A 62-year-old construction worker was seriously injured when he fell about 60 feet to the ground outside a building which was under construction in the East Village.
This accident occurred at around 1 p.m. at 26 First Ave. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital, though an update on his condition has not yet been released.
The six-story building which the man was working on is 65 feet in height. The work being done was to remove cornice from the exterior of the building and install copping stone.
Falling accidents which occur from such a great height can result in catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, hip fractures, injuries to the back and spinal cord, paralysis and even death.
The incredibly high stakes of falling accidents is particularly relevant to New Yorkers due to the number of construction projects that are constantly ongoing in our city. Many of these projects involve work at high altitudes, thus increasing the risk our construction workers face.
Unfortunately, these types of accidents are too common. According to OSHA statistics, scaffolding accidents result in roughly 4,500 injuries and 50 deaths in the United States every year. These are life-changing accidents that devastate the lives of injured workers and their families, and tragically, most of them are preventable. A few methods of preventing falling accidents include:
- Providing workers with properly fitting body harnesses when working at high altitudes
- Utilizing OSHA-compliant guardrail systems with toeboards and warning lines
- Keeping walkways clear of debris and other potential tripping hazards
- Installing safety nets over high-risk areas at danger from falling objects
- Never taking shortcuts when it comes to keeping our workers safe
Beyond these basic measures which responsible employers, contractors and managers must provide for their employees, construction workers have a form of legal defense on their side thanks to New York Labor Law 240(1), more commonly known as the Scaffold Law.
In general terms, the Scaffold law mandates that building owners and contractors take the necessary steps to protect workers as well as pedestrians from gravity-related dangers. As we’ve seen, there are numerous methods to doing this and so there is never excuse for putting people at risk. When accidents occur due to a lack of the proper fall protections, the Scaffold law gives New Yorkers a crucial avenue to seeking legal recourse.
If you or somebody you love have been injured as a result of a scaffolding fall or other falling accident, you will want an experienced personal injury attorney by your side to help you fight for justice and receive compensation for your damages.
The attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy have won numerous multi-million dollar cases for victims of scaffolding accidents including:
- $12,000,000 settlement for a Local 147 tunnel worker who fell 40 feet and suffered extensive damage to his lungs, kidneys and bladder.
- $10,875,000 settlement after a construction worker fell from a rooftop and suffered immense internal injuries in Brooklyn.
- $7,400,000 settlement for a Brooklyn construction worker who fell 3 feet and required spinal fusion surgery and a spinal cord stimulator.
- $7,000,000 settlement for a carpenter who was struck in the face by a metal clamp as he attempted to dismantle a scaffold in Astoria, Queens.
- $6,000,000 settlement for a union waterproofer who fell off an exterior scaffold in Brooklyn while performing caulking work.
Call 212-736-5300 or contact us online to receive a FREE legal consultation.