Queens Construction Accident

All construction work is dangerous. In fact, in the United States construction accidents are the third biggest cause of accidental deaths. Five construction workers out of every 100,000 will die in a scaffold accident, crane accident or some other type of construction accident. Construction work is considered dangerous because of the heavy equipment used, exposure to heights, or working below ground level. A serious construction accident can cause major injuries such as severe head injury, brain trauma, neck injury, back injury, broken bones, or internal injury. Most construction accidents would never happen if proper safety precautions were taken. If you were injured in at a construction site because someone else was negligent it is important that you immediately speak with a Queens construction accident attorney as you may be legally entitled to receive compensation for the losses you suffered.

There are a variety of reasons that there are accidents at construction sites. However, for the most part construction accidents happen because someone was negligent. Negligence at construction sites typically boils down to not following safety rules established by federal or local law. This might happen because of poor training, lack of proper safety equipment, cutting corners to save money, or lack of proper equipment maintenance.

When safety rules are not followed accidents occur, such as:

• Falls
• Crane failure
• Scaffolding accidents
• Burns
• Falling debris
• Explosions

Injuries from these types of accidents can easily be catastrophic, leaving victims permanently disabled.

Liability for construction site accidents may be the employer, a subcontractor, an equipment manufacturer, the architect, or the site owner.

Because of the presence of heavy equipment, dangerous chemicals, uneven surfaces and temporary structures, when accidents occur at construction sites injuries can be quite serious. Common construction site injuries include chemical and contact burns, bone fractures, brain injuries from falls and flying debris, traumatic amputations, vision loss, and back and spinal cord injuries. For example, in Grinberg v. C&L Contracting Corp., 107 A.D.3d 491 (N.Y. App. Div., 2013), plaintiff Mark Grinberg fell while working at construction site and was seriously injured. His injuries included a pilon fracture, crushed ankle, and a multi-fragmented comminuted fracture to the tibia.

If you are injured in a construction accident you may be entitled to benefits and compensation for the losses you suffered through workers' compensation claim or through a personal injury claim.

• Workers' compensation claim. Under New York law most employers are required to carry workers' compensation insurance to provide benefits to employees injured in the course of employment. Benefits include medical care and wage replacement. If a family member was killed, death benefits are available to the surviving spouse and children.
• Personal injury claim. If your accident is not covered by workers' compensation, if your injury was caused by another person's negligence than you may be able to recover damages through a personal injury claim. Recoverable losses include medical expenses, loss of income, loss of future earnings, pain and suffering and wrongful death.

If you have been hurt at a construction site, contact our legal team. These cases are complex and it is essential to have legal guidance to obtain the compensation you deserve. You may be able to collect compensation over and above the workers' compensation award. If you have been injured, it is important you speak with legal counsel from our office to ensure that your rights are protected. That staff at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates is experienced in representing clients who have been injured in construction accidents, as well as in other types of accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.