New York City Falling Object Injuries Lawyer
If you were struck by a falling object through no fault of your own, you’re probably wondering who to call for help. The answer? Call our NYC construction accident attorneys who know the legal system and will fight to get the fair compensation you need.
At Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, we are serious lawyers who are committed to getting financial results for accident victims across New York, NY. Our personal injury attorneys have a proven track record of success that spans more than 40 years.
If you’re curious about your legal rights or need help getting back on your feet, our accident attorneys are here to help. Call today for a free consultation with a skilled NYC falling object injuries lawyer.
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How a Battle-Tested Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Get Fair Compensation for You
Under normal conditions, objects don’t simply fall out of the sky. New York is no ordinary city. It’s been built upward to take advantage of as much space as possible. This creates an unfortunate hazard: people get hurt when objects fall from those heights.
If you were hurt by falling debris from a construction site, a store shelf, or even out of a high rise’s window, a lawyer can help get the money you need. New York premises liability and personal injury laws are on the books to protect accident victims. These laws give you a way to get financial compensation from people who cause accidents.
Getting that compensation isn’t always easy. You have to prove who was responsible for the object–and who caused it to fall. At Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, our NYC personal injury lawyers will fight to get the fair compensation you need.
Here are some of the key reasons you should call our law office:
- Sometimes multiple parties share fault–we’ll work to identify any party that might share responsibility for causing your injuries
- Negligent people rarely want to accept responsibility for their actions. We’ll defend your rights and make sure they don’t try to pin the blame on you
- It can be hard to know how much compensation you deserve. We work with respected experts to find out what your case is really worth
- Insurance companies sometimes try to deny injury claims by saying your injury was caused by something else. We’ll fight back to get the money you deserve
- You might not know that you might be able to file a personal injury lawsuit in addition to claiming New York workers’ compensation benefits. We can help secure the most compensation possible
If you’re hurt because of something another person did, you shouldn’t have to worry about money on top of that. Our NYC construction accident lawyers will fight to get every dollar you deserve. Give us a call today to learn more.
How Common Are Falling Object Injuries in New York, NY?
“Struck by” object injuries are among construction’s “fatal four”. The fatal four are the four types of injuries that OSHA has identified that cause the highest number of fatalities per year. Fatalities caused by being struck by a falling object accounted for 11.1% of all construction fatalities in 2018.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2018, 786 construction workers were killed by coming into contact with objects on the job. The data reflects a 17% increase in fatalities caused by workers struck by falling objects or equipment.
These figures only account for fatalities. In reality, thousands more workers and innocent bystanders suffer falling object injuries every year.
Common Causes of Falling Object Injuries in New York City
Whether you work in construction or not, anyone in New York City has walked beneath scaffolding on countless occasions. These types of platforms are important for building and maintaining the city structure.
Safety precautions usually keep tools and equipment safely installed on the scaffolding–but sometimes people cut corners and accidents happen.
Falling object injuries can happen because of:
- Failing to place proper guardrails on scaffolding
- Crane accidents where loads are dropped or the crane collapses
- Scaffolding collapses
- Ceiling collapses
- Defective machines
- Crumbling buildings
- Improperly secured objects on a store or warehouse shelf
- Failing to comply with OSHA safety guidelines
OSHA guidelines provide rules designed to prevent falling object injuries. Workers should always wear head protection, clearly identify work zones and make sure scaffolding complies with safety standards.
Types of Injuries Often Caused by Falling Objects
Even a relatively light object can cause significant damage when it falls from above. Falling objects gain speed as they fall.
This magnifies their impact on contact with something below, so they can cause injuries that are much more serious than you might think
Some of the injuries that can be caused by falling objects include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Crush injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Paralysis
- Internal organ damage
- Broken bones
- Lost limbs
- Soft tissue injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
We know that you’re probably struggling to get by if you suffered one of these serious injuries. Our lawyers are here to fight for the money you need to make this challenging time a little easier.
To learn more about how we can help find out who and what caused your injury, call our office for a free case review.
Who Might Be Liable for Damages if I Was Hit by a Falling Object?
Anyone who acted negligently and caused the object to fall can be held financially responsible for the consequences of their carelessness. This might include:
- Property owners
- Landlords
- Construction site owners
- General contractors
- Subcontractors
- Engineers and architects
- Someone responsible for installing scaffolding
- A company that made a defective product, like a faulty window A/C unit
Under New York Labor Law Section 200, property owners and contractors are required to provide a reasonably safe work environment. Section 240 mandates installation of proper guardrails on scaffolding and other elevated construction sites.
Ignoring these important safety standards causes construction accidents all too often in the city. If you think someone cut corners and you were hurt as a result, don’t hesitate to call our personal injury lawyers for a free consultation. We’re here to make sure you get the legal advice you need.
Time is Limited to File a Claim for Compensation in NYC
If you were hurt in a falling object accident, it’s important to take action quickly. Whether you were at work or simply passing by, state law limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit.
To file a personal injury lawsuit, New York law only gives you three years from the date of the accident.
To file a workers’ compensation claim, you only have 30 days to notify your employer of the accident. You also have to file a formal claim with the workers’ compensation board within two years of the accident to secure your right to benefits.
We Fight to Get Fair Compensation for Accident Victims Injured by Falling Objects
If you were hurt on the job, you have two options for getting fair compensation: (1) workers’ compensation and (2) a personal injury lawsuit. If your employer or a co-worker caused the object to fall, you can only claim workers’ compensation. In other cases, you might have the right to pursue damages through both options.
You can usually get workers’ compensation benefits quickly. That’s because you don’t have to show that someone was negligent to claim benefits. The flip side of that system is that workers’ compensation only covers:
- Medical expenses
- About ⅔ of your lost wages
- Death benefits
If your employer didn’t cause the accident, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the person who did. That way, you can fight for compensation that covers the true cost of your injury.
What Types of Damages Are Available in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Personal injury lawsuits provide accident victims with money to cover both the actual costs of the injury and the impact of the injury. That means you might be entitled to money for:
- Medical bills
- Hospital and ER costs
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning ability
- Physical therapy and rehab
- Occupational therapy
- Medical devices
- Modifications to your home and vehicle
- Long-term care
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Damages for wrongful death
The experience of your lawyer is important to make sure you get all the compensation you deserve. Insurance companies don’t just hand over the money to cover all of these costs. You have to ask for it. That means working to reach a fair estimate of both the past and future cost of your injuries.
Medical, financial, and forensic experts can help us determine what your case is really worth. That way, when we make a claim with the insurance company, it’s based on evidence that will stand up in court.
Call a Qualified New York Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
The personal injury lawyers at Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers are experienced, respected trial lawyers who don’t back down from a fight. If you or a loved one were hurt by a falling object, we’re here to defend your legal right to be fairly compensated for those injuries.
To learn more about our law firm and meet our lawyers, call toll free for a free consultation with an experienced New York City falling object injuries lawyer today.
At Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, we are serious lawyers who are committed to getting financial results for accident victims across New York, NY. Our personal injury attorneys have a proven track record of success that spans more than 40 years.
If you’re curious about your legal rights or need help getting back on your feet, our accident attorneys are here to help. Call today for a free consultation with a skilled New York City falling object injuries lawyer.
Visit Our Law Office In Manhattan, NY
Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers
100 Wall St 15th Floor, New York, NY 10005
(212) 514-5007