Construction Site Accidents
New York City
Edelman & Edelman, P.C.
When you open up a newspaper in New York City, there is always an news article about some accident involved at a construction site. There is always a building being constructed or renovated in New York City. Construction jobs are often inherently dangerous, as they may require a worker to lift heavy weight, work with heavy or dangerous equipment, work at heights, require frequent bending, and more. Construction site accidents and injuries can occur due to the dangerous nature of the job, a failure to take necessary precautions, or due to the negligence of the owner or the employer.
Construction accidents in New York City are one of the leading causes of occupational injury related deaths for workers in the United States. Every year 10 % of all construction site workers endure a work related injury. According to Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2006, a total of 5,703 fatal work injuries were reported in the United States. Of these, construction site injuries alone accounted for 1,226 fatal work injuries, the highest number for any one industry sector. And, 10 % of all construction accidents were caused by a falling object striking the worker and 35 % were caused due to fall of the worker from a height.
In addition, construction machinery is almost always present at construction sites and other jobsites. These injuries may occur for failing to maintain construction equipment on the site which results in a construction accident. Manufacturers of construction equipment and the people who sell, rent and operate the equipment have a duty to make sure that the machinery is safe and that the people who run the equipment are properly trained. Old and poorly maintained construction equipment can be dangerous, and can lead to serious injury and even death.
The area of construction accident liability is highly complex, given the confusion surrounding potential defendants, such as the employer, the contractor, the site owner, or the agents of those entities. That is why it is so important to consult a skilled construction accident lawyer if you have been involved in a construction site injury in New York City.
