Tradesmen and tradeswomen can rightfully claim to be the first gig workers to proffer their skills to multiple parties at different locations, rather than working for a single employer at one location. Residents of NYC routinely encounter roofers, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, and other tradespeople who provide important construction, maintenance, and repair services at thousands of locations in and around the city every day.

The freedom and variety that tradesmen and tradeswomen enjoy may come at the expense of a higher risk of injuries. Construction site tradespeople who suffer injuries on the job should contact Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley, P.C., in Manhattan. Having the right New York construction accident lawyer on your side can make all the difference when it comes to receiving full and fair compensation for your injuries, including money to cover medical bills, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Call our law offices today or reach out through our website contact form to discuss your case for free.

Common Tradesperson Injuries

The tradesman injury lawyers at our firm have more than 50 years of experience in recovering damages for injured workers. Common on-the-job injuries for tradespeople include:

  • Roofers might fall from elevations when they are not given proper safety equipment or training.
  • Plumbers get hurt in slip-and-fall accidents on wet surfaces.
  • Carpenters experience injuries from power tools, falling structures, poorly-grounded electrical equipment, and stresses and strains from heavy loads.
  • Even the most highly-skilled electrician faces risks due to electrical shocks.
  • Ironworkers might fall from scaffolds or other elevated surfaces and suffer broken bones or head and neck injuries.

Which Parties Might be Liable to Pay Damages for a Tradesperson’s Injuries?

A tradesperson’s work environment exposes him or her to many third parties other than a direct employer. Negligent conduct on the part of any of those third parties will expose them to liability for a tradesperson’s losses and injuries. For example:

  • Property owners or managers that fail to keep a premises safe or that fail to warn the tradesperson of known dangers may be liable for slip-and-fall injuries.
  • Negligent contractors or materialmen at a construction site may be responsible for a tradesperson’s injuries that are caused by that negligence.
  • Scaffolding and equipment suppliers may be liable for injuries caused by defective or poorly-maintained or improperly-installed equipment.
  • Architects, engineers, and general contractors might bear some professional liability for designs or manufacturing techniques that are inherently dangerous or unsafe.

In every specific case, an experienced tradesman accident lawyer will analyze the work environment and the multiple parties that provide services at the job site to determine which of those contributed to the injuries sustained by the tradesman or tradeswoman.

What Damages Might an Injured Tradesman or Tradeswoman Recover?

A tradesperson who files a slip-and-fall accident lawsuit or other personal injury lawsuit because of an on-the-job injury may have an opportunity to recover economic and non-economic damages above and beyond what they get from a worker’s compensation claim. Those damages might include:

  • Reimbursement for all current and potential future medical expenses associated with trade-related injuries.
  • Costs and expenses for transportation to and from physicians’ appointments, and occupational and rehabilitation therapy.
  • Lost wages that are not earned while the tradesperson is recovering from injuries, and compensation for lost work-related future opportunities.
  • Damages for pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of relationships with family and friends.

These damages may be recoverable even if the tradesperson collects benefits directly from his or her employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carriers. Recovery of the full amount of a tradesperson’s damages is more likely when he or she contacts a construction accident lawyer as soon as possible after the occurrence of a trade-related injury. 

Call the Tradesperson Accident Lawyers at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley, P.C.

Tradesmen and tradeswomen should contact the Manhattan offices of Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley, P.C. to speak with a knowledgeable and experienced New York construction accident attorney as soon as possible after suffering injuries in a trade-related accident. We represent tradespeople who have suffered injuries in Manhattan, Long Island, and elsewhere in and around NYC. Call us as soon as you can to begin the process of getting back to your trade after you are hurt on the job.