Two workers were injured — including one seriously — in a New York construction site accident on Aug. 26. According to a report on 13WHAM.com, a wooden structure collapsed on two workers at a condo community along Irondequoit Bay in New York State. Firefighters responded to report of a building collapse with workers trapped. Officials said when they arrived at the scene, they found a 40-by-150-foot wood structure had collapsed on top of a two-level concrete parking garage.
One worker was transported to Rochester General Hospital with traumatic injuries while the other was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and later taken to a hospital for evaluation, officials said. The construction is reportedly part of a multi-year project to install steel staircases and upgrade the parking garage. The wooden structure collapsed while workers were demolishing it, officials said. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured workers. We wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
The Danger of Structural Collapse at Construction Sites
Demolition work is one of the most hazardous phases of a construction project, particularly when workers are exposed to the risk of a structural collapse. Removing walls, floors, support beams or other load-bearing components can unexpectedly destabilize a building. If demolition is not carefully planned and performed, portions of the structure may collapse without warning, potentially causing catastrophic injuries or fatalities.
Structural collapses can result from inadequate engineering assessments, improper sequencing of demolition work, failure to identify weakened structural components or insufficient temporary supports. Workers may also be placed at risk when there is a failure to follow applicable safety procedures or provide adequate training, supervision and protective equipment.
When a collapse occurs, injured construction workers may face serious consequences including fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, crush injuries, etc. Depending on the circumstances, workers and their families may have legal rights to workers’ compensation and, in some cases, additional claims against negligent (careless) third parties. Third-party lawsuits such as against owners and managing agents can provide compensation for damages not covered by workers’ compensation, including pain and suffering, permanent injuries, emotional distress and full lost earnings, and these verdicts and settlements can be quite large.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a construction-site collapse, it is important to understand your legal options promptly. A construction accident lawyer can investigate the incident, identify potentially responsible parties, preserve important evidence and help pursue maximum compensation for your losses.
Steps to Take After a Construction Accident
A construction accident can happen suddenly and leave an injured worker unsure about what to do next. Taking the right steps after an accident can go a long way in protecting your health, legal rights, and claim for compensation.
Seek medical attention immediately. Even if your injuries initially seem minor, some conditions may not become apparent until later. Follow your doctor’s recommendations and keep records of medical treatment, diagnoses and all related expenses.
Report the accident. Notify your supervisor, employer or site manager as soon as possible. Provide accurate information about what happened and make sure the incident is documented following all workplace procedures.
Document the accident when possible. Take photographs or videos of the accident scene, equipment, hazardous conditions and visible injuries. If there were witnesses, get their contact information if you can do so safely.
Keep important records. Save medical bills, employment records, accident reports, photos, correspondence and other documents related to the incident.
Speak with a construction accident lawyer. Construction accidents can involve workers’ compensation, third-party liability or other legal issues. An attorney can review the circumstances of your accident, explain your rights, and help determine what legal options may be available.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you have suffered injuries in a construction accident, the very 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. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact a very experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for the injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company, or their lawyers, investigators, or adjusters.
For over 54 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. 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. Our law firm also recovered $3,000,000 for a man who fell and suffered two broken legs when he walked into an open elevator shaft. 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. Also, we got $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an unguarded hole.
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, negligence cases, motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, trip-and-fall accidents, ceiling collapse cases, lead poisoning, paraplegia cases, quadriplegia cases 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
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Source:https://13wham.com/news/local/construction-worker-seriously-injured-as-wooden-structure-collapses-at-irondequoit-condo-parking-garage-bay-village-condominiums-irondequoit-bay-collapse