A construction worker was seriously injured after falling 15 feet at a Manhattan worksite by 3rd Avenue & E 20th Street.

New York City police officials are saying that the collision took place around 10:22 a.m. on March 15. The construction worker reportedly fell 15 feet and became trapped.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. First responders were eventually able to free the victim.

He was then transported to a local area hospital. A full investigation into the 3rd Avenue construction accident remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Manhattan Construction Falls

Falls remain one of the leading causes of workplace injury and death in the United States. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 60 people are killed and another 4,500 people are injured every year in scaffold accidents. The vast majority of scaffold accidents are totally preventable. There are many steps that construction companies can take to prevent falls.

• Workers should be provided all necessary fall protection equipment.
• Scaffolds should be thoroughly inspected before each use.
• Workers should be trained to identify workplace hazards.

Property owners and general contractors are held strictly liable for gravity-related accidents under New York State Labor Law § 240/241, commonly referred to as the scaffold law. In order for the statute to apply, a worker must have been performing a qualifying task, which includes the “erection, demolition, repairing, altering, painting, cleaning or pointing of a building.” Victims of workplace falls tend to suffer very serious injuries, including:

• Broken bones.
• Head injuries.
• Lacerations.
• Spinal cord injuries.

In addition to the physical pain and trauma that can come with an accident, workers are often left with high medical bills. They may also need to spend a considerable amount of time away from their job. Any person that is injured in a construction accident may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A New York City construction accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

This entry was posted in Construction Accident by Jeff S. Korek, senior trial partner at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C.