Deadly Construction Accidents in New York Raise Safety Questions

Wherever you go in the city, it seems that something is always under construction. While most construction sites operate with safety as their top priority, some do not  and accidents will happen from time to time.

Last month, two construction workers died in separate accidents in Manhattan. In the Financial District, a veteran construction worker and father of five fell 29 stories while working at the site of a luxury waterfront condo. At the time of the accident, the workers “were installing molds in which to pour concrete for the 29th floor of the tower.”

Although the worker was wearing a harness at the time of his fall, it hadn’t been clipped in properly. As a result, the man fell onto a scaffold bridge and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Later that same day, two construction workers fell from a bucket lift on the third floor of a building at 33^rd Street and Ninth Avenue in Manhattan. Witnesses said the workers appeared to be wearing safety harnesses, but the harnesses weren’t secured to the bucket lift. The result? One of the workers, a 45-year old man, died. This incident was the second time at the same site that a worker had fallen to his death.

The Department of Buildings says there have been seven construction-related deaths so far this year. There were 12 construction-related deaths in 2015 and 2016 combined.

What’s going on?

These accidents come at a time when construction safety concerns are at their peak. Speaking about the deaths, Gary LaBarbera, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, said, “We must end this epidemic and come together as a city to ensure that we do everything in our power to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities for the men and women who are building our skyline.”

These two fatal accidents bring up a number of questions about the safety of construction workers and what course of action you have available to you if you or a loved one is injured or dies in a construction accident while on the job.

Understanding Construction-Related Injury Lawsuits

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has identified “the fatal four” injuries that account for almost 60 percent of construction worker deaths:

• Falls
• Getting hit by an object
• Caught in between objects
• Electrocution

It goes beyond that, though. While deaths can result from construction accidents, construction injuries are far more common. Depending on the circumstances of your injury, you might have certain legal options available to you to help you recover damages.

Regardless of how you were injured, you should contact an experienced New York construction injury attorney after seeking medical attention and reporting the incident to your employer. A knowledgeable lawyer will be able to listen to the details of your case and determine whether you meet the requirements for a construction accident lawsuit.

If you are a construction worker hurt on the job it is likely that you will be able to pursue two types of legal actions.  Your pain and suffering (both present and future), cumulative medical bills (both present and future) and lost earnings (both present and future) will be the subject of a personal injury lawsuit  against the site owner, general contractors and possibly others.  Your immediate wage loss and medical bills will be pursued in a workers’ compensation claim.

Consult with a skilled New York attorney who has proven results in construction injury cases. Reach out to an attorney today to discuss your options and determine the best way to proceed to get the compensation you’re entitled to for your injuries and wage losses.