Injuries to NYC Construction Workers in 2022 

As of May 2022, four construction workers were killed in construction accidents in NYC, and 192 workers have suffered injuries. The four deaths resulted from falls, and all of these deaths could have been prevented if there were proper safety measures in place:

• On February 11, 56-year-old Angel Pilataxi was working on a building at Columbia Heights when he fell from the 10-story building’s eighth floor. He was killed instantly. The NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) issued a full stop work order (FSWO) and a violation for failing to safeguard people and property impacted by construction operations.

• On March 21, a rigging foreman working on a 6-story building in St. Johns Place in Brooklyn was setting up a suspended scaffolding when he got stuck between the fire stairs and scaffolding, lost his balance, and fell 15 feet onto a metal fence. He died from his injuries. The DOB issued an FSWO and violation for failing to protect people and property affected by construction operations.

• On April 6, Holger Molina Pinos was moving plywood formwork in a 17-story residential building on St. Nicholas Avenue in Queens when he slipped and fell about 20 feet through an elevator hole and landed in the basement. He later succumbed to his injuries. The DOB issued a violation and FSWO.

• On April 26, a construction worker fell thirty feet while working on a four-story multiple dwelling at Metropolitan Avenue in Queens. He later succumbed to the injuries he suffered. The DOB issued an FSWO and a violation for work without a permit for brick replacement and facade lintel replacement work.

Falls Are The Top Causes of NYC Construction Injuries and Deaths

Falls are an immensely serious problem on NYC construction sites. They can cause severe to life-changing injuries and even deaths. Fortunately, New York has special laws in place that enable injured workers and people whose loved ones were killed on the job to pursue financial compensation beyond the workers’ comp system.

Broadly speaking, you can file a claim against a building owner, subcontractor, general contractor, or other parties liable for causing your work-related accident besides pursuing workers’ comp benefits from your employer. This means that you can collect workers’ compensation benefits and file a personal injury claim regardless of whether you caused or contributed to the construction accident.

It’s also important to note that general contractors and property owners bear absolute liability even if they didn’t directly supervise or control your work. Under the law, it is their responsibility to make sure that you have a safe working environment and that you have all the necessary safety equipment to do your job.

Reach Out to a Top NYC Construction Accident Lawyer Now

Construction work is considered to be among the most dangerous jobs in NYC, which is why construction companies and relevant parties must do whatever they can to ensure the safety of their workers. Otherwise, they can be held liable for damages related to a construction worker’s injuries or death.

Injured in a construction accident? Call Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman at 212-285-3300 or send us an online message to arrange a free case consultation with our NYC construction accident lawyer today.