Manhattan’s skyline is a testament to the tireless work of construction crews. From towering skyscrapers to bustling infrastructure projects, construction is a vital part of the city’s growth and character.
However, behind the impressive structures lies a sobering reality: construction is one of the most hazardous professions in the United States.
Construction workers experience a higher rate of fatal work injuries than any other private industry sector. In New York State alone, there were 38 construction worker fatalities, and within the densely populated environment of Manhattan, construction sites pose a unique set of dangers.
Workers often have to navigate cramped workspaces, contend with heavy machinery, and often work at significant heights. Unfortunately, these inherent risks often lead to serious accidents.
Common scenarios include:
- Falls: Scaffolding collapses, slips from ladders, and falls through openings are all frequent causes of construction site injuries. These falls can result in broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord injuries, and even death.
- Falling Objects: Workers can be struck by falling tools, materials, or debris, leading to severe lacerations, crushed limbs, and other debilitating injuries.
- Electrocution: Exposure to live wires or faulty electrical equipment can cause electrical burns, nerve damage, and even cardiac arrest.
- Trench Collapses: Improper trench shoring and excavation techniques can lead to trench collapses, burying workers alive or causing serious crush injuries.
- Machinery Accidents: Malfunctioning equipment, operator error, or inadequate safety measures can all contribute to machinery-related accidents, resulting in amputations, severe lacerations, and other traumatic injuries.
These are just a few examples, and the specific causes of construction accidents can vary widely. One constant factor, however, is the significant impact these accidents have on the lives of workers and their families.
If you’ve been injured in a Manhattan construction accident, you’re likely facing a mountain of medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. Workers’ compensation may provide some support, but it often falls short of covering the full cost of your injuries.
This is where the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm’s team of experienced Manhattan construction accident lawyers comes in. We understand the complexities of construction accident law and are dedicated to fighting for the maximum compensation you deserve.
A Manhattan Construction Accident Attorney Is Your Voice After an Injury
Construction sites are inherently risky environments. Despite safety regulations and precautions, accidents can and do happen – often with devastating consequences.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Manhattan construction accident, the physical, emotional, and financial burdens can feel overwhelming. The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm understands the unique challenges faced by construction accident victims, and we’re here to help you navigate the legal landscape.
Here’s why you need a skilled Manhattan construction accident attorney by your side:
- Protecting Your Rights: Construction accident law can be complex. Various parties may share liability for your injuries, including general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, and even equipment manufacturers. An experienced Manhattan personal injury attorney will thoroughly investigate your case to identify all potentially responsible parties and ensure you hold them accountable.
- Maximizing Your Compensation: Workers’ compensation benefits may only cover a portion of your medical expenses and lost wages. A Manhattan construction accident attorney can fight to recover additional compensation for pain and suffering, lost earning capacity, and other damages you’ve incurred as a result of your accident.
- Leveling the Playing Field: Insurance companies representing liable parties often have their teams of lawyers working to minimize payouts. An experienced construction accident attorney can protect your interests and ensure a fair settlement.
- Navigating the Legal Process: Filing a personal injury claim can be a daunting task, especially while recovering from an injury. Our team will handle all the legal legwork, allowing you to focus on healing.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing you have a skilled advocate fighting for your rights can provide much-needed peace of mind during a difficult time.
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm’s Manhattan construction accident attorneys have a proven track record of success in securing maximum compensation for our clients. We understand the physical and emotional toll that construction accidents can take, and we’re dedicated to helping you rebuild your life.
The Dangers of Construction Accidents in Manhattan
Construction sites are a necessary part of urban development, but they can also be breeding grounds for serious accidents. In 2020, a staggering 90% of fatal construction accidents in the city involved at least one critical safety violation.
