One Person killed in SoHo After Being Struck by Loose Metal Fire Escape Step

Two pedestrians who were walking on a SoHo street suffered life-threatening injuries after they were struck by a metal fire-escape step that fell seven stories. One of the victims, a 58-year-old man from Garden City, ended up dying from his head injury while the other, a 24-year-old woman is now in a stable condition, Newsday reported. The man and woman were walking near 434 Broadway at Howard Street in SoHo when a worker was inspecting a fire escape seven stories up. The worker had stepped on the fire escape ladder when a piece of it broke and fell to the street below. That piece, officials said, weighed more than 100 pounds. The inspector slipped, but was able to pull herself to safety.

City Issues Violation to Property Owner
She was apparently checking the building’s façade when the fire escape stair gave way. Medics transported both of the injured victims to the hospital. The man succumbed to his injuries. The woman remained in the hospital in stable condition. It’s not clear if the man and woman knew one another. The New York Post reported that one person who was sitting in his van nearby said he saw one of the victims hit the ground and blood “pouring from his head.”
FDNY officials said the worker who was inspecting the façade had been hired by the building’s owner and had been conducting a routine inspection of the fire escape when the step came loose and plummeted. Officials said the step came dislodged under the weight of the person who was inspecting the façade. The New York City Department of Buildings issued a violation to the property owner after the incident for failure to safeguard the building. The city last conducted a façade inspection report in 2013 and found no violations, officials said.
Premises Liability Issues
A number of New York City’s apartment complexes have fire escapes. A fire escape should be kept safe to use just like any other part of the premises. Even when landlords have signs near fire escapes that state that individuals are to use them only in case of an emergency, it doesn’t exempt property owners from the liability that comes from someone getting injured or killed as a result of lack of properly maintaining the fire escape.
When a building owner or managing agent etc. knows of a hazard (or should have known of a hazard) on the fire escape, and an injury results from the property owner’s and/or property manager’s negligence etc., victims may be able to file a premises liability lawsuit seeking compensation for their losses.
The purpose of a fire escape is to save lives in the event of a fire. However, they are often made of steel and are left exposed to the elements. So, they rust, get worn or even come loose from buildings. Some of the most common issues with fire escapes include rusty steps, loose railings, missing slats, broken or loose bolts and holes in the floors of fire escapes that may result in trips and falls. As we saw in this particular case in SoHo, there is also the very real danger of a piece of metal dislodging from the fire escape and dropping down below. When a heavy object drops down several floors and hits a pedestrian, the force of the blow can prove catastrophic or lethal. Injured victims may sustain a number of injuries ranging from head injuries to broken bones and internal organ trauma.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of a property owner and/or property manager etc., you may be able to receive compensation for your losses by filing a premises liability lawsuit. Injured victims may be able to seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased victims may also be able to seek compensation for their losses including but not limited to lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc.
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. 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 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.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Sources: https://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/man-killed-debris-1.16830368
https://nypost.com/2017/11/19/several-injured-in-scaffolding-collapse/