Scaffolding Accident
Scaffolding Accident Lawyer
Following a scaffold collapse, your whole life can change in the blink of an eye. Surviving victims and their families can be left reeling, wondering how something like that could happen. New York City area law firm Aronova & Associates is here to help you piece together what happened and hold responsible parties liable. It costs you nothing for legal representation, unless we win money on your behalf. Whenever our scaffolding accident lawyers uncover evidence of an OSHA violation, we fight for sums that are substantial enough to cover all past, present, and future medical bills, plus additional damages, such as pain and suffering.
More About Scaffolding Accidents
Scaffolding accident statistics
- An estimated 2.3 Million U.S. construction workers (65%) use scaffolds in their day-to-day works.
- Falls account for more than half (58%) of fatal accident injuries among NYC construction workers.
- Most of NYC’s fatal falls were off scaffolds (25%), followed by ladders (16%) and roofs (11%).
- At least one violation of OSHA scaffold safety, training, or fall protection standards were cited in more than 90 percent of New York City scaffolding accidents that occurred from 2007-2014.
- Nationwide, more than 4,500 injuries and 60+ deaths a year are related to scaffolding construction accidents, according to the U.S. Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Common injuries from scaffolding mishaps
Severe scaffold accidents injuries and deaths are due to the heights involved. They include:
- Bone fractures
- Neck injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ puncture
- Spinal cord injury
- Quadriplegia or Paraplegia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Lacerations resulting in scarring
Causes of scaffolding collapses on construction sites
Direct factors that contribute to a scaffold fall or collapse may include:
- Improper installation
- Defective equipment
- Lack of guard rails
- Missing or improperly laid planks
- Missing side brackets
- Failure to use proper restraints
- Working in inclement, windy weather
Who is liable for faulty scaffolding?
If an accident was preventable, it means someone is liable. New York State’s first scaffold law was passed in 1885. The modern version of the New York Labor Law (Sections 240 and 241) explicitly “imposes absolute liability on contractors and work site owners who neglect to provide adequate safety regulations and devices to protect workers from falls and falling objects.”
Employers are directly responsible for worker safety. They are liable for creating comprehensive, updated safety programs and scheduling regular site inspections for fall hazards and proper scaffold use. Employees should be given appropriate tasks related to their training and skill level.
The term “absolute liability” is important for several reasons. First, it means that workers who contributed to their own accidents in some way will not see reductions in their claim for injury. Second, it also extends liability beyond the employer to general contractors, project owners, scaffolding manufacturers, and scaffolding installers.
Why file a scaffolding lawsuit?
You can play a part in preventing the heartache of a scaffolding collapse accident for another NYC family by holding liable parties accountable for their negligence. A New York Times review of construction fatalities in 2013, 2014, and 2015 found that all were “completely avoidable,” and had many common themes. Their investigation concluded that most scaffolding deaths involved:
- Lack of harnesses or helmets, as required by law
- Lack of supervision and proper oversight
- Emphasis on speed, forcing workers to take risky shortcuts
- Use of nonunion workers and limited training
- Past history of safety violations and failure to pay penalties
A scaffold lawsuit will not only help you ease the financial burdens associated with sudden injury or loss, but will help you piece together what happened, so you can move on, and future accidents can be prevented.
How much is your case worth?
Damages in a scaffolding collapse case can go way beyond what worker’s compensation covers, to include:
- Past, present & future medical bills
- Rehabilitative therapies
- Disability and permanent disfigurement
- Home modifications to accommodate disability
- Loss of income and earning capacity
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship and guidance
- Funeral expenses
While we cannot guarantee a particular result, here are a few examples of NYC scaffolding injury settlements and verdicts:
- $50.5 Million jury award for a worker suffering from paralysis and brain injury
- $15 Million settlement for hip and vertebrae fractures, nerve damage, and partial paraplegia
- $13.375 Million settlement on behalf of a worker who miraculously survived a 47-story fall off a scaffold
- $10.5 Million settlement for a worker who was paralyzed in a Labor Law violation caused scaffolding accident
- $3 Million for back injuries resulting in surgery after a scaffold collapse
- $1.2 Million settlement for a fractures and torn meniscus injuries when a safety harness was not provided
scaffolding accident Lawyer
Reach a qualified NYC & Long Island scaffolding accident lawyer at Aronova & Associates any time, day or night, to explore your full set of options. We serve all of New York City, including the construction accident hotbed of Manhattan, but also Nassau County, and the rest of Long Island. We collect no legal fee unless we win money on your behalf. You may qualify for financial compensation above and beyond worker’s compensation. In New York State, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is three years from the date of the accident, so do not delay. Our experienced attorneys speak English, Spanish, Creole, French, Russian, and Greek!
Talk to a NY Construction Accident Attorney
Construction accidents can involve many different laws, parties, and moving parts. We’re here to help injured workers and their families sort through the complexities and understand their rights. Get answers to your most urgent questions.
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Aronova & Associates is a firm for all New Yorkers. Our services are available in multiple languages and tailored to the needs of every client. The first step in providing you with the help you need is a free consultation to discuss your case. When you’re ready to talk, we’re ready to get to work for you.
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