The New York City Department of Buildings found serious structural issues at four parking garages after last week’s fatal collapse, prompting officials to partially or fully shut them down. According to a report in the New York Post, significant problems were discovered during a sweep that was launched after the Ann Street structure in the Financial District crumbled on April 18, killing the 59-year-old parking garage manager Willis Moore and injuring five others.
After that deadly collapse, DOB officials began reviewing records of structures with parking facilities in order to conduct targeted enforcement sweeps of similar structures with potential safety concerns or with outstanding DOB-issued violations citywide, officials said. As a result, a number of structures were slapped with violations.
Several Garages in Dangerous Condition
Documents obtained by the New York Post showed that the Ann Street garage had a long history of crucial structural issues including where the connection joint between one support column and a ceiling beam had developed cracks as had several of the walls — including some that were 11 feet long — and needed substantial upgrades to comply with the city’s fire code.
Liability Issues
Building collapses and facade collapses are sadly common in New York City and they happen due to a number of reasons. Many of these incidents stem from the building owner’s or property manager’s and/or other responsible party’s failure to properly maintain the structure. As buildings age, structures get weaker. It is the duty of building owners and/or managers and other responsible parties to ensure that the conditions of buildings and facades are monitored frequently and maintained as required by the city codes.
If you have been injured as the result of poorly maintained structures or facades, please understand that you have legal rights. In such cases, injured bystanders or passersby can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injury, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
Families of deceased victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as lost future income, funeral costs, medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc. Liable parties may include construction companies, general contractors, sub-contractors, property or building owners/managers, manufacturers of defective products, etc.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a facade or building collapse, 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.
For over 51 years, our skilled attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
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, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, 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.
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1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://nypost.com/2023/04/28/some-nyc-garages-partially-totally-shut-by-buildings-after-deadly-collapse