Wall & Roof Collapses Lawyer in NYC

Wall and roof collapses on construction sites are a common cause of serious injury. Statistics show, almost eleven percent (11%) of New York’s workforce is employed by the construction industry, making accidents at such job sites a regular occurrence.

Construction workers are at significant risk of dangerous wall and roof collapse while working. Wall and roof collapses are a major cause of construction injuries and fatalities and cost millions of dollars in property damage per year. Regulatory agencies and New York State Law place the responsibility for construction site safety on construction companies, contractors, and subcontractors. New York Labor Law specifically mandates, that employers and property owners owe a duty to their workers to provide a safe working environment.

Construction site wall, roof and ceiling collapses are often the result of poor supervision, hazardous conditions, a lack of proper safety equipment, and pressure from employers to have work performed in unsafe environments. According to OSHA – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, walls and roof collapse are is the top eighth (8^th) cause of construction site fatalities and injuries, per year. A wall or roof collapse is often the result of a serious design flaw or safety malfunction by ones employer. 

If you are a construction worker injured in during a wall or roof collapse on a construction site, you need to contact the personal injury lawyers of Pazer Epstein Jaffe Fein & Gozenput, P.C. immediately to evaluate your claim.

Cause of Roof and Wall Collapse on Construction Sites

Construction site collapses and the resulting accidents may be caused by a variety of employer safety related work-site negligence, including:

• Poorly Designed Safety Features
• Poor Foundations
• Badly framed Walls
• Lack of Wall or Ceiling Supports
• Old or Defective Materials such as Wood
• Exposure to the Elements and Wear and Tear
• Falling Objects
• Heavy Equipment Accidents
• Explosions or Demolition Accidents
• Design Malfunctions
• Excavation Accidents
• Demolition Accidents

Injuries Caused by Roof and Wall Collapse on Construction Sites

Construction site accidents are all too common and various serious injuries may result from a roof, ceiling, or wall collapse, they include injuries to the:

• Head and Neck
• Spinal Cord
• Paralysis
• Amputations
• Crushing
• Broken Bones
• Internal Bleeding
• Soft Tissue Injuries
• Sprains and Strains
• Long-Term Psychological Damage (Stress, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Claustrophobia, etc.)
• Asphyxiation
• Death

New York Labor Law and Wall, Ceiling and Roof Collapses

New York’s Labor Law allows for claims beyond standard Worker’s Compensation against one’s employer, establishing a type of “strict liability” against General Contractors and Owners of the property where the acts of construction are occurring.  While a Worker’s Compensation Claim limits the kind of damages and amount of liability an employer is accountable for under the law, Third-Party claims against Owners and Contractors under appropriate sections of New York’s Labor Law can include pain and suffering, loss of income, medical bills, rehabilitative expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium by a spouse. Some of the appropriate sections include:

Section 200 – Which provides a general duty to construction companies, employers, contractors, etc., for the health and safety of employees. All machinery and equipment, operated, guarded, and lighted as to provide reasonable and adequate protection to workers;

Section 240 – Which applies to workers and pedestrians hurt in elevation related accidents on construction sites. The law is commonly called the “Scaffold Law,” and protects workers for falls or having objects, like tools or equipment fall upon them. This Code Section may apply to a fall from a poorly constructed or poorly maintained scaffold or ladder. This section may also apply if a wall or roof collapses and falls on a construction worker; and

Section 241 – Which provides for the health and safety of construction workers and applies to violations of standard construction practice, where in a  wall and roof collapse occurrence for example, construction companies and contractors failed to safely abide by statutes such as  Rule 23 of the New York Industrial Code.

Why You Need Our New York City Construction Accident Lawyers

Anyone hurt on a construction site from a roof or wall collapse should contact our attorneys for a free consultation. The lawyers of Pazer Epstein Jaffe Fein & Gozenput, P.C. have over fifty years (50) of experience in all types of construction accidents and the many violations of law surrounding such an event.

We have obtained millions of dollars in jury verdicts and settlements in construction accidents. Our attorneys have extensive knowledge of construction law, New York Labor Law, and personal injury law. We promise to take the time to evaluate your claim, explain your options, and employ the finest construction accident experts in the business to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us throughout New York City in Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island. We may be reached at (212) 847-5007 in New York or (718) 954-9986 on Long Island.