Construction accidents can happen at any time, oftentimes without warning. Even with laws and regulations to protect workers, developers and construction companies all too often pay more attention to their profits instead of worker safety. The results can be devastating for workers, and for the families who depend on them.
According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), 828 construction workers were killed on the job in 2013. More than half of construction worker deaths were caused by the “Fatal Four”: falls, struck by objects, electrocution and caught-in / between.
Injured workers are not generally permitted to sue their employers for injuries sustained on the job. Workers’ Compensation, which will pay an injured workers’ medical bills and lost wages, is oftentimes the exclusive remedy for workers who are injured on the job. If a third party’s negligence caused the worker’s injury, however, such as the negligence of an owner, contractor, engineer, or architect, that party can be held responsible.
New York State Labor Law §§ 200, 240 and 241, commonly referred to as the “Scaffold Law,” provides special rights to construction workers who are working at an elevation or who are otherwise exposed to the risks of gravity. One of the strictest laws in the country, the Labor Law applies to both “falling worker” and “falling object” cases and imposes strict liability against owners and contractors who fail to provide their workers with proper protection from falls, or from materials that are not properly secured or hoisted.
Common construction accidents that are covered by the Labor Law include:
- Falls from ladders and scaffolds
- Falling objects and debris
- Crane accidents
- Trench accidents
- Collapses and cave-ins
- Slip, trip and fall accidents at construction sites
- Forklift and heavy machinery accidents
At Kramer, Dunleavy & Ratchik, PLLC, we’ve successfully represented construction workers who have sustained serious and debilitating injuries on the job and obtained them the compensation they deserve for their loss. If you or a loved one have been injured on a construction site and would like to speak with an experienced construction accident attorney, please contact Kramer, Dunleavy & Ratchik, PLLC, today for a free consultation.