These violations often stem from negligence on the part of contractors, employers, or even equipment manufacturers.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) tracks workplace fatalities and injuries, and their research identifies four leading causes of construction worker deaths, known as the “Fatal Four”:
- Falls: Falls from heights, such as roofs, ladders, or scaffolding, are the most common cause of construction worker deaths, accounting for nearly 40% of fatalities in 2017. In a tragic example, a worker lost their life in a fall down an elevator shaft at a Midtown Manhattan construction site. Federal regulations require employers to provide fall protection systems, but these regulations are frequently violated.
- Struck by Object: Construction workers face a constant risk of being struck by falling objects, including unsecured tools, equipment, materials, or debris. Inadequate barricades can also contribute to these accidents.
- Electrocution: Electrical hazards are a major concern for construction workers, particularly electrical powerline installers, who have the highest rate of fatal injuries in the industry. Exposure to live wires, transformers, or other electrical equipment can cause electrocution, burns, and other serious injuries.
- Caught-in/Between: Workers can become caught or crushed by malfunctioning equipment, collapsing structures, or improperly secured materials. OSHA regulations require employers to provide safety guards on machinery to prevent these incidents.
These are just some of the many hazards construction workers face daily. Other common dangers include:
- Struck-by Accidents: Being struck by vehicles or objects propelled by force.
- Falling Objects: Unsecured tools, materials, or even building components falling from different levels of a structure.
- Dangerous Tools: Improperly used or malfunctioning power tools or even hand tools can cause serious injuries.
- Confined Space Accidents: Workers in cramped spaces like crawl spaces or manholes risk suffocation, explosions, or injuries from structural collapses.
- Faulty Equipment: Defective or poorly maintained equipment can lead to catastrophic accidents.
- Work Vehicle Accidents: Collisions or injuries involving heavy machinery or other vehicles used on the construction site.
- Unstable Surfaces: Workers risk injury from collapsing buildings, walls, or other unstable structures.
- Improper Storage, Loading, and Unloading: Improper handling of heavy loads can lead to accidents.
- Chemical Exposure: Exposure to hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead, solvents, acids, or industrial chemicals can cause serious health problems.
Understanding these risks is crucial for construction workers and those who love them. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Manhattan construction accident, don’t hesitate to seek legal representation.
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
New York Construction Labor Laws
Working in construction is inherently risky, but New York State has some of the strongest laws in the nation to protect construction workers. These laws place a legal responsibility on employers, contractors, and property owners to ensure a safe work environment.
Here’s a breakdown of key New York labor laws that can impact your rights after a construction accident:
- New York Labor Law (NYLL) Article 200: This broad law mandates that all employers, including those in construction, must provide a “reasonable and adequate protection to the lives, health and safety” of their workers. This includes taking necessary precautions to ensure the safe installation and operation of construction machinery and equipment. A violation of this law by an employer could be a factor in your personal injury claim.
- New York Labor Law (NYLL) Section 240 (Scaffold Law): This is a crucial law for construction workers injured in falls from heights. Section 240 places strict liability on owners, contractors, and their agents for injuries sustained due to inadequate scaffolding, hoists, ladders, or other safety devices used for “elevating, lowering, maintaining, repairing, or painting a building or structure”. This means that if a safety violation contributed to your fall, you can seek compensation from the liable party regardless of your negligence.
Important Note: NYLL Section 240 applies to specific construction activities, including Repairs, Alterations, Erection, Cleaning, Demolition, Painting, and Erection of devices or structures such as ladders, braces, scaffolding, irons, slings, stays, ropes, or pulleys. Basic maintenance tasks like routine inspections, interior cleaning, or light bulb replacements are generally not covered by Section 240. - New York Labor Law (NYLL) Section 241: This law focuses on general workplace safety standards. It requires contractors and property owners to take all necessary steps to provide reasonable protection for workers from hazards that can cause injury. Examples include erecting barriers around construction elevators, providing proper personal protective equipment (PPE), and implementing measures to prevent slips and falls. Violations of Section 241 can also be a factor in your personal injury claim.
Understanding these key labor laws is important, but navigating the legal complexities of a construction accident claim can be challenging. The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm’s team of experienced Manhattan personal injury lawyers can help you understand your rights and explore all legal options available to you.
We’ll fight to secure the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Who Is Liable After a Manhattan Construction Accident Injury?
If you’ve been injured in a Manhattan construction accident, you may be wondering who is responsible for your damages. New York law allows you to pursue compensation from several potentially liable parties, depending on the specific circumstances of your accident.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the parties who may be held accountable:
- Property Owners and General Contractors: The primary responsibility for worker safety falls on the property owner and the general contractor overseeing the project. Section 200 of the New York Labor Law (NYLL) mandates that they provide “reasonable and adequate protection to the lives, health and safety” of workers. This includes ensuring the worksite is free from hazards, providing proper safety equipment and training, and maintaining safe work practices. A violation of these duties by the owner or general contractor could be a basis for your claim.
- Contractors and Subcontractors: Contractors and subcontractors involved in the project also have a legal responsibility to ensure a safe work environment for their employees. This includes following safety protocols, providing adequate supervision, and inspecting equipment regularly. If a subcontractor’s negligence contributed to your accident, you may be able to hold them liable for your injuries.
- Architects and Engineers: While less common, architects and engineers who design construction projects can also be held responsible for accidents caused by structural flaws or safety code violations. For example, if a building collapse occurs due to faulty engineering plans, the engineer may be liable for worker injuries.
- Equipment Manufacturers: In cases where defective equipment malfunctions and causes an accident, the manufacturer of the equipment may be liable for your damages. Products liability law allows injured workers to sue manufacturers for placing unreasonably dangerous products into the stream of commerce.
Determining who is liable in your specific case requires a thorough investigation of the accident scene, witness statements, and relevant safety regulations.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Manhattan Construction Accident?
A serious construction accident can have a devastating impact on your life, both physically and financially. New York law allows injured workers to recover compensation for a variety of damages, including:
- Medical Expenses: This includes all past and future medical bills associated with your injuries, such as hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, and therapy.
- Lost Wages: You can recover compensation for wages lost due to your inability to work while recovering from your injuries. In some cases, you may also be able to recover for lost future earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous line of work.
- Pain and Suffering: This includes compensation for the physical and emotional pain you’ve endured as a result of your accident.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries significantly impact your ability to participate in activities you once enjoyed, you may be able to recover compensation for this loss.
Our Manhattan Construction Accident Law Firm – Here for You When You Need Us Most
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial hardship a construction accident can cause. Our Manhattan construction accident attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of injured workers and holding negligent parties accountable.
We offer a free consultation to discuss your case and explore your legal options. Our team will work tirelessly to investigate your accident, gather evidence, and build a strong case on your behalf. We understand the complexities of New York construction accident law and will fight aggressively to recover the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Why Choose our Manhattan personal injury law firm?
- Experienced and Results-Oriented: Our team has a proven track record of success in handling construction accident cases. Led by Ali Awad, also known as the CEO Lawyer, our firm boasts a success rate of over 99.5%. Ali has over a million followers on social media who come to him for personal injury advice, and his team of dedicated attorneys brings a wealth of experience to your case.
- Client-Centered Approach: We understand that every case is unique, and we will take the time to understand the specific details of your accident and injuries. We will work closely with you throughout the entire legal process, keeping you informed and involved every step of the way.
- Nationally Recognized Representation: The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm has been recognized for its excellence in personal injury law. We leverage our national reach and resources to ensure you have the best possible representation for your case.
- Free Consultation: We offer a free consultation to discuss your case and answer any questions you may have. There is no obligation to hire us, and we won’t charge any fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Contact a Manhattan Construction Accident Attorney Today
Don’t wait to get the legal help you deserve. Contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm today at (516) 689-1132 or visit our website to schedule your free consultation. We are here to fight for you.
