Of the many dangers in and around a construction site, the hazards that often get overlooked come from above. Falling equipment, debris and other objects can cause severe and life-changing injuries to construction workers and anyone on or near a construction site, resulting in medical bills, wage loss and even permanent disability.
If you or a loved one was injured by a falling object on a New York construction site, the attorneys at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley, P.C. are here to help you pursue fair and just compensation for the many losses you have suffered. An experienced falling object accident lawyer in New York can make all the difference when it comes to securing a financially stable future after suffering this serious injury.
Hard Hats or Safety Gear May Not Prevent Harm
Construction projects in Manhattan and throughout New York City often rise several dozen stories above the ground. It doesn’t take a physicist to tell you that a heavy object accelerating as gravity pulls it toward the earth can inflict devastating damage to a person below. A heavy object falling even one or two stories will possess enough force to cause a serious or even fatal injury.
While hard hats and other safety equipment should be worn at all times on a construction site, a large falling object or even a small object falling from a great height may still injure a construction worker below, even if he or she is fully outfitted with safety gear.
Life-Changing Injuries From Falling Objects
Falling objects are most likely to strike a worker on the head or shoulders, although arms, legs, knees and any body part can be affected, depending on the position the worker is in and the trajectory of the falling object.
Some of the most common construction site injuries caused by falling objects include:
- Brain injuries: Head trauma caused by falling objects can leave a victim with severe and debilitating hardships, including headaches, impaired memory and cognition, and even changes to the personality.
- Shoulder injuries: Torn rotator cuffs, scapular fractures and other injuries to the shoulder are often extremely painful and difficult to treat. Such injuries can dramatically limit range of motion, leaving a construction worker unable to work for a long period of time.
- Neck injuries: The force of a blow to the head can bend the neck at an unnatural angle, resulting in whiplash, a herniated disc, a fractured cervical spine or other serious injury.
Workers struck by falling objects may suffer primary injuries inflicted by the falling object itself as well as secondary injuries if the initial blow causes them to fall. These secondary injuries can run the gamut from broken hands and wrists to spinal cord injuries, broken ribs and internal organ damage.
A Proven Track Record of Winning Construction Injury Settlements For Our Clients
We understand the serious nature of construction site accidents and are prepared to help you pursue all sources of compensation for the losses you have suffered due to a falling object or other hazard. For more than 50 years, the New York construction accident lawyers at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley, P.C., have been standing up for injury victims in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and throughout the NYC metro area.
Our results in construction accident lawsuits include:
- $4,200,000 settlement on behalf of a worker who fell off a loading dock
- $3,400,000 settlement on behalf of a painter struck by falling wall panels
- $2,650,000 jury verdict on behalf of a forklift driver who fell due to a collapsing material hoist
Visit our results page to learn more about the verdicts and settlements we have secured for construction workers and injury victims from all walks of life.
The Law Is on Your Side
New York Labor Laws provide robust protections for workers injured in construction site accidents, including those caused by falling equipment, debris and other objects. Sections 240 and 241 require that construction sites implement strict safety protocols regarding the use of scaffolds, ladders, hoists, elevators and other devices. The law holds owners strictly liable when falling objects or other preventable hazards injure construction workers.
Who Is Responsible for a Falling Object Accident?
Who is liable when a falling object strikes and injures a worker below? Answering this question is one of the key responsibilities of a falling object accident lawyer. New York construction sites involve many parties, from site owners to contractors and subcontractors responsible for a wide range of functions.
Some of the ways negligence can contribute to a falling object injury include:
- A site owner who failed to implement safety protocols such as safety netting and sidewalk sheds
- A scaffolding contractor who failed to construct secure guardrails that would have prevented the object from falling
- A subcontractor who carelessly left a power tool on a precarious ledge while people were working below
- A manufacturer who allowed a faulty rail, bucket, scaffold or other device to malfunction and create a falling hazard
After conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of your accident, we can pinpoint the party or parties who may be legally responsible for your injuries.
Compensation for Falling Object Accidents
When an injury changes your life, you need to explore all sources of available compensation so you can rebuild your life to the greatest possible extent.
Any work injury should qualify you for workers’ compensation benefits, but in the case of a falling object injury, you may be entitled to far more compensation than is available through the NY workers’ comp system.
Filing a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent person or business who caused your injury can open the door to compensation for future medical bills, full wage loss, pain and suffering, emotional trauma and other hardships you may face far into the future.
Because of the severity of injuries caused by falling objects, you don’t want to leave any compensation off the table. If you rely on worker’s compensation benefits alone, you may find yourself lacking financial resources—and still unable to work—when those benefits eventually run out.
An experienced New York personal injury lawyer at our law firm can evaluate your case to help you identify all avenues of compensation and fight for the full dollar amount to which you are entitled under the law.
Get the Maximum Compensation You Deserve
The sooner you consult with an experienced work injury attorney after your accident, the better. The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in New York is three years. If you let that time pass before taking legal action, you will lose your right to pursue the compensation you need to pay for your medical bills, wage loss and other hardships.
There is another good reason to act quickly after suffering a construction site injury caused by a falling object: The sooner your attorney can begin gathering facts and evidence from the accident site, the better chance he or she has of building a strong case for you.
Our attorneys and investigators will aggressively pursue evidence from accident site photos, surveillance footage, eyewitness testimony, work logs and other sources. The sooner we can begin working on your behalf, the better chance we have of obtaining the maximum amount of compensation you deserve.
How Our Firm Can Assist
A falling object may have hurt you and caused you to suffer, but the law offers hope for a financially healthy future. Our knowledgeable lawyers are here to handle all aspects of your personal injury claim so you can focus on your recovery. We have extensive experience and a proven record of success helping injury victims in Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley and all five boroughs of NYC. Contact us today to arrange a free initial consultation with a knowledgeable member of our legal team.
