New York City Scaffolding Accident Lawyer
If you’ve spent any time in New York City, you’re familiar with scaffolding. Scaffolding is necessary for virtually every construction project in NYC–but it has its dangers. If you were hurt in a scaffolding accident, speak with a personal injury lawyer in NYC right away. You may have the right to get financial compensation from the party who caused the accident.
At Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C., a trusted New York City construction accident attorney will work to get the money you need. With over 40 years of experience, we have the real-life skills to get the job done for you.
Your first consultation is always free. If you want to learn more about your rights, just give us a call to speak with an experienced lawyer who will fight for you.
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How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help in a NYC Scaffolding Accident Case?
New York City is always growing. While this is great for the city’s economic prospects, scaffolding is fundamentally dangerous for workers–both above and below. When you’re hurt in a scaffolding accident, it can be hard to find out who is responsible and how to get the money you need.
Labor laws are designed to protect workers. Unfortunately, even those clear-cut rules don’t stop property owners, developers and contractors from trying to avoid blame after an accident. Our experienced NYC personal injury attorneys are here to help.
At Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C., we will:
- Fight back when the insurance company tries to blame someone else for the accident
- Investigate to find out who was responsible
- Draft a comprehensive, evidence-based insurance demand designed to get the most compensation possible
- Handle all communications with the insurance companies so you can focus on getting well
- Make sure you have full and complete information so that you can make informed decisions about your options
If you’re a construction worker, you probably know that you can’t sue your employer for damages. That same protection does not apply to third parties. Property owners, contractors, equipment manufacturers and other negligent parties can be held directly responsible for your injuries.
Our NYC construction accident lawyers are here to do whatever we can to get the compensation you deserve. You don’t have to wait until you’ve fully recovered to start fighting back. Call our law firm to get started today.
Understanding the Statistics on Scaffolding Accidents
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA) estimates that about 65% of construction workers work from scaffolds at some point. 72% of scaffolding accident victims are hurt because of a fall, being struck by falling objects or planks giving way.
It’s estimated that about 4,500 people are hurt and 60 die in scaffolding accidents each year. Because of this, both OSHA and New York state have enacted laws designed to protect workers from injury.
Types of Scaffolding Accidents in New York City
Due to their very nature, scaffolding accidents are usually serious. You might be injured in a scaffolding accident involving:
- A fall from the scaffolding
- Scaffolding collapse
- Slip and fall accidents
- Plank and support failures
- Debris, equipment or tools falling from the scaffolding
- Placing scaffolding too close to power lines or utilities
Scaffolding accidents are often caused by general negligence. More often than not, they’re caused by failure to follow safety protocols.
What Causes Scaffolding Accidents?
New York Labor laws are supposed to keep workers safe when working from heights. Under Section 200, property owners and general contractors must take steps to ensure workers have a reasonably safe work environment.
Section 240 deals with scaffolding and working from heights specifically. Under the New York scaffold law, parties responsible for scaffolding must:
- Make sure the scaffolding is installed properly
- Maintain the scaffolding in safe repair
- Make sure you have all necessary safety equipment
- Install a 34-inch safety rail if the scaffolding is more than 20 feet high
- Construct the scaffold to hold at least four times the maximum weight placed on it
- Secure the scaffolding to prevent swaying
Cutting corners by ignoring these safety rules can cost construction workers their lives.
Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Scaffolding Accident?
At Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C., our personal injury lawyers fight to make sure all responsible parties are held accountable.
We will work to get compensation from negligent:
- Property owners
- General contractors
- Developers
- Third-party vendors
- Engineers
- Architects
- Equipment manufacturers
- Companies responsible for installing or maintaining the scaffolding
While it’s true that you can’t sue your employer, it’s also true that your employer may have had very little to do with your scaffolding accident. Multiple parties usually share responsibility for providing a safe work environment.
Many injured workers are entitled to compensation above and beyond what workers’ compensation offers. Before you give up hope, call us for a free consultation so that you can learn more about your options.
We Fight to Get Financial Help for All Scaffolding Accident Injury Victims
Scaffolding accident injuries can create substantial physical, mental and financial challenges for accident victims.
Even if the injuries are not catastrophic, you could require long-term physical therapy and rehab. Some injury victims are never able to return to strenuous work on a construction site.
Examples of some of the common injuries sustained by scaffolding accident victims include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Concussions
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Paralysis
- Crush injuries, especially if the scaffolding collapses
- Internal organ damage
- Broken bones
- Amputations and lost limbs
- Soft tissue injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
Accident victims often underestimate how much treating their injuries will cost. Later, they find that they’re left on the hook for the remaining costs.
Our NYC accident attorneys are here to make sure you don’t make that mistake. We work with medical and financial experts that can help us thoroughly assess your damages before we even make the initial insurance claim. To get the help you need, call our law office today.
New York, NY Only Gives You a Limited Amount of Time to File Your Claim
The last thing you want is to lose your right to compensation based on a technicality. Unfortunately, that really does happen sometimes. If you don’t file a lawsuit within three years after the accident happened, you can’t make a claim for compensation.
Workers’ compensation laws in New York impose even stricter time limits. First, you have to notify your employer within 30 days of the accident (the sooner the better). You also have to file a formal claim for benefits with the workers’ compensation board. You have two years to file this claim.
Getting help is simple. All you have to do is call. Our NYC accident lawyers will go to work to protect your rights immediately.
How Much is My Scaffolding Accident Claim Worth?
As with any injury claim, the value of your case will depend on factors like how serious and permanent your injuries are. Workers’ compensation provides coverage for medical bills and about ⅔ of your average wages before the accident. You might even be entitled to partial wage replacement benefits if you’re able to do some type of work in a reduced capacity.
In a personal injury lawsuit, you can recover compensation to make you “whole” again. What means we will fight to get compensation to cover:
- Medical bills
- Hospital, ambulance and ER costs
- The full amount of your lost wages and salary
- 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
Putting a value on your claim requires a detailed evaluation and analysis. Our lawyers are up to the task.
If you’re hurt as a result of a scaffold accident, you deserve a lawyer with a proven track record of getting clients the money they need. At Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C., we’ve been doing this for more than 40 years. We know the right questions to ask–and where to look for answers.
What if Someone Tries to Blame Me for the Accident?
Contrary to what insurance companies would like you to think, you have the right to compensation even if you were partly to blame. New York workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. That means you can collect benefits regardless of who or what caused the accident.
Personal injury laws also provide ways to handle shared blame. This is known as shared responsibility or contributory negligence. In New York, you can recover partial compensation if you were partly to blame for the accident. Your overall compensation award will be reduced by the amount of fault attributed to you.
Call a Respected NYC Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
Workers’ compensation gives you an important source of compensation if you’re hurt on the job. Unfortunately, those benefits are usually not enough to cover the cost of a serious or permanent scaffolding injury. At Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C., we want to make sure you get the full amount of money you need.
If you or a loved one were hurt in a scaffolding accident, you don’t have to handle the financial consequences alone. Call us today to discuss an attorney client relationship. We can arrange a free consultation with an experienced NYC scaffolding accidents lawyer to get the help you need.
