Know Your Rights After Falls From Scaffolding Or Ladders
Construction falls and scaffold accidents disable and kill far too many New York workers each year. At Lozner & Mastropietro, our Brooklyn personal injury and workers’ comp lawyers are dedicated to helping workers and their families recover full compensation for construction injuries suffered in these types of accidents.
Labor Law Section 240 — “New York Scaffold Law”
In New York, Labor Law Section 240, also known as the New York Scaffold Law, provides special legal protection to workers exposed to the hazards of working at high or variable elevations. This statute requires that owners and contractors provide proper scaffolds, safety lines, hoists, harnesses, guardrails and other necessary safeguards to employees working at an elevation. If an owner or contractor fails to provide proper safety equipment, then that party is responsible for the workers’ injury or death.
If you feel a construction injury may entitle you to a personal injury or wrongful death claim and would like one of our experienced attorneys to evaluate your case, please contact our law office to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Falls Covered By Labor Law Section 240 Include:
- Ladder falls: Falls from ladders and scaffolds account for 41 percent of all fall injuries. Ladders should be checked for proper positioning and steadiness, structural integrity, and appropriateness to the job. Safety measures can include non-skid rungs and side guardrails.
- Scaffold accidents: Falls from scaffolds account for approximately 50 deaths and 4,500 injuries every year. Scaffolds must be properly constructed and mounted and the weight limit should not be exceeded. Common causes of scaffold accidents include plank slippage and support failures. Safety measures can include guardrails and fall arrest systems.
- Other construction falls: These include falls from the roof, from a girder or pole through an unprotected wall, a fall through a floor hole, or through flimsy or inappropriate flooring. Proper safety measures include guardrails, safety nets and safety lines.
Maximizing Damages For Construction Injuries
If you were not provided with proper safety equipment while working at a construction site, you can pursue a claim against the responsible party and may recover substantial monetary damages, including compensation for pain and suffering, health-care expenses, wage loss and loss of pension or other fringe benefits. Your spouse may also be permitted to sue for the impact your accident has had on your life together; whether socially, recreationally or even for your inability to help with general work around the house in the manner you did before your accident.
If your scaffold accident or fall from a ladder was caused by dangerous or defective equipment, our lawyers will fight for full and fair compensation from the responsible manufacturer or supplier through a product liability lawsuit.
At Lozner & Mastropietro, we are dedicated to helping victims of construction injuries and scaffold accidents recover full compensation for their losses. If you suffered a construction injury or a loved one was killed in a work site accident, please call us at 917-920-9431 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Construction and Work Site Accidents
