Construction is one of the most dangerous lines of work with an ever-present risk of getting involved in a serious workplace accident. Thousands of construction site accidents occur each year, leaving workers with physical injuries, lost wages, thousands of dollars in medical and surgical bills, incidental expenses, and more. Most of these types of accidents result from lapses in workplace safety or overt negligence on the part of one or more parties.
If you or your loved one got involved in a construction site accident, an experienced New York construction accident lawyer at Friedman Levy might be able to help you file a lawsuit against the negligent parties. By pursuing legal action against said parties, you can obtain fair financial compensation for your damages, whether they are physical, financial, or emotional. A skilled attorney might be your best chance at achieving justice for your unfortunate workplace accident.
Construction Accident Statistics
According to the NYC DOB (Department of Buildings, there were nearly 500 construction site accidents and related injuries in New York City, resulting in nearly 10 fatalities throughout the five boroughs of NYC. Nearly half of these accidents resulted from construction site slips and falls, with other safety hazards and equipment or material failure accounting for the rest.
These statistics are corroborated by the OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, clearly demonstrating that construction site workers are more likely to get injured or killed in the workplace compared to all other lines of work. Additionally, these numbers are expected to rise as the COVID-19 pandemic and construction hiatuses near their end and projects resume throughout New York City.
Who is Liable?
Determining liability is one of the first steps in building a construction accident lawsuit against the negligent parties, which may include the owners of the site, contractors or subcontractors, building architects, site engineers, equipment or machinery manufacturers, and OSHA compliance officers, workplace insurers, and more.
Most construction site accidents result from a serious lapse in workplace safety standards that goes unnoticed on several levels, which means that more than one of said parties can be held liable for the accident if it is established that their negligence resulted in a particular workplace accident.
For instance, a construction worker who falls from a height due to a collapsing scaffolding might find the employer, OSHA compliance officer, and workplace insurer liable for their injuries stemming from the accident. For your case to be successful, you must provide sufficient evidence in court that alludes to their negligent behavior. An experienced attorney can help find said evidence and build a solid legal case that can help you get maximum compensation for your damages.
Conclusion
If you were injured in a construction site accident in New York City, a skilled NYC construction site accident lawyer can help protect your legal rights and fight in court to help you obtain adequate compensation for any damages resulting directly from your workplace accident. Most such lawyers work on a contingency-fee-basis, meaning that they only charge you if they successfully prove your case in court and win the lawsuit.