A Long Island worker was seriously injured in a construction accident after his legs were severed below the knee when a large steel plate knocked him into a 10-foot hole and then landed on him. According to the New York Daily News, the worker was part of a crew installing a gas main under the roadway at Corncrib and Locust lanes in Roslyn Heights, New York when he was knocked into the hole.
Nassau County police climbed into the hole and used tourniquets to control the bleeding. Medics rushed the worker to an area hospital where he was said to be in stable condition. Workers at the site said the man had started there just a few days ago. The roadwork was being completed for the National Grid natural gas company. The company said work had been stopped and that an investigation into this construction accident is underway. Neighbors near the site told the Daily News they have been complaining about the condition of the roadway due to construction work. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured worker.
Loss of Limbs
Loss of limbs is one of the injuries sustained in construction accidents. Because construction workers operate heavy machinery and equipment, they face amputation hazards. As in this case, loss of limbs may also occur when workers are struck by heavy objects. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after falls, being struck by objects and caught in/between objects or machinery are two of the four most common causes of fatal construction site accidents.
Loss of limbs is termed a “catastrophic injury.” This means it’s a permanent injury that leaves victims disabled for life. Dealing with an amputation means that the victim cannot return to work for a lengthy period of time. He or she may also not be able to get back to earning a livelihood as they did prior to the accident. In addition to loss of income, workers find themselves facing mounting medical expenses including cost of ongoing therapy and costs related to procuring prosthetics. These costs can add up very quickly and may not be covered by health insurance. So, often, the worker may have to pay out of pocket.
Workers who lose limbs typically end up facing both – the financial repercussions and severe emotional trauma. Victims may experience depression because they may not be able to return to work and anxiety because they are concerned about providing for their families. Many victims who suffer amputations require psychological therapy, which may also prove costly.
Contractors, construction companies, property owners and managing agents have a responsibility to ensure that the types of accidents that cause falls, amputations and other severe injuries to construction workers are prevented. Workers must receive job and safety training regarding the use of personal protective equipment. In addition to fall prevention devices, workers must be provided with other safety equipment such as hard hats, harnesses with ropes or chains, vests, goggles (to prevent eye injuries), etc. Given the diverse nature of the construction workforce in New York City, construction companies should also provide job and safety training in a language workers can understand.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Workers who are injured in construction accidents may be able to seek workers’ compensation benefits, which typically cover medical and drug expenses and a portion of lost wages. Families that have lost loved ones in a construction accident may be able to seek death benefits. In addition, workers and their families may be able to file a third-party lawsuit for substantial money damages against a number of parties, and therefore have two sources of compensation.
Third-party claims are filed against parties other than the employer or co-employees and may include general contractors, sub-contractors, building owners, managing agents, construction companies, etc. Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitative treatment, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
If you have suffered injuries 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, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. Our law firm recovered $3,375,576 for a construction worker (an undocumented immigrant) who was injured on the job – one of the highest construction case settlements in New York that year.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
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Source: https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-metro-long-island-worker-legs-severed-construction-accident-20190213-story.html