Islip Construction Accident Lawyer

Roughly 14 people lose their lives every day in workplace accidents, according to the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Construction accidents account for about 20 percent of all these deaths in private industries, making construction one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States.

If you or a loved one were injured in a construction accident in Islip, New York, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. If your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, inattention, incompetence, or lack of training, they may be held liable for the damages resulting from their actions or inaction. To learn more about personal injury claims following an incident, consider hiring a construction accident lawyer in Islip. The team from Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. offers free initial consultations, so call us at (631) 451-7900.

Types of Construction Accidents

There are many ways a construction accident may occur, for instance:

• A truck driver backing into a worker, leading to injuries or fatalities.
• An unsecured load coming loose and falling on someone, leading to head or spinal cord trauma.
• Unsafe use of machinery or equipment such as drills or nail guns that leads to wounds or burns.
• Missing safety signs and labels on toxic chemicals.
• Slippery or cluttered surfaces leading to a slip or trip and fall accident.
• Product malfunctions or unclear safety guidelines leading to the improper and dangerous use of construction site equipment.
• Loose objects, materials, machinery, or vehicles striking someone, or pinning someone down, leading to broken bones or suffocation.
• Poor insulation or missing warning signs leading to electrocution.

Falls, being struck by an object, being pinned in between objects, and electrocutions are the four leading causes of death for construction workers according to OSHA, accounting for nearly 60 percent of construction-related deaths in 2018.

Construction Accident Injuries

Some common injuries seen with construction accident victims include:

• Head, back, neck, and spinal cord damage
• Nerve, muscle, soft tissue, and internal organ damage
• Broken bones
• Puncture wounds and lacerations
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Chemical burns, caustic vapor inhalation, and respiratory injuries
• Eye and face injuries, particularly blindness

There are many other possible types of injuries on a construction site that vary in severity depending on how your incident occurred. Whether you suffered minor injuries such as bruising from a slip and fall or suffered a serious accident that causes you to miss months of work, a construction accident attorney in Islip can help you evaluate your damages and gather evidence in support of a claim for compensation you may be entitled to. Call the team from Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. at (631) 451-7900 to schedule a free consultation.

Liability for Construction Accidents

If a construction or workplace accident occurs, the parties who can be held responsible for a victim’s damages and injuries depend on what led to the accident. The construction industry is heavily regulated, and there are specific guidelines and safety protocols that must be met by workers, vendors, suppliers, transporters, property owners, machine operators, contracting companies, and government offices to ensure that worksites are safe.

Some of the most commonly cited OSHA violations include:

• Inadequate fall protection or fall prevention training
• Improper labeling
• Unsecured ladders and/or scaffolding
• Inadequate respiratory protection
• Controlling hazardous energy
• Missing safety equipment or features on powered machinery
• Inadequate eye, face, and hand protection

Many of these violations break OSHA rules as well as state laws. For instance, New York Consolidated Labor (LAB) §240 outlines use and safety guidelines for scaffolding and other devices used by employees.

To prove the liability of an at-fault party you believe is responsible for your construction accident, you must show that:

• The at-fault party owed you a duty of care of providing you with a safe and hazard-free work environment
• The at-fault party did not fulfill this duty of care and an accident occurred as a result
• You suffered specific injuries, damages, or losses in the accident

If you can connect the negligent actions or inactions of a specific party to an accident and prove that you suffered injuries or damages in that accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses and injuries. Some parties who may be at-fault in construction accidents include:

• Property owners
• General contractors or construction managers
• Machine or vehicle operators
• Safety, service, or maintenance crews
• Vendors, suppliers, contractors, and subcontractors
• Architects or designers

Possible Compensable Damages

Depending on the nature of your case and the severity of your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for damages including:

• Medical care and treatment costs
• The costs of medical tests, surgery, rehabilitation, or therapy
• Assistive device costs
• Lost income or diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• The loss of consortium or support of a loved one
• Burial and funeral expenses for cases involving a fatality

On top of establishing a link between the at-fault party’s duty of care and your injuries, you can also support your case by obtaining evidence such as:

• Workplace photos or video footage relevant to the accident
• Interviewing eyewitnesses for their account of what happened
• Medical treatment bills and expenses
• Receipts for lost wages
• Obtaining the testimony of a medical expert regarding the severity of your injuries

Contact Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. for Help

Injuries may have a long-term effect on your financial stability. If you suffered injuries or losses because of the negligence or recklessness of someone who should have known better or taken adequate care on a worksite, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim.

A construction accident lawyer in Islip can help. The team from Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. understands the rules that govern accident claims, and how to gather the evidence you may need to help prove your case. We can be reached at (631) 451-7900 for a free consultation, and are able to provide legal services in Spanish.