The veteran New York City construction accident lawyers at Block O Toole & Murphy, one of New York City s premier personal injury law firms, express continued sympathy for the innocent victims of the construction accidents that continue to take place in New York City. Yet they are outraged that those responsible for these accidents continue to try to avoid being held legally responsible for their actions.
“New York construction accidents will continue to occur until the laws are strengthened and the practices in the construction industry shift their focus from dollars and cents to safety” said Daniel O Toole, a partner at Block O Toole & Murphy. O Toole, an officer of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and a chair of its Labor Law Committee continued, “Statistics usually don t lie. Deaths from construction accidents have been on the rise in New York. There is a very good reason for this: Poor work conditions and laws that need to put more of the focus on safety.
One year ago today, on March 15, 2008, New York was stunned and saddened by a deadly tower crane collapse on a high-rise construction site at East 51st Street. The massive 22-story crane crashed down and splintered apart, tragically killing six construction workers and a tourist. The tragic loss was compounded because this incident could have and should have been completely avoided. An investigation revealed that the crane was being raised with the use of only four slings, instead of the appropriate eight, and that one of the four slings was frayed. Six weeks later, another deadly crane collapse on the upper-east side further drove home the reality that construction work is extremely dangerous, and that New York City construction accidents, which often involve work at significant heights, can be particularly catastrophic. These accidents inexplicably continue to occur. More often than not they take place because a worker is compelled by a supervisor to engage in unsafe practices to finish a job faster. Time really does equal money O Toole lamented.
Ironically, different interest groups have marked the anniversary of this tragic accident by calling for a contraction of the laws that protect these same workers. Block O Toole & Murphy, a New York construction injury law firm, is committed to strengthening the laws that protect workers.
The trial lawyers at Block O Toole & Murphy will continue to fight the fight for our workers, and stand up to the large corporations that put profits before people.