Have you been hurt on a construction site due to a slip, trip, or fall? While most people imagine heavy machinery, falling objects, and toxic exposure when they think of construction site injuries, most accidents are simpler – but just as serious.
Goidel & Siegel has more than 30 years of experience representing injured construction workers in workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. We will give your case the resources and personal attention it deserves. Contact our law office for a free consultation with a slip, trip, and fall accidents lawyer prepared to fight for you.
According to the National Safety Council, slips, trips, and falls are one of the top three causes of all workers’ compensation claims. These accidents can happen at any workplace, from an office to a construction site or manufacturing plant.
Slip, trip, and fall accidents on the job can happen in many ways. Workers may be injured in falls on the same level, such as slipping or tripping on a hazard or spill on the floor. They may also be hurt or killed by falling to a lower level.
In 2019, slips, trips, and falls caused 24 of the 91 total fatal workplace injuries in New York City. Nationally, slips and falls are responsible for 17% of fatal workplace accidents.
The construction industry has the highest rate of fatal slip, trip, and fall accidents. Nationwide, there were 1,102 construction deaths in 2019. 37% of all construction fatalities were caused by falls, slips, and trips. These accidents were also responsible for 32% of non-fatal injuries among construction workers.
A construction site is inherently dangerous with heavy machinery, power tools, workers who are working from heights, and open trenches. The greatest danger, however, is a slip, trip, or fall. The following are some of the most common ways in which a serious slip and fall can happen on a construction site:
Of the ten most common OSHA violations in the construction industry, four are related to falls. Common violations involve fall protection, ladders, scaffolding, and fall protection training.
After a slip, trip, or fall on the job, you are generally entitled to compensation through workers’ compensation. This no-fault system allows you to seek benefits such as:
Workers’ compensation has many limitations. You cannot recover non-economic losses like pain and suffering. Disability and wage benefits are also capped and may not replace the earnings you are missing. You may not be fully compensated for your damages through workers’ comp alone.
You may be entitled to seek additional damages through a third-party claim. If someone other than your employer was negligent and caused your fall, you may seek compensation for pain and suffering, the full value of your lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
New York Labor Law also gives you additional protection by holding owners and general contractors liable for slip and falls on construction sites in many circumstances.
Injured workers can directly sue the general contractor or property owner for accidents related to these safety violations. These laws allow you to pursue compensation above and beyond what you can recover through workers’ compensation. Filing a Labor Law claim will not impact your workers’ compensation claim.
Goidel & Siegel LLP obtained a $3.5 million total settlement for a 27-year-old elevator worker who fell down an unguarded elevator shaft when his work platform collapsed, suffering multiple bone fractures and internal injuries. Multiple defendants settled during trial, and another, though uninsured, agreed to pay $250,000 after being found liable by the jury.
Check out other settlements on our Case Results page.
When you are left seriously injured after a construction slip, trip, or fall, you deserve fair compensation to help you move forward with your life. An experienced slip, trip, and fall accidents lawyer at Goidel and Seigel can help you pursue all avenues of compensation and protect your rights.
Contact Goidel & Siegel today for a free consultation to learn how we can help you. We have the resources and commitment to see your case through to the end. Our multilingual attorneys can meet you anywhere you are comfortable or through a virtual consultation.
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