How Can Construction Accidents Be Prevented?

Construction accidents can be prevented by implementing consistent, non-negotiable standards for safety. Property owners and construction managers are responsible for the safety of a construction site. They must take measures to ensure that people working on the site and people who enter the site as non-workers are safe from injury or death caused by a construction accident. When site managers and owners fail to take precautionary measures, they may be held responsible for any injuries or deaths that occur.

Companies and Workers Must Take Steps to Minimize Risk in Construction Sites

There may be multiple parties responsible for safety failures on a construction site.

Liable parties may include:

• An engineer
• A site manager or contractor
• The owner of a site
• The site architect

All parties on a construction site must take steps to reduce the risk of injury and death to the greatest possible extent. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that construction is the most dangerous professional field in terms of workplace safety, and unsafe construction sites may pose risks to non-workers as well.

The NSC discusses several tips for reducing the risk of injury on a worksite:

• Ensure people who enter a construction site are using safety equipment
• Ensure all workers are properly trained in safety-conscious work practices
• Be on constant alert for possible safety hazards
• Ensure all workers have slip-resistant shoes
• Stop work when potentially dangerous weather conditions occur
• Ensure equipment, such as tools, are being used properly
• Ensure ladders have locking mechanisms engaged

Beyond what the NSC advises, those responsible for construction site safety must take safety measures specific to the site and conditions in question. Every construction site presents unique hazards, and everyone involved at the site must constantly be working to prevent injury and death.

Statistics Show that Construction Accidents Remain a Problem

New York Law provides particularly strong worker safety rules. Despite these regulations, serious injuries and death are a persistent problem. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) documents work-related deaths ranging back to 2017, most of which many occurred in a construction setting.

Hazards depicted in these statistics include:

• Falls from scaffolding
• Falls from ladders
• Excavated material collapses
• Electrocution
• Falling items, including boards, tools, and materials including steel beams
• Wall collapses
• Being struck by a ceiling or other support structures

The number of hazards present on a New York construction site may be far greater than the average workplace. The New York City Department of Buildings maintains a running account of construction accident reports. According to their data, common causes for injuries and fatalities on construction sites include falls, scaffolding collapses, equipment misuse or malfunction, falling materials, and soil-related operation failures.

If you or a loved one were seriously injured because of dangerous or unsafe conditions on a construction site, you may be able to collect substantial compensation for your physical, emotional, and economic damages. The experienced and dedicated lawyers at Dansker & Aspromonte Associates LLP have been fighting for injured workers since 1988. Our team is standing by to help you recover the fair and just financial compensation you deserve.

For a free legal consultation, call (646) 692-0204.

Our Lawyers Can Help You Demand Financial Compensation After a Construction Accident

Depending on the unique circumstances of your accident, you may be entitled to receive Workers’ Compensation benefits as well as compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. 

But without a careful investigation, you may believe that you cannot bring an injury claim.

Therefore, you must consult with lawyers who know how to uncover the different types of evidence required to preserve your rights. Once you retain a skilled construction accident attorney in New York, your lawyer will immediately investigate your case and start working towards securing your financial compensation.

Once you retain our team of lawyers, we will immediately begin to perform a thorough investigation of your case that preserves evidence and builds a strong claim for financial compensation.

Some of the specific actions that we may take include:

• Obtaining all police, accident, OSHA, or incident reports
• Securing site photographs and witness statements
• Consulting with construction or worksite safety experts
• Requesting all hospital and medical records
• Demanding sworn statements and safety records from all owners, construction managers, and contractors
• Retaining medical and financial experts to evaluate the long term impact of all injuries
• Negotiating with all at-fault parties
• Preparing your case for trial before a jury if necessary

The Result of a Successful Claim or Lawsuit

Though we prepare every case for trial before a jury, many cases are resolved through a settlement before trial. Either way, the lawyers at Dansker & Aspromonte Associates LLP are committed to ensuring that injury victims receive fair and just compensation for each and every type of damage they sustained because of the fault of another.

Depending upon the unique injuries you suffered, you may be entitled to money for:

• Pain and suffering for all physical or emotional injuries
• Future pain and suffering if the injuries sustained are deemed permanent
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Hospital and medical expenses
• Future medical expenses
• Lost income
• Future lost income and loss of pension benefits
• Loss of services or damage to the marital relationship
• In the event of death, loss of guidance, funeral expenses, and other damages
• Any other out of pocket expenses due to the injury or death