The lawyers at Block O’Toole & Murphy are bringing you details about a recent construction accident that took place in the bowels of the Second Avenue subway tunnel project. The victim was rescued by firefighters after a harrowing and grueling rescue effort.
This week, a construction worker suffered a severely broken leg while working underground on the Second Avenue subway tunnel project. The worker was located near 83rd street and Second Avenue, Manhattan’s famed Upper East Side. Reports indicate that an object fell on top of the unwary worker as he was pouring concrete about 100 feet below street level. The precise nature of the object is unclear since there have been conflicting reports about it. What is clear is that the object was a large one and that the force the object generated while plummeting 100 feet was massive. The large object crashed down on top of the worker, crushing his leg. The worker was trapped in what was described by emergency personnel as a “treacherous area.”
The victim was stranded, in agony, for as long as four hours. There had to be moments of reflection when he genuinely wondered if he would survive. The pain must have been unimaginable. Firefighters and other emergency workers, however, were up for the task. The rescue effort involved utilizing a crane to lower a rescue basket into a pit where the victim could be safely secured. The emergency workers went down into the tunnel and uncovered the victim, helping him into the basket. He was safely secured and then raised up out of the tunnel and rushed to New York Presbyterian Hospital. He remains there under the watchful eyes of trained medical professionals. We wish him a speedy recovery.
There will be a thorough investigation into this accident. It is fortunate that it did not result in death given the obvious perils associated with anything landing on you from 100 feet above. The agency leading the investigative charge will be The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). New York City officials will naturally also be integral to the fact finding process. OSHA will determine very soon what fell on the victim and then confront the inevitable question: Was this a freak accident or was it avoidable had proper safety precautions been followed? We will be tracking the investigation and will share any findings we learn with you.
Block O’Toole & Murphy is one of the nation’s leading construction accident law firms. Their results for injured workers set them apart from other law firms and their nearly $800,000,000 in recovered verdicts and settlements illustrate their willingness to fight for their injured clients. Construction work is the most dangerous job in New York. If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, you only have one case and one chance to get a fair result. You need the right attorneys by your side. If you want to learn more about Block O’Toole & Murphy please see the firm website at www.blockotoole.com. For a free consultation, you may call Block O’Toole & Murphy now at 212-736-5300.
Sources:
http://nypost.com/2014/08/20/fdny-rescues-hardhat-trapped-in-2nd-ave-tunnel-mishap/
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/injured-worker-rescued-ave-subway-project-article-1.1911156