New York City Trench Accident Lawyers
You can find trenches and excavations at almost every worksite that some employees have developed a false sense of complacency about essential excavation safety requirements. Consequently, the construction industry saw 97 fatalities due to trench accidents between 2013 and 2017 and a lot of seriously injured workers.
Here at the office of Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman, we help New York workers who have sustained injuries in trench accidents. Our New York City trench accident lawyer will investigate your case, determine who should be held liable for your losses, and fight to ensure that you recover sufficient compensation from the negligent party that caused or contributed to the trench accident that led to your injuries.
What Causes Trench Accidents?
According to a report by NIOSH, worker deaths and injuries resulting from trench accidents are preventable, and that the following factors usually contribute or cause serious injuries or deaths in trench accidents:
- Even tiny, solid dirt particles could contribute to serious injuries.
- A cubic yard of soil or dirt might weigh up to 3,000 pounds and easily suffocate or crush workers.
- Trenches have an increased risk of collapsing if the sides are improperly shored and if the width and depth of the trench are not suitable for the soil.
- Trench accidents, particularly collapses, occur suddenly, and leave workers no time to save themselves.
- The specific soil type and its water content, proximity to areas that have already been backfilled and excavated, heavy equipment weight, and vibrations coming from machines and motor vehicles could all negatively affect soil instability.
- The lack of a protective and effective protective system and emergency guidelines.
Who is Legally Liable for Trench Accidents?
Workers are prohibited from suing their employers for most workplace injuries under workers’ compensation law. However, in most trench and construction-related accidents, other entities or companies might be liable for accidents. This means that besides obtaining compensation from your workers’ compensation insurance, you may likewise be able to file a personal injury claim against other responsible parties.
Depending on the particular circumstances of the accident, a liable party, other than an employer, could be a site developer, contractor, subcontractor, vendor, manufacturer, or other entities related to the construction site. Moreover, family members may also bring a wrongful death action against the negligent parties if their loved one died in a trench accident.
What are Common Injuries in Trench Accidents?
When a trench collapses, workers have little to no time to save themselves. In turn, they could be instantly buried under collapsing soil and suffocated or crushed to death. This almost always results in death. In the fortunate event that workers survive, they may suffer internal injuries, crush injuries, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, and other severe injuries.
How Our New York City Trench Accidents Lawyer Can Help
Whether we’re helping a client with a workers’ compensation insurance claim, a personal injury claim, or both, the New York City trench accident lawyers of Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman are dedicated to pursuing maximum compensation for our client’s losses. For your free case consultation and evaluation, contact us online or call us at 212-285-3300.