Construction Accident Guide for Injured Workers In 2023

New York City is in a constant state of repair and growth, and as a result, there’s a whole lot of construction work going on. Construction is one of the most dangerous industries out there, which leaves construction workers at serious risk of being injured on the job. Better understanding your rights and the next best steps if you’ve been injured in your job as a construction worker is paramount, and an experienced NYC workers’ compensation attorney can help you with that.

The Most Common Types of Construction Accidents

Accidents on construction sites come in every shape and size, but OSHA reports on the four kinds of work accidents that are most likely to prove deadly, and they are all common to construction work. Consider the following fatal four:

• Falls – Falls account for more than 36 percent of all fatal work accidents and falls from heights, such as from ladders and scaffolding, are especially dangerous.
• Struck-by Accidents – Being struck by a falling object is the cause of about 10 percent of all workplace fatalities. Construction sites have a lot of working parts, and when they’re not all safely accounted for, dangerous struck-by accidents are that much more likely.
• Electrocutions – About 8 percent of all worker deaths are electrocutions, and because electricity is central to construction work, it represents a serious concern on the job.
• Caught-in-Between Accidents – Being caught in between two heavy, unyielding objects or being caught in a heavy piece of machinery is not uncommon in construction work, and it accounts for more than 2 percent of all work-related deaths.

Your Losses

Obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled is the best path forward toward regaining your health and well-being if you’ve been injured in your capacity as a construction worker. The losses you can seek compensation for in your workers’ comp claim include the following:

• Your necessary medical expenses, including the cost of covered future medical care
• Your lost earnings up to a specific percentage of your pay
• Vocational training
• Partial or permanent disability benefits

New York Scaffold Law and Third-Party Liability

Workers’ compensation is designed to take the matter of fault out of the claims process. If you are injured on the job, you are covered – regardless of where the fault lies. In the process, however, you give up the right to sue your employer and to seek compensation for your total losses, including physical and emotional pain and suffering.

There are situations, however, when a third party can be sued for total damages. For instance, New York has a scaffold law that affords workers the right to sue. Further, when the accident in question was caused by a third party other than your employer, such as a subcontractor or the site or building owner, you can seek more complete compensation via a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. 

Seek the Skilled Legal Guidance of an Experienced NYC Workers’ Comp Attorney Today

The accomplished workers’ compensation attorneys at Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman – proudly serving NYC for decades – have a vast range of impressive experience helping valued clients like you resolve their claims advantageously. We’re here for you, too, so please don’t wait to contact or call us at 212-285-3300 for more information today.