Call us 24/7 / Free Consultation
Construction workers are exposed to dangerous situations every day due to the environments in which they work. While New York State’s construction/labor laws impose stringent obligations on owners, contractors and employers to provide safe working conditions, construction workers unfortunately suffer catastrophic and sometimes fatal injuries on an all-too-frequent basis. While New York’s workers’ compensation laws generally prohibit construction workers from suing their own employers for damages, workers are generally permitted to sue the site’s owners, construction managers and contractors for injuries they suffer while working.
New York’s labor laws impose strict requirements on owners and contractors to provide a safe working environment for employees. New York Labor Law §240, as one of the major labor law provisions, generally requires the owners and contractors at a construction project site to provide the proper equipment and training to the workers involved, in order to prevent gravity-related accidents. This law protects not only against all fall-related accidents, including falls from scaffolds, ladders and other structures, it can also be applied when a worker is struck by a falling object.
Construction accidents are dangerous and often result in life-changing harm to those involved. If you are hurt on a construction site in Port Chester, contact Lever & Ecker, PLLC for an experienced and knowledgeable construction accident lawyer. Our team of experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorneys has over 65 years of experience advocating for our clients’ rights. We listen to you and will do everything in our power to give you the best possible outcome for your case.
Because construction sites are so much more dangerous than other workplaces, owners, contractors and employers are required, under New York’s strict labor law provisions, to provide a safe environment for individuals to complete their jobs. The official text of Labor Law Section 240 says that it applies to work such as “erection, demolition, repairing, altering, painting, cleaning, or pointing of a building or structure,” but the individuals protected by the statute extends beyond those specified areas. Individuals protected by the Labor Law include ironworkers, plumbers, painters, electricians, bricklayers, mechanics, carpenters, HVAC workers, and laborers.
Given the risky work construction workers undertake, there are many regulations in place that employers must follow to keep workers safe. Unfortunately, accidents still occur and cause workers to suffer severe injuries.
The lawyers at Lever & Ecker, PLLC handle various types of construction accidents, including:
Most construction accidents occur because of a disregard for worker safety. Labor Law §240(1) states that “all contractors and owners and their agents… shall furnish or erect… scaffolding, hoists, stays, ladders, slings, hangers, blocks, pulleys, braces, irons, ropes, and other devices which shall be so constructed, placed and operated as to give proper protection to a person so employed.” This means that those who own or oversee a construction project have an obligation to provide the proper equipment so that workers may perform their duties safely, whether that equipment is a sturdy scaffold or ladder, a proper hoist, or another appropriate device to allow the task at hand to be performed safely.
Some of the common causes of Port Chester construction accidents include:
New York State’s Labor Laws (including Labor Law Sections 200, 240(1) and 241(6)) and Industrial Code provisions are explicitly designed to protect construction workers, covering a broad array of construction-site situations. For example, there are many provisions regarding scaffolds and ladders alone. If a worker is injured through the failure by owners or contractors to adhere to these codes, rules and regulations, the worker can pursue a legal claim against those parties (other than the worker’s employer) for their injuries.
While construction workers may be familiar with sore muscles and bruises, construction accidents can cause employees to suffer severe, devastating and life-altering injuries. The harm a person suffers at a construction site may require emergency medical assistance and can put the individual’s life at risk. The following are a few examples of common injuries a person might suffer in a construction accident:
After a construction accident, the injuries you suffer can turn your life upside down. Tasks previously taken for granted, such a picking up your children from school or stopping by the grocery store, can become challenging, if not impossible. You may lose income due to your injuries, affecting you and your family. Contact an experienced construction accident lawyer as soon as possible if you suffer injuries due to someone else’s negligence.
When accidents occur because someone wasn’t following the laws, the wrongdoers can be held responsible. In addition to the severe injuries, the hospital fees and other financial losses after an accident can be challenging, if not impossible, to manage. With a professional construction accident lawyer fighting on your behalf, you can feel confident in their ability to protect your rights and advocate for your interests.
Below are a few examples of how our team at Lever & Ecker, PLLC will work for you as your lawyers:
Our experienced attorneys at Lever & Ecker, PLLC have the knowledge and tools to protect you and your claim.
Even with New York’s strict regulations for construction worker safety, there are countless injuries every year. Accidents within construction sites often involve serious injuries which require immediate medical attention. If you suffer injuries on a construction site, contact our attorneys at Lever & Ecker, PLLC. With 60+ years of experience fighting for clients’ rights across New York, we can confidently share our positive past results and testimonials. We tailor our legal services to fit your case and are ready to provide diligent, zealous and honest guidance.
Schedule a free consultation to learn more about how our team can help you. Call us today at (914) 350-6328 or (718) 550-6924 and fill out our contact form.
