A man suffered critical injuries in a construction accident in Brooklyn after falling into a trench. According to an ABC news report, the incident occurred at a work site at East 49th Street and Rutland Road in Brownsville. FDNY officials say the worker fell into a 15-foot trench. Rescuers managed to pull him out of the trench and he was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident.
An emergency room doctor who rushed to the scene to help the critically injured worker told ABC that the man was at the bottom of the trench and still breathing when he arrived. The doctor climbed down the ladder to help stabilize the worker by holding his head and making sure the victim didn’t suffer a spinal injury. Emergency personnel then fastened a neck brace on the injured worker, before placing him on a backboard and then into a basket so he could be hoisted out of the trench. Officials said the accident happened when a construction truck hit a suspended cable line causing a pole to come down, knocking the worker into the trench.
Increase in NYC Construction Accidents
A spike in construction activity in New York City has led to a record number of construction accidents and injuries in the last year. In 2015, there were 433 construction accidents compared with 231 in 2014. A total of 471 construction workers and pedestrians were injured in 2015, a 91 percent increase over the 246 injured in 2014, according to the New York City Department of Buildings’ records. Also, deaths from construction accidents rose to 11 in 2015 from eight in 2014, Department of Buildings statistics show. Six of the deaths were due to falls.
Trench Safety at Worksites
Trench cave-ins pose the greatest risk to workers’ lives at excavation sites. Other potential hazards include falls, falling loads and hazardous environments created by mobile equipment. For many workers, an unprotected trench may result in potentially deadly injuries. There are several safeguards contractors and construction companies are required to institute when it comes to trench safety. Here are just a few of such protective measures:
• Keep heavy equipment away from the trench’s edges.
• Know where underground utilities are located before digging.
• Inspect trenches at the beginning of each shift.
• Secure tools and other materials so they don’t fall on workers in trenches. Stack and secure materials to prevent sliding, falling or collapse.
• Ensure that workers wear high visibility or other suitable clothing when exposed to vehicular traffic in the area.
Compensation for Injured Workers
Workers who are injured in trench related accidents may suffer significant injuries either from getting crushed or as a result of falling into the trench. Some of the common injuries sustained by workers in such accidents include head injuries, spinal cord trauma, multiple broken bones and internal organ damage. Tragically, such incidents often result in fatalities. Serious injuries suffered in trenching accidents may keep workers away from their jobs for an extended period of time. They may need additional rehabilitation and therapy for which costs add up very quickly. Some workers who have suffered critical or catastrophic injuries may never be able to return to work or even earn a livelihood. So, a trenching accident may leave not just a worker, but also his entire family, utterly devastated.
Injured workers in such cases can seek workers’ compensation benefits, which usually cover medical expenses and a portion of lost wages. In addition, depending on the facts and circumstances of the incident, some workers may be able to file what is known as a third-party claim so that they have two cases for their injuries. Such claims are usually filed against parties other than the employer. Examples of third parties include, but are not limited to, general contractors, sub-contractors, property owners and/or property managers, etc. Families of deceased workers may also be able to seek compensation for their losses by filing a wrongful death claim.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
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. For over 49 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.
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 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
Source: http://abc7ny.com/news/construction-worker-critically-injured-after-falling-into-trench-in-brooklyn/1304319/