Construction & Work Injuries

NEW YORK CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Throughout the Manhattan/NYC area, there are large and ongoing construction projects taking place which create real risks to both workers and pedestrians and can lead to serious, debilitating, and even deadly injuries. If you are a worker and become injured on a construction site, workers’ compensation may be the only option where you can receive both compensation and benefits. However, alternatively, a third party can be found liable and you can pursue compensation by commencing legal action when a construction accident is the result of safety violations or third-party negligence.

CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT STATISTICS

THE “LETHAL FOUR” CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the leading causes of construction site fatalities, the so-called “Lethal Four,” are:

Falls are the most common accident at construction sites in New York, accounting for roughly 38 percent of construction fatalities. Workers are at high risk of falls from ladders, scaffolding, roofs, cross beams, and other heights.
Struck by object accidents occur when improperly secured tools, equipment or other construction material falls, striking workers below. These accidents are responsible for more than 9 percent of fatalities.
Caught-in/between accidents occur when construction workers get caught in or trapped between equipment, machinery or objects, or under collapsing structures. Caught-in/between accidents cause more than 7 percent of construction worker fatalities.
Electrocutions are common because construction workers are frequently exposed to wires. Over 8 percent of deaths in the construction industry are the result of electrocutions.

Hardhat killed in NYC accident had bad feeling about site – New York Times

In addition to the Lethal Four, construction workers in New York can be injured in the following types of accidents:

Brazing/welding is an important function at most construction sites, however, welding accidents can result in catastrophic injuries and long-term complications.
Collapses often occur when workers are required to dig trenches, which can cave-in if proper precautions are not taken. Improperly supported structures can also collapse, trapping workers beneath the rubble.
Heavy equipment and machinery (e.g. cranes, forklifts, dumpsters) contribute to numerous construction accidents and injuries.
Toxic exposure to hazardous chemicals and substances at construction sites can cause serious injuries and wrongful death.
Defective machinery
Cranes, conveyors, tractors, forklifts, hoists accidents
Building collapses
Crane accidents
Hand and power tools, such as saws, nail guns, drills, polishers, sanders, and spray guns can cause injuries when workers are not properly trained.
Explosions
Falling construction debris
Slip and fall
Negligent use of machinery

Regardless of the type of construction accident you were involved in, the best way to obtain the maximum compensation you need and deserve is to work with an aggressive construction accident attorney. Serious injuries resulting from any of the following type of common construction accidents:

On an annual basis, there are more 150,000 construction accidents reported nationwide. The simple fact remains is that construction work is one of the more dangerous occupations and the “construction work environment” is constantly changing on a daily basis that poses a real risk to becoming injured. Although some of the accidents are minor, many are very serious and when serious construction accidents do occur the consequences can be fatal. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are an average of approximately 1,100 construction workers that die from construction accidents. In other words, more than 20 percent of all job-related deaths that occur in the United States are based upon accidents within the construction industry.

Although injury and fatality rates in many industry sectors have declined significantly in the twenty-three years since the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) came into being, this has not been the case in the construction industry. Construction is the United States largest industry and one that has consistently registered high rates of workplace accidents. OSHA has had little success in reducing injuries and fatalities among construction workers, despite the fact that it channels a large portion of its resources into the enforcement of health and safety standards on construction sites. Construction workers are exposed to a wider variety of hazards and face a greater risk of work-related injury or fatality than employees in any other U.S. industry; in 1992, according to the most recent annual Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the lost-workday case rate for the construction industry was 5.7 per l00 full-time workers, the highest of any major economic sector.

Because workers’ compensation benefits do not cover pain and suffering and similar intangible losses, it is imperative to have the aggressive representation we provide. It takes an experienced construction accident attorney to achieve a significant settlement or jury award. When you become our client, we will fight to help you obtain just compensation. We have helped injured workers and their families by aggressively prosecuting and fighting for the rights of people who were severely injured in construction accidents. In addition, we have experience with injured union workers and understand that the injuries from construction accidents can be severe, cause life long disabilities, and dramatically change the quality of a person’s life.

If you or your loved one was injured in a construction accident, you need to take immediate action and turn to the Law Offices of Brian P. Wright & Associates, P.C. Please contact our office today so we can get to work on your construction accident claim. For free legal guidance, please call us today at 1-347-886-9472

SERIOUS INJURIES SUSTAINED FROM CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS

The most common construction-related injuries in New York include:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s) Despite the fact that OSHA rules require the use of hard hats at construction sites, workers can suffer TBIs from falls, falling tools and material, and defective equipment.
Spinal cord injuries — Falls from heights at construction sites — scaffolds, roofs, beams — are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries; struck-by accidents involving heavy equipment and machinery can also cause spinal cord injuries.
Fractures/crush injuries — Slips and falls, heavy equipment accidents, falling objects, trench collapses can cause broken bones or crush injuries, which involve trauma to the bone, muscles, nerves and tissues.
Burn injuries — Because construction workers are frequently exposed to live wires, open sources of flame, and volatile fumes, they are at a high risk of electrical, thermal, and chemical burns that can cause damage to the skin, subcutaneous tissue, nerves, fat, muscle and bone.

Other common construction injuries include:

Back, neck and shoulder injuries
Knee injuries
Muscle and ligament tears
Repetitive motion injuries
Heart attacks and strokes

Finally, construction workers are frequently exposed to hazardous chemicals and substances which can result in a variety of occupational illnesses, particularly respiratory ailments, blood disorders, cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma.

WHO CAN BE FOUND LIABLE IN A NEW YORK CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT?

Construction accidents and injuries can be prevented if safety practices are put in place, workers are provided with protective equipment (e.g. hard hats, safety belts, harnesses, nets) and proper safety protocols are followed.

Workers’ compensation is designed to protect injured workers by providing benefits such as lost wages and medical costs. When a construction accident is the result of negligence, however, an injured worker may be able to pursue a civil lawsuit against any number of parties, including:

Owners
Supervisors
General contractors
Subcontractors
Engineers
Architects
Machinery and equipment manufacturers

If a loved one has been killed in a construction accident, surviving family members can obtain justice through a wrongful death lawsuit.

WERE YOU INJURED IN A CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT IN NEW YORK?

We can help. At the Law Offices of Brian P. Wright & Associates, we have well-earned reputations as dedicated advocates of injured construction workers. If you or a loved one have been injured in a construction accident, we will provide you with the informed representation you need and the dependable service you deserve. Because we understand the physical, emotional, and financial challenges facing you, your initial consultation will be free, and you will not pay any attorneys’ fees until we win compensation for you. Our New York personal injury lawyers, have extensive experience handling the full range of construction accident claims. If you or your family member was hurt or killed in a construction accident in New York, you need professional legal representation.

Roof Related Falls, Crane Accidents, Scaffolding Accidents, Run-Over by Operating Equipment, Lifting Equipment Failure, Electric Shock, Trench Collapses, Fires and Explosions, Hit by Highway Vehicle, Compressed Gases Accidents and Welding Accidents are all unfortunate, yet common construction accidents.

We can help. At the Law Offices of Brian P. Wright & Associates, P.C., our New York personal injury lawyers, have extensive experience handling the full range of construction accident claims. If you or your family member was hurt or killed in a construction accident in New York, you need professional legal representation. Please contact our office today to speak with an experienced construction accident attorney.

If you have been injured in a construction and/or work related accident, contact us for a free initial consultation. There is no fee unless we are successful. Call 347-886-9472 or fill out our contact form for our FREE no obligation legal case evaluation. Our lawyers provide free legal advice to construction and/or work related accident victims.

To discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer experienced in construction and/or work related accident lawsuits, please call 347-886-9472 We serve all of New York, including Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island, Rochester, Albany, and Buffalo.