Manhattan Construction Accident Lawyers
Experienced Manhattan Construction Accident Lawyers
Construction work is indeed hazardous due to the physical labor involved and the use of heavy machinery at times long heights. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that Manhattan construction workers who sustain injuries or lose their lives in construction accidents receive reasonable and equitable compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and injuries.
If you have been injured, you may face challenges not only in dealing with the trauma but also with uncertainty about your future. Rosenberg & Rodriguez’s Manhattan construction accident lawyers can assess your case and assist you with the legal process so that you can seek the compensation needed for recovery. Contact our office today for a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help.
Construction Accidents in New York City: More Common Than You Might Think
According to the Associated General Contractors of America, the construction industry is essential to the American economy. Every year, over 7 million workers construct structures worth around $1.3 trillion across the country. In Manhattan, construction is mainly focused on non-residential buildings, including office buildings, hotels, institutional buildings, and venues for sports and entertainment.
Manhattan’s current building boom has led to a scarcity of skilled construction workers and an increase in the number of less-experienced laborers working on ambitious projects under time constraints. As a result, construction sites in Manhattan are particularly hazardous at this time.
Work-related injuries affect about 1 in every 50 American construction workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 1,000 construction workers die in work-related incidents every year. OSHA reports that the construction industry experiences about 20% of all work-related deaths in the United States.
According to the state’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction has the highest number of fatalities compared to any other industry in New York City. Although the overall worker fatality rate in the city is lower than the national average, the rate is higher for construction workers. In the past two years alone, though construction workers made up only 5 percent of the city’s workforce, they accounted for 27 percent of all work-related deaths.
Everyday Causes For Construction Accidents In Manhattan, NY
Construction accidents can be avoided by complying with safety standards and practicing caution. Neglecting safety measures and not following regulations can lead to accidents, and this is often due to the contractors, employers, or manufacturers. According to the New York City Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, 90% of deadly construction accidents in the city involved at least one critical safety violation. The main violations included failure to adhere to safety standards.
- Training requirements
- Fall protection standards
- Scaffold safety standards
- Stairway safety standards
- Ladder safety standards
In certain incidents, the employer was aware of a dangerous situation but did not take corrective actions. Shockingly, 13% of OSHA investigations identified at least one intentional violation of a vital safety regulation, typically to improve efficiency or profitability. These intentional breaches of safety standards involved:
- Intentionally using malfunctioning or damaged equipment
- Intentionally disabling safety features on dangerous equipment
- Knowingly violating other safety standards
The Top Hazards On Construction Sites
According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, working in construction for 45 years increases the likelihood of experiencing a serious injury by 75%. Additionally, there is a 1 in 200 chance of being fatally injured on the job. Research by OSHA has identified four main hazards that are responsible for the majority of construction worker deaths. Some of the top hazards on construction sites are:
- Falls
- Being struck by an object
- Electrocutions
- Getting caught between equipment or objects
- Struck-by accidents
- Falling objects
- Dangerous tools
- Confined space accidents
- Faulty equipment
- Work vehicle accidents
- Unstable surfaces
- Improper storage, loading, and unloading
- Chemical exposure risks
Common Types of Construction Accident Injuries
Construction accidents can occur daily, resulting in minor, catastrophic, or fatal injuries. The injuries can arise due to faulty equipment, insufficient training, or the negligence of others. Among the commonly experienced injuries are:
- Broken bones
- Amputations
- Eye injuries
- Knee and ankle injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Respiratory disease
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Death
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Responsible For A Manhattan Construction Accident?
If you’re involved in a construction accident, there could be multiple parties responsible for your injuries. Your Manhattan construction accident lawyer can assist in identifying all accountable parties. Each party may have different available insurance coverage to compensate for your losses. While your employer or the construction company may seem like the obvious parties at fault, liability doesn’t typically apply to a workers’ comp claim.
If someone else caused or was involved in your injury, or there was a malfunction in the equipment produced by a manufacturer, your construction accident lawyer in Manhattan, NY can assist you in determining all parties at fault. These parties may include:
- Contractors and subcontractors.
- Construction managers
- Property owners
- Equipment manufacturers
If I Was Working On The Construction Site At The Time Of My Injury, Does It Affect The Compensation I Can Receive?
Generally speaking, Manhattan construction workers are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance, also known as workers’ comp, pays for medical and disability expenses resulting from a workplace injury, regardless of who was at fault. This means that even if you were responsible for your own injury, workers’ comp would still provide coverage in most cases. Workers’ compensation for Manhattan construction workers provides the following benefits:
- Payment for your medical bills. Construction workers, and other workers who suffer injuries in a Manhattan construction accident, can rely on workers’ comp to pay for all medical bills associated with the injury.
- Temporary disability. If you sustain serious injuries at a construction site and cannot work, your lost wages can mount rapidly. However, workers’ compensation provides 2/3 of your weekly income for injuries that prevent you from working for at least seven days.
- Permanent disability. When construction site injuries result in permanent disability, workers may not be able to go back to work. To help compensate for lost income, workers’ compensation provides benefits to these individuals.
Who Bears Liability For Injuries That Occur On A Construction Site?
We previously indicated that workers’ compensation insurance is the main way injured construction workers receive compensation. Nevertheless, injured workers may have rights against other third parties. It’s also important to note that not everyone who is injured on a construction site is working there. The following are some of the people and organizations that may be legally responsible for injuries sustained at a Manhattan construction site:
- The owner of the site
- The general contractor managing the site
- Subcontractors working on the site
- Construction equipment manufacturers
How Long Do I Have To File A Construction Accident Injury Claim?
It’s important to understand the deadlines for filing a workers’ compensation claim or personal injury lawsuit in Manhattan. You must notify your employer within 30 days of the accident and file your workers’ compensation claim within two years. For a personal injury lawsuit, you have up to three years from the accident date to file in New York. If you miss these deadlines, your claim may not be valid. To ensure you meet the legal deadlines, it’s best to seek the advice of a qualified Manhattan construction accident attorney as soon as possible.
Contact Our Manhattan Construction Accident Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a construction accident in Manhattan, it’s important to act quickly as there are deadlines for filing claims. Consider consulting with our experienced Manhattan construction accident lawyers who have a track record of recovering millions of dollars in compensation for clients. We would like to see if we can help you as well. Contact Rosenberg & Rodriguez now for a free consultation and to learn more about the next steps of your personal injury claim.