New York Construction Sites are Dangerous Places
One of the more memorable images of Superstorm Sandy is that of the dangling crane at 57th Street. While the city managed to secure the crane after it had dangled for six days, not all construction mishaps end so happily.
Construction is a dangerous job. Workers are expected to do their jobs at extreme heights open to the air. They use heavy equipment such as cranes and backhoes on a daily basis.
Injuries and death are common.
The New York Department of Health reported 286 traumatic work-related deaths in New York State between 2005 and 2006. Construction accounted for 19.9 percent of the deaths.
The fatal occupational injuries break down into the following categories:
- Contact with objects/equipment: 20.3 percent
- Falls: 9.8 percent
- Exposure to dangerous substances/environment: 9.8 percent
- Fires and explosions: 3.1 percent
- Assaults and violent acts: 12.9 percent
- Transportation accidents: 44.1 percent
Workers on construction sites who are injured may be able to bring a lawsuit for their injuries. Head injuries are common and can require expensive long-term therapy and care. Whether scaffolding collapses, a falling object hits them, or a crane topples, options for recovery may exist beyond workers compensation. Serious injury to passersby can also occur.
Brain injury and other catastrophic injury can leave a victim in dire economic straits. Construction injury cases are complex and may involve multiple parties. You may be able to file a lawsuit against the following parties:
- Manufacturers of the product
- Distributors of the product
- Sellers of the product
- The property owner
- The general contractor
- Sub-contractors
