Construction Accident at World Trade Center Site

A crane carrying metal beams dropped its load at the World Trade Center construction site. According to a CBS news report, the construction site accident occurred when beams came crashing down on a flatbed truck after a cable snapped. Firefighters said there were no serious injuries due to the incident. One person received medical attention at the scene of the accident, which occurred at Four World Trade Center.
Although no one suffered major injuries in this case, accidents involving cranes can often be very serious. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor, close to 80 crane-related fatalities occur each year nationwide; a crane dropping an item was the most common reason for an injury or death. Workers being caught in a crane, falling from a crane, or being electrocuted on a crane, are also potential situations that lead to major injuries for victims. The construction industry in New York saw 157 accidents in 2010, according to the New York City Department of Buildings.
Construction workers operating cranes must receive proper job and safety training relating to the operation of such equipment, according to the U.S. States Department of Labor’s Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA). This includes knowing how much to lift and how to properly navigate heavy loads to prevent items from falling. If an accident occurs because the crane operator made an error in judgment or did not follow safety regulations, that worker may be held liable for the resulting injuries or property damage. The company overseeing the construction and the building owner can also be held liable for the injuries.
Workers injured in crane accidents may be eligible to seek workers compensation benefits from their employers. In addition, they may also seek third-party compensation if a party other than the employer caused the accident. Examples of third parties include, but are not limited to building owners, equipment maintenance firms, general contractors, sub-contractors, and manufacturers of defective products, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Please contact us at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
www.work4youlaw.com
Source: CBS News