A woman walking along 58th Street was injured recently when she was struck by a construction truck and pinned beneath the vehicle until firefighters could extricate her. According to news reports, the accident took place at a construction site at 220 Central Park South. A building under demolition there has been the subject of litigation between two of the city’s most prominent developers.
New York Construction Injuries
The accident in Midtown Manhattan illustrates that construction workers are not the only people at risk of injury at construction sites. A construction site, by its very nature, often creates a heightened risk to anyone nearby. A construction site often has large machinery and heavy equipment in operation. Heavy construction materials are frequently being loaded, unloaded and moved around a construction site. What’s more, construction sites often have exposed electrical wires or natural gas pipes that create the risk of electrocution, explosion or fire.
According to figures released by the mayor’s office, there were 128 construction accidents in New York City alone last year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tells us that there were 205 fatal occupational injury accidents in the State of New York last year and 186 in 2010. Of the fatal injuries in 2011, 69 were transportation related. Of the fatal injuries in 2010, 48 were transportation related.
Who Is Responsible for a New York Construction Accident?
Workers who are injured in New York construction accidents often have two potential sources of compensation. The worker may file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits through the Workers’ Compensation Board. Sometimes, a worker may also have the basis for a third-party injury accident claim against someone who caused or contributed to the accident.
When an innocent bystander is injured in a construction accident, the victim’s only option for compensation may be a personal injury lawsuit.
A personal injury lawsuit for a construction accident operates on the same general principles as a lawsuit that stems from injuries in a car accident. To secure compensation for injuries, the victim must prove that the defendant was negligent. In a construction accident, there may be a number of potentially negligent parties, including:
- Employee or worker
- Worker’s employer
- General contractor
- Subcontractor
- Owner of the Property
- Site manager
- Leasing Company
- Manufacturer of equipment or vehicles
Contact a New York Construction Injury Attorney Can Help
Because it can be confusing to figure out who is responsible for injuries sustained in a New York construction accident, a victim should seek the advice of an experienced New York construction accident attorney.
If you have been injured in a New York construction accident, contact the New York/New Jersey construction accident attorneys at Ginarte Gonzalez Winograd L.L.P. to find out what legal options you may have. With seven offices conveniently located in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, we have an office near you. For your free consultation, contact the firm today by calling 888-446-2783 or filling out our online contact form.