Moses
$1.4 Million - Elevator Mechanic Fell
Bryce had to try the case two times for our client. The first trial was interrupted by the 9/11 attacks and ended in a mistrial. Before jury selection began for the retrial, the case was settled for $1.4 Million.
Bryce Moses
$1.3 Million - Laborer Struck by Falling Pile Driver
WRSMH attorney Kenneth J. Halperin recently obtained a $1.3 million dollar settlement for a laborer who was struck by a falling pile that had just been driven into the ground.
Kenneth Halperin
$1.2 Million - Insulation Installer Suffered Severe Fall and Injuries
Our client was a laborer who suffered severe injuries when he fell through an opening in the attic floor while spraying insulation.
Frank Lombardo
$1.1 Million - Elevator Accident at Downtown Office Building - Spinal Injuries
A cleaner was injured in an elevator accident while at work in a Downtown Manhattan office building.
Brielle Goldfaden
$1 Million - Worker Injures Neck in Stair Fall Accident
Attorney Thomas Pardo successfully represented a client who sustained neck injuries after a stair fall accident at work.
Thomas Pardo
$975,000 - Broadsided by Another Cargo Vehicle on the Airport Tarmac
Kenneth Halperin recently obtained a $975,000 settlement for an airport worker who was involved in a vehicular accident on the airport tarmac.
Kenneth Halperin
$925,000 - Worker at Auto Dealer Falls
Our client was hurt on the job while when he fell from a ripped awning at an auto dealership.
William Hepner
$850,000 - Recovery After Mediation for Cable Company Employee
Cliff Shapiro obtained an $850,000 recovery for a cable company employee who was injured on the job when he fell from a ladder.
Clifford Shapiro
$575,000 - Electrician Fell Off Ladder
Kenneth J. Halperin recently obtained a $575,000 settlement for an electrician who was injured at a construction site.
Kenneth Halperin
$550,000 - Laborer Falls Out Of Cherry Picker
Kenneth J. Halperin recently obtained a $550,000 settlement for a laborer who was injured while painting a portion of an elevated subway track.
Kenneth Halperin