Slip and fall accidents can happen almost anywhere, and while some people may be able to brace for the fall, these incidents can have serious consequences. While many people associate slip and falls and trip and falls with grocery stores or parking lots, New York slip and falls occur at various locations, such as construction sites, sidewalks, public offices, businesses, parks, playgrounds, and schools. In some cases, a renter’s or homeowner’s insurance policy may cover an injury victim’s losses. When the incident occurs at a business or construction site, compensation recovery becomes more onerous.
Business owners may use commercial or corporate liability coverage to address a person’s losses. However, many of these entities refuse to concede liability and go to great lengths to protect their financial and societal standing. Matters only become more complicated when a stairwell accident occurs at a construction site or to an employee.
The first inquiry is determining who is at fault for the accident. Generally, the owner or property owner may be responsible under New York’s premises liability laws. However, these claims may encompass product liability, negligence, and workers’ compensation issues. Many claims fall under manufacturing, design, or failure to warn defects. Further, the defect may stem from negligent construction.
Some common causes of stairwell and step injuries include insufficient supports, broken stair rails, splitting wood or torn carpet, puddles of liquid, uneven surfaces, and inadequate warnings.
Even a minor slip or trip can have devastating consequences, including broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Some slip and falls even result in death.
For instance, a recent iron worker suffered fatal injuries after falling down a stairwell shaft. The employee was working as a subcontractor on an apartment project when he fell about six floors down the shaft. OSHA investigators and law enforcement indicated that the accident was still under investigation.
New York construction accident lawsuits involving employees or subcontractors can be challenging and require a thorough understanding of complex personal injury laws. Available damages in these cases depend on the specific circumstances of the incident. However, damages in stairwell shaft cases generally include:
- Medical expenses;
- Emergency treatment;
- Ongoing medical treatment;
- Loss of income;
- Loss of potential earnings; and
- Pain and suffering.
Further, damages in wrongful death claims include payments for funeral and burial costs, financial support loss, and companionship or consortium loss.
Have You Suffered Injuries at a Construction Site?
If you or someone you know has been hurt or died in a New York construction site accident, contact the Law Office of Mark A. Siesel. The attorneys at the firm have extensive experience successfully representing New York construction site accident victims in their claims for damages. The law firm has offices in the Bronx, White Plains, and Peekskill, New York. Our attorneys handle New York accident cases involving personal injuries such as assault injuries, backover accidents, construction accidents, food poisoning, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, pedestrian accidents, police misconduct, premises liability, and wrongful death. Our attorneys have secured significant amounts of compensation for New York injury victims. Contact our office at 914-428-7386 to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced injury lawyer on our team.