A 22-year-old construction worker was killed and four others were injured when the building they were working on collapsed on them. Only moments earlier, the group had been “joking” that the building would fall in, according to the New York Daily News.

The workers were renovating and expanding a Brooklyn bungalow when the accident occurred. They were on the second story of the two-level home when that floor collapsed, sending the men downwards, and piling lumber and other equipment on top of them.

Three men were able to pull themselves out of the debris, but when they got out they saw their coworker underneath a pile of “splintered timber.”

Emergency crews were able to free him and transported him to Lutheran Medical Center, where he died.

A work permit was issued for the Gerritsen Beach home last September. Robert LiMandri, the Buildings Commissioner, says the accident was due to “a series of mishaps,” including poor structural integrity and architectural design flaws. The framework for the second floor, where the workers were laboring, was compromised. The Buildings Department said the frame wasn’t properly anchored.

The men said that only moments before the accident, they had been discussing the building’s collapse, joking but admitting that something didn’t feel right that day.

“I just felt something was wrong. And I saw the support wasn’t strong,” said one worker after the accident.

When you work in construction, you accept that you spend your hours in a dangerous job. But you also expect the company that you work for to make the environment as safe as possible, through regular inspections and adherence to safety standards. When they fail to do this, it’s you who may suffer as a result. Unfortunately, construction accidents are all too common. If an workplace injury has happened to you, our construction accident lawyers can help.

How We Can Help

At Ginarte, we represent New York and New Jersey workers who have been hurt in construction accidents. From faulty equipment to unsafe structures, accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, and many have catastrophic outcomes.

If you’ve been injured in a construction accident, contact our New York and New Jersey attorneys today. We can offer you a free consultation, taking time to listen to your concerns and offering you some potentially valuable legal advice.

Call us today at 888-GINARTE, or (888) 446-2783.