Construction Accidents

Construction workers face many risks on the job and are injured and killed every day in New York. Injuries may be catastrophic, permanently changing the life of a worker who has been injured. State law provides special protections for construction workers so that they can go beyond the workers’ compensation system, which offers the usual remedies with regard to employees, under specific circumstances. At the Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we represent construction workers and others who have been injured in accidents involving falls