Long Island Construction Accident FAQs

How can an attorney help my construction accident case?

A knowledgeable Long Island construction accident lawyer can:

• Help to gather and preserve important evidence
• Contact and interview witnesses
• Hire experts to testify on your behalf
• Collect both public and private CCTV footage that may show the accident
• Advocate for your best interests when dealing with a large company
• Prepare your case to help ensure the fairest possible outcome in court

Contact the aggressive personal injury attorneys at Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P., for a free consultation. We will work to maximize your case.

What is the most common accident in construction?

OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the US Department of Labor, calls the top four causes of construction accidents and fatalities the “Fatal Four.” OSHA provides extensive guidelines and resources to help prevent these types of injuries and deaths. The Fatal Four are:

1. Falls
2. Struck-By
3. Caught-In/Between
4. Electrocutions

These four types of accidents account for 60% of construction related deaths.

How many construction accidents happen in New York annually?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 200,100 total cases of non-fatal injuries and illnesses in the construction industry in 2019 across the United States. In New York State, there were 8,100 construction accidents that caused illness or injury in 2019.

How many construction workers die each year?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 5,333 workers died on the job in 2019. This is a staggering 3.5 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. This makes more than 100 per week or 15 deaths every day on average. 20% of these fatalities were people who worked in construction and this accounts for one out of five worker deaths for the 2019 calendar year.

Further statistics from the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2019 report fatalities in the construction industry increased by 6% in 2019, the highest number in twelve years. 273 of those deaths came from construction sites in New York State with 91 of them occurring in New York City.

What are the top 10 safety risks in construction?

According to OSHA, the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards that were violated in fiscal year 2019 included four specific to the construction industry and are closely linked to the “Fatal Four” causes of construction injuries and deaths. The other six violations are all applicable to most construction sites. These violations include:

1. Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501)
2. Hazard communication standard, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200)
3. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
4. Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
5. Respiratory protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134)
6. Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
7. Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178)
8. Fall Protection–Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503)
9. Machinery and Machine Guarding, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.212)
10. Eye and Face Protection (29 CFR 1926.102)

What damages can I recover for my construction accident?

An experienced Long Island construction accident lawyer can help you to recover monetary damages for your injuries. It is possible that you will may receive compensation for the following:

1. Medical expenses – It’s no surprise that medical bills accumulate quickly when you’ve suffered a severe injury on a construction site. This can amount to huge sums. A Long Island construction accident lawyer can fight to get you fair compensation to cover these expenses and help to stem the tide of mounting bills.
2. Lost earnings – What if you have to miss work next week, next month, or even far into the future? If your living expenses aren’t paid, this one workplace accident can snowball into a mountain of debt that anyone would struggle to climb their way out of. A knowledgeable accident attorney on your side can help to ensure that you are compensated for the impact of your injuries on your income.
3. Pain and suffering – Money you get from pain and suffering will never make the pain go away. But money coming in will give you the stress relief you need to pay your bills and begin to put your life back together.
4. Permanent disability – In the event of a serious injury, there’s a chance that you may need ongoing physical therapy, medications, operations, and even assisted care for an indefinite period of time. If your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t be responsible for these additional costs that could follow you for the rest of your life. You want a lawyer on your side who will help determine the value of these factors in your case.
5. Wrongful death – Should an accident result in a fatality, the stakes can be even higher. Victims of fatal accidents on construction sites often leave behind grieving families. Obviously, no one can replace the loss of life. But in the event of negligence or carelessness, a Long Island construction accident lawyer can help the surviving family members hold at-fault parties accountable.

If you have been injured in an accident on a work site, contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P., for a free consultation. We will fight to maximize your compensation, which may help with your medical costs, pain and suffering, and potential loss of income.

Who is liable for a construction accident?

On most construction sites, there are multiple parties involved. Depending on the size and the allocation of responsibilities on each segment of the project, determining liability can be difficult. While not a comprehensive list, some third-parties who may be found at fault are:

Site owner(s) – In New York State, the person who is in possession of the property that a construction job is taking place on is, in many cases, considered the “owner.” This could mean that they are legally liable for injuries or deaths that occur when they knew or should have known about a hazardous condition on the property.

General contractor – In addition to the general contractor, some subcontractors may also be held liable when an accident takes place on the site. In many cases, it’s the responsibility of the general contractor to make sure that workers have the proper training, and appropriate OSHA mandated safety equipment to perform their jobs without being exposed to unnecessary dangers.

Architects – If the physical structure on a site is unsafe, or there hasn’t been the proper inspections prior to work being allowed to continue, it could fall on the building engineer or architect to answer for a construction worker’s injury or death.

Equipment manufacturers – Even though a piece of construction equipment is manufactured and out the door, the manufacturers’ liability doesn’t end there. If a construction worker is injured or killed due to faulty or defective equipment, the maker of that equipment could be held liable for that construction accident.

What can I sue for when I’ve been injured on a construction site?

While the state of New York doesn’t allow someone to sue their employer for work-related injuries, there are other avenues available. You can file a lawsuit to recover for injuries suffered based on third-party liability in a construction accident. Workers’ compensation claims generally don’t begin to cover the expenses from a serious construction-related injury. Third-party liability claims have the potential to offer much greater compensation if parties responsible for the safety of the site and equipment are found to be negligent. Possible things that you can sue for include:

• Product Liability – If a product you were using is deemed to be defective or faulty, you can file a claim for compensation from the manufacturer of that product.
• Wrongful Death – If a loved one was killed as a direct result of a construction accident, you may be eligible to bring a claim of wrongful death. Your Long Island construction accident lawyer can assist you in filing a negligence action.

Contact Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P., for a free consultation and speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss the details of your case. Don’t wait until your medical bills are piling up to get help pursuing the compensation you deserve.

Should I consult a Long Island construction accident lawyer if I’ve been injured while working?

Yes, if you have been injured while working on a construction site, the aggressive Long Island personal injury attorneys at Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P., are ready to help fight for the compensation you deserve.

We handle all types of cases from construction accidents including:

• Injuries suffered from a slip or fall
• Injuries from falling from a ladder or scaffolding
• Injuries sustained from a falling object
• Injuries received from being trapped in or in between two objects
• Injuries suffered due to faulty machinery

If you or someone you know has been injured on a construction site, call us at (631) 994-1910 for a free consultation to discuss the details. Our aggressive personal injury attorneys are ready to fight for your right to get the construction accident compensation and settlement you deserve. Our construction accident lawyers will represent you on a contingency fee basis. This means, if we don’t recover compensation for your loss, you do not pay us a fee.