New York Construction Accident & Safety News

According to the New York Observer, the Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster had this statement:

Construction site and worker safety begins with proper site safety measures… A tragedy happened here today… As part of our investigation, our team is now auditing the method the crews used to install the safety straps throughout the building. We will pursue the toughest enforcement to the full extent of the law. Development cannot be at the expense of the workers building our City.

The deceased’s identity has not been released, but he was an employee of subcontractor New York Windows in his mid-twenties to early 30’s, according to various media reports.

Borough President Scott Stringer told the Associated Press that a preliminary investigation by his office shows about 36 violations at the site, which he called “an outrage.”

The general contractor at the site issued the following statement in response to the worker’s death:

Hunter Roberts has contacted the local authorities and OSHA. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. Our hearts go out to the family affected by this tragedy.

In a city the size of New York, with the number ongoing construction projects, unsafe buildings are almost unavoidable. No matter how much you contemplate your safety, no matter how many precautions you take on these types of job sites, accidents can and will happen. When an accident occurs due to the negligence of the construction management company or the building management company, though, it becomes a matter for personal injury law.

An unsafe building accident can take many forms. Falling masonry, heavy equipment, unlicensed machinery operators all take their toll, just to name a few. These accidents may seem unavoidable, but if the proper safety procedures had been in place, the proper safety gear provided and the right safety training given, the accident would very likely not have occurred.

Every year in New York, thousands of construction workers are injured in an unsafe building accident. Whether it is on a new building construction project or renovating an older building, these accidents take their toll both in terms of lost pay through time out of work and an inordinate number of deaths.

If you have been injured in an unsafe building accident, or lost a loved one in a building accident, contacting a personal injury attorney or a wrongful death lawyer is the best option for you. While there is no longer a statute of limitations on wrongful death in New York, personal injury is another story. You have only 3 years to file a claim for this type of injury, so speed is of the essence.

What can you hope to gain from such a law suit, though? Many things can be done through legal channels. For starters, you can be compensated for your time out of work, your doctor’s bills and any pain and suffering you experienced. In addition, many courts will levy heavy restrictions, fines and other sanctions against the responsible company. Whether the responsible party is your contractor, the building management company or the property owner, these sanctions will help ensure that others are not harmed in the same manner.

If the injury resulted in death, a wrongful death lawsuit can help your family recover from the loss of a provider. New York law will take into account the amount of money your loved one would have brought in over the course of the rest of their life, the amount of money they stood to gain through raises and other benefits and compensate your family accordingly.

Finding a skilled and experienced personal injury lawyer is the best way to begin the road towards compensation. Most personal injury law firms will not charge you any fees until your case is won. Once the case is won, they will receive a percentage of your winnings, usually around 15%. In addition, if you do not win your case for some reason, you will owe the law firm nothing. Do not allow your personal injury to go uncompensated; using a skilled law firm can help you get the money that you need.

New York City is a wonderland of tall buildings; glass encased architectural marvels and rock solid business buildings. Despite their beauty and function, these buildings pose serious safety issues for many people. Whether it is a wet floor in a tile lobby, a crumbling brownstone that poses the threat or a high rise apartment building with a dangerously slick foyer, dealing with a building accident can be a hassle.

What comprises a building accident? There are quite a few risks associated with buildings. While they are safe places for the most part, you can easily be injured, especially if the management company is not dedicated and safety focused. The most common form of building accident is a slip. Most new buildings have begun using tile, granite and marble in place of carpeting.

While this is an undeniably more beautiful option, it also poses safety risks. The slightest amount of moisture on this type of floor can make your feet fly out from under you faster than you would believe. The slip is only the first part of the accident. Broken bones, missing teeth and concussions are all common effects of a slip accident on a hard floor.

Another common type of building accident involves stairs. Moisture on the stairs, poorly lit conditions and a lack of proper maintenance can all contribute to a fall down the stairs. This poses much more of a threat to your personal health than a simple fall on the floor. Falling down the stairs can lead to shattered bones, cuts and lacerations, broken ribs, paralysis and even death.

Unfortunately, being careful where you walk is only half of the equation. If the building management and maintenance team is not dedicated to safety, it can be difficult to avoid being injured in a building. If you are injured in a building accident, you may expect the building management’s insurance company to pick up the tab for your medical bills. While this is a very reasonable expectation, many times it is a false expectation. The insurance company will likely do everything in their power get out of paying any bills due to your injury.

So, how do you deal with a building injury if the insurance company is not willing to help you? The best option is a personal injury attorney or law firm. They will have the expertise you need to hold the building management company responsible for their careless actions. If you have been injured in a building, through no fault of your own, hiring a lawyer is your best bet to get the monetary compensation that you need.

You can expect to collect the medical payment that you need, but you may also be entitled to pain and suffering damages from the management company, depending on the severity of your injuries and the treatment and care offered to you. Finding a legal partner that will help you through the process is the best idea. With the right law firm, you stand a good chance of winning your case.

Christoper Canzona, the brother of Clifford Canzona – who was killed in the recent New York City crane accident – filed the first lawsuit related to that incident. The suit is on behalf of his brother’s family and is seeking $30 million dollars.

According to the notice, Clifford Canzona was helping to erect a 46-story building when the accident occurred and was found dead “on March 18 under rubble and debris crushed by the crane”. He fell 18 floors.

The notice alleges that the accident was “caused, in part, by the negligence of the city” and its Department of Buildings in failing to check the construction site.

Meanwhile a city construction site inspector has been arrested after authorities said he lied about inspecting the crane on 4 March.

It’s expected that several other lawsuits will soon follow this one.

Cranes are everywhere, especially in the East Side and Midtown Manhattan areas, but is it safe? There seems to be an escalating increase in construction accidents, with the crane accident that killed seven people being the latest. Liz Krueger thinks she knows the problem.

Our city’s approach to construction approvals and safety has been fundamentally flawed since changes were enacted by the Giuliani administration. Because of a lack of enforcement by the Department of Buildings, along with an extremely hot real estate market, many developers and their contractors ignore safety requirements, disregard building codes and violate zoning laws.

Ultimately, she thinks that there are several solutions, including the need to raise the city’s standards. Another key area is to actually enforce the standards that are in place – if we really want to avoid future incidents. Until then, we’re going to continue to see more needless construction accidents and even more construction accident lawsuits.

For nearly a year, people in East Harlem complained that an empty building at 102 East 124th Street was falling apart. They were right. In November, the owner, a developer with big plans, was told by the Buildings Department to fix up an exterior wall. He did nothing. On Jan. 11, city inspectors said the building was unsafe, and ordered immediate repairs.

They came, they saw, they were ignored.

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New York City inspectors had cited the work site 13 times in the past several months. The crane was recently checked, but nothing was found wrong with it. Regardless, it collapsed during a baseball game on residents of nearby buildings, killing four of them. The crane collapse highlights included:

• Dismantling crane will be risky undertaking, lieutenant governor says
• Four construction workers killed in Manhattan accident
• A portion of the crane detached and “completely destroyed” a four-story townhouse
• At least one person may be trapped

The accident occurred at 50st and 51nd streets near Second Avenue on Manhattan’s east side.

The ceiling collapses and debris hits you. The floor is cracked, which causes you to trip and fall. The elevator is off-level and causes an accident. There are a number of reasons for a building accident, but even in a building accident, you should make sure you are taken care of after it happens.

If you fall or are injured in a building in New York, there are several things that you can to make sure that you are covered. Often times, your health insurance will cover your trip to the doctor. However, depending on the severity of the injury, you may need to seek assistance from the owner of the establishment where you were injured.

When this occurs, your lawyer will want to make sure that you have a record of any doctors, therapists, and any other medical professionals that treated you for your injury related to the building accident.

Camera phones are also helpful to take quick photographs of the area of the accident. In addition, if there are witnesses, you may want to get business cards or the name and phone numbers of people who were around you when you had the accident.

In addition, you need to contact a lawyer that specializes in helping those who have been in a building accident. By contacting your lawyer, you will be able to tell them exactly what happened, as well as your condition, for specific advice on how to proceed.

Not all accidents that occur in a building in New York are worthy of a lawsuit. However, if a property owner has been negligent of their store, restaurant, or property, then they should be held liable.

The worst thing you could do is not handle the situation properly. By not taking all the necessary steps or following the advice of an attorney in New York, you could be hurting your chances at getting what you need after a building accident.