A construction worker was seriously injured after falling from a ladder at the site of a Midtown building on 740 Eighth Avenue, which is to house a 300-foot-tall free-fall amusement ride to the top of a 1,000-foot-tall tower. According to a report on Patch.com, the construction accident occurred around noon on July 18 when the worker fell nearly 7 feet as his ladder was struck by a piece of equipment being hoisted by an excavator.
The project is currently in its excavation phase. It has generated controversy among community groups who say the project is “sneaking” amusement park rides into Times Square by manipulating the city’s building use codes. Critics are worried that if this ride is built, New Yorkers can expect to see one on top of every hotel across the city.
There are a number of different factors that lead to or cause ladder accidents. In this particular incident, officials say, the worker fell off the ladder after it was struck by a piece of equipment that was being hoisted by an excavator and that there was lack of communication between those conducting the hoisting operation and the remainder of the crew. This type of safety oversight can cause major injury accidents at a worksite.
Also, if a ladder is placed on an uneven surface, there is the possibility of it tipping and bringing the person on the ladder down with it. When a surface is unstable, the ladder may slip or slide and cause the person to fall off the ladder. In some cases, ladders are
subjected to excessive weight — beyond its designed capacity — which may cause them to buckle or collapse under the weight.
Ladders require constant inspection and maintenance. A worn or damaged ladder may malfunction or collapse. When a ladder is used in close proximity to an electrical source and live wires, there is the potential for electrocution or electrical burn injuries. While these are all preventable accidents, they tend to result in catastrophic or fatal injuries.
Many construction workers in New York City such as ironworkers, steelworkers, laborers, carpenters, masons, bricklayers, painters, window washers, and electricians etc. carry out their tasks while on ladders, scaffolds, platforms, etc. New York’s Scaffolding Law (Section 240 of the New York Labor Law) requires contractors, owners and their agents to be responsible for providing necessary equipment such as scaffolds, ladders, hoists, stays, irons, ropes, blocks braces and other devices to keep workers safe from fall-related accidents.
Since this law was enacted in the early part of the 20th century, workers injured in scaffolding accidents have had the ability to bring civil actions against the contractor and property owner/managing agent etc. responsible for the safety of the jobsite.
Falling off a ladder often results in severe or even fatal injuries. Some of the most common ladder-related injuries include:
• Broken bones including fractures relating to the foot, leg, hip, hand or wrist
• Neck injuries
• Spinal cord trauma or injuries that cause severe back pain
• Head injuries, particularly traumatic brain injuries
• Electrocution, which can happen if a metal ladder touches a live power wire
• Cuts or lacerations
• Internal organ trauma
A number of these injuries require emergency medical attention as well as extensive ongoing treatment and care. Some ladder accidents may also result in fatal falls. If this occurs, a New York construction accident lawyer can help the victim’s family seek death benefits through workers’ compensation and/or file a wrongful death claim against a third party who may be held liable for the fatal incident.
Workers who have been injured in fall-related accidents may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits, which covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages. In addition, workers may also be able to file a third-party claim against a negligent (careless) party other than the employer or co-employees for significant monetary damages and have two sources of compensation available for their losses. Examples of third parties include, but are not limited to, general contractors, construction companies, sub-contractors, building owners, managing agents etc.
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, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. For over 51 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. 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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Source: https://patch.com/new-york/midtown-nyc/worker-injured-future-midtown-amusement-ride-site-official