Queens Construction Accident Lawyer

Queens Construction Accident Lawyer

Construction sites hold significant dangers even under when all proper precautions are taken. If you or a loved one were hurt on a construction site in Queens, you may be entitled to financial compensation. An experienced Queens construction accident lawyer at Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. can help make sure you get the full compensation you deserve.

To learn more, call to schedule a 100% free consultation today.

Why Should I Hire a Queens Personal Injury Lawyer After a Construction Accident

Why Should I Hire a Queens Personal Injury Lawyer After a Construction Accident

Hiring a Queens personal injury attorney who knows how to navigate the legal system can make all the difference in recovering fair compensation for your injuries. Insurance companies often make it difficult to get the full amount of compensation you deserve after an accident. When you’re hurt, you shouldn’t have to worry about how you’ll pay your bills.

Our experienced construction accident lawyers at Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. can help you through this challenging time. When you hire us, we will:

  • Provide support and answers to the challenging questions you might face
  • Make sure you understand all of your legal options
  • Investigate to see whether you may have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent third party
  • Fight back when insurance companies try to delay or deny your workers’ compensation benefits
  • Consult with experts in medicine, accident reconstruction, finance, and anyone else who can strengthen your injury claim
  • Negotiate to get the best deal possible while you focus on recovering

Our lawyers at Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. have over 40 years of experience helping workers in Queens get the benefits they need. If you were hurt on the job in Queens or elsewhere in NYC, we’re here to help. Our lawyers work on a contingency basis, so you don’t have to worry about any upfront attorneys’ fees. In fact, we only get paid if we win compensation in your case.

When you’re ready to learn more about how we can build a strategy that’s custom-tailored to your case, call to schedule a free case review. We’re ready to take your call.

Understanding the Dangers of NYC Construction Sites

Understanding the Dangers of NYC Construction Sites

Construction is booming across Queens. According to the Office of the New York State Comptroller, between 2010 and 2018, Queens added the most construction jobs of any borough.

Still, construction continues to be the deadliest industry in NYC.

According to a report released by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, fatal falls are by far the most common cause of fatal construction site accidents in New York City.

Falls accounted for 46% of all construction deaths in the city overall. Unfortunately, some of the most commonly violated safety standards related to fall prevention. The most frequently violated Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for 2019 involved rules regarding:

  • Fall protection 
  • Hazard communication
  • Scaffolding requirements
  • Control of hazardous energy
  • Respiratory protection
  • Ladders
  • Powered industrial trucks
  • Training in fall prevention
  • Machinery and machine guarding 
  • Eye and face protection

Contractors and property owners often cut corners to maximize their own profits. That puts construction workers across the city at an even greater risk for sustaining injuries.

New York Labor Laws Designed to Protect Construction Workers

Because construction accidents are so common, the state of New York has enacted its own set of labor laws to protect workers. Section 200 of the New York Labor Law requires contractors and others to take reasonable and adequate precautions to keep workers safe.

Section 240, or the “scaffolding law,” provides detailed requirements for staying safe while working from heights in the city. Contractors and property owners can be strictly liable if they fail to follow the scaffolding law.

Unfortunately, violations of these rules are common in the city. If you or a loved one were hurt in a construction accident, our lawyers are here to find out why.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for Compensation if I Was Hurt in a Construction Accident?

NYC construction employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage. If you were hurt on the job, workers’ compensation covers your medical bills and pays cash benefits while you recover.

Depending upon the circumstances, you may also be entitled to sue a negligent third party for damages. Our skilled personal injury attorneys in Queens will conduct a full investigation to make sure you’re getting everything you’re entitled to receive.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance. Your employer pays into the system, and if you’re hurt, you can file a claim for benefits. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. That means the usual New York contributory negligence law doesn’t apply. You can get benefits even if the accident was entirely your fault.

Available workers’ compensation benefits include:

  • Full payment of your medical expenses
  • About ⅔ of your average weekly wages
  • Death benefits for surviving family members 

The workers’ compensation rules in New York are specific and detailed. Except in an emergency, you’re required to visit an approved doctor. If you don’t, the insurance company might refuse to pay your medical bills.

Your cash benefits are also limited by a statutory cap. The cap is about $966 per week in 2020. Even if your average weekly earnings are more than the limit, you can’t receive any further benefits once you exceed the cap.

Third-Party Claims

It can be hard to get by on workers’ compensation alone–but you waive the right to sue your employer as part of the workers’ compensation system. You might be able to sue anyone else who was negligent and caused your accident. Potentially responsible parties might include:

  • Property owners
  • General contractors
  • Subcontractors
  • Engineers
  • The manufacturer of defective tools or machinery
  • Architects
  • Third-party vendors

This type of personal injury lawsuit is called a third-party claim. In a third-party claim, you can sue for damages that workers’ compensation doesn’t cover. You may be entitled to money for:

  • Medical bills
  • Your full lost wages, salary, and benefits
  • Future medical bills
  • Lost future earning capacity
  • Physical therapy
  • Rehabilitation
  • Disfigurement and scarring
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of your loved one’s company or financial support if the accident was fatal
  • And more

We know that it can be hard to pinpoint the cause of an accident. With workers’ compensation, you aren’t required to determine the cause. Our lawyers have over four decades of experience handling these types of cases. We know where to look and which questions to ask. To learn more about how we can help, call for a free consultation today.

We Handle All Queens Construction Accident Cases

Our NYC construction accident attorneys handle all types of construction accident cases. We can help if you were hurt on a worksite because of:

Construction accidents often happen because someone violated state or federal safety standards. In other cases, a contractor might have failed to provide proper training, supervision, or protective equipment. Insurance companies don’t make it easy to get compensation even if you know what happened. Our lawyers can get the strong evidence you need to stand up for your rights.

If you’re interested in learning more, we’d be happy to arrange a consultation at your convenience.

Common Construction Accident Injuries

Injuries sustained in construction accidents can be serious. Some are even catastrophic and permanent. Our lawyers fight to get full compensation for injured construction workers who have sustained:

If you were hurt on a job site in Queens, don’t hesitate to get legal help. We’re here to make sure you get the money you need to get back on your feet.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Claim for Compensation?

State law limits the amount of time you have to file a claim for compensation. The relevant time limit depends upon how you pursue your claim. 

To file a third-party claim for damages, you have three years to file a lawsuit. The clock begins running on the date of the accident. Workers’ compensation claims must be filed much sooner. You only have 30 days to notify your employer of the accident and start the claims process.  You then have two years to file your formal claim with the workers’ compensation board.

Call an Experienced Queens Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Case Evaluation

At Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C., we’re a local law firm with the substantial resources necessary to get the best possible results for you. We believe every accident victim deserves high-quality legal representation. If you’re ready to learn more about how an experienced Queens construction accident lawyer can help, we’re ready to get to work.

To schedule your free consultation with our legal team, all you have to do is call. You can also connect with us online. We serve clients in Queens, Staten Island, and across NYC.