This definitely was not the casual summer afternoon stroll on Manhattan’s posh Fifth Avenue that this pedestrian likely envisioned.
The Construction Accident Lawyers at Block O’Toole & Murphy are bringing you details of a reported serious accident at a construction site that injured an unwary pedestrian in Manhattan today.
According to reports, a man was seriously injured when a wooden panel apparently fell on him at a construction site along Fifth Avenue. The location is an area where a developer is in the midst of erecting a 50 story building. The man was walking past the work site in the vicinity of Fifth Avenue and 30th St. when a tall green panel fell on top of him. The panel, which had “post no bills” printed in white on it, was being used as part of a wall to ward off the construction site from the sidewalk. It was intended to keep the public separated from and safe from the dangerous construction work that was going on. This well-intended goal obviously fell far short of meeting expectations. The victim was rushed to nearby Bellevue Hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim and those who love him.
How did something like this happen? Typically, accidents of this nature are brought on by mother nature. However today was not a particularly windy day; nor were there any turbulent storms. That is not likely a cause of this tragedy. Human error probably played a prominent role. Perhaps the panels were not properly assembled or secured. An investigation is already under way and we will keep you posted as the details begin to emerge. Clearly, pedestrians have every right to expect that construction experts will keep public areas safe. That didn’t happen here and someone is fighting in a hospital as a result.
Generally reports about construction accidents focus on injuries to workers. This case does however illustrate that construction work is dangerous and those dangers are not confined to workers. If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident at an unsafe construction site you should strongly consider consulting a construction accident lawyer.
The attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy had a long and proud history helping injured victims who have been hurt at a construction site. There results, including nearly $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, speak highly about the talent and aggression of their lawyers.
Feel free to contact the lawyers at Block O’Toole & Murphy by calling 212-736-5300 at any time for a free, no strings attached consultation.