What Construction Accident Lawsuits Look Like
Construction accidents abound, particularly in New York City where renovations and new builds dot the landscape. A construction accident can be devastating for construction workers, putting them out of work for weeks — even months or more. It’s important to get the compensation and recovery you deserve through Workers Compensation benefits and, in the case of negligence, a personal injury lawsuit.
The Construction Site: Hazards Are Everywhere
The construction industry ranks fourth in having the highest number of fatal accidents in any industry, according to OSHA and the CDC. In fact, one in five employee-related deaths in the United States is as a result of construction work.
This is why a safe construction site, supported by robust risk management and ongoing training, is critical in preventing accidents and keeping workers from getting injured.
It’s the responsibility of the employer to ensure that proper safety measures are not only implemented but also followed to prevent on-the-job injuries on a construction project. This includes fall protection measures, the proper use of personal protection equipment (PPE), adequate lighting, and scaffolding and crane training, among other measures.
In New York, in addition to employers, property owners are also responsible for protecting workers against unsafe conditions. Labor Laws in New York provide legal protections to construction workers and enable them to sue in the event of negligence.
Common Construction Accidents
A construction worker can get injured in a number of ways on a project, including:
- Falls from heights: Scaffolding accidents and crane accidents, particularly in NYC, are common. Falls from ladders, roofs and chimneys are also common. In fact, falls make up about 32% of all construction accidents.
- Machinery accidents/defective equipment: A lot of the equipment used on a construction site is dangerous. Construction workers, for example, use extremely heavy machinery to complete the tasks required to construct a building, road, etc. When used in a specific circumstance, machinery can malfunction or fail to respond as expected. In more unfortunate and preventable scenarios, an untrained person operating machinery can injure himself or another worker.
- Slips and trips: Construction sites pose tripping or falling hazards to workers.
- Electrocutions/electrical accidents: Construction work is frequently done near power lines and power sources. This makes it easy to accidentally strike power lines with machinery and equipment.
- Ground collapses: To begin excavating for a new building, construction company crews typically disturb a large area of soil. The surrounding earth may become unstable as a result of the excavation, depending on the soil and its consistency. This means that the ground can easily collapse, taking workers with it. When this happens, unfortunately, many people may become injured, trapped, or killed.
If You’re Hurt On the Job Site
If you are injured in a construction accident, you are entitled to Workers Compensation benefits, which include payments for medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation and ongoing medical expenses for partial or permanent disability.
Workers Compensation is mandatory in New York and designed to provide wage benefits and medical payments for an injured worker. Injured workers should report the accident to their supervisor immediately, who should then file a Workers Compensation claim with the employer’s insurance company.
In the event of a serious injury, and depending on how the injury occurred and if there was negligence, you may want to contact a personal injury lawyer to file a lawsuit. Individuals getting pushback from the insurer or your employer, should consider filing a construction accident lawsuit.
Contact a Law Firm to Discuss Your Personal Injury Case
In the event the construction accident occurred as a result of negligence on the part of your employer (the general contractor) and/or the property owner, you may seek compensation from the parties who are liable for creating an unsafe work environment. In New York City, contractors can file a construction injury lawsuit if the employer did not provide a safe job site including when working with scaffolding.
We Are Construction Accident Attorneys
The Brooklyn and New York City attorneys at the Law Office of Nicholas E. Tzaneteas specialize in construction-related injuries and personal injury lawsuits. We understand the Workers comp claim process and how to recover compensation for an injured construction worker. We also know the New York Labor Laws inside and out and have secured construction accident settlements for our clients from parties responsible for the accident.
In situations where there is a wrongful death claim, we represent the family to secure financial compensation for their loss and suffering. Construction injury cases can be complicated, which is why it’s important to work with an attorney experienced in construction accident cases.
If you or a family member have been in a construction-related accident, call the Law Office of Nicholas E. Tzaneteas for a free consultation. We will discuss your injury claim and how to best proceed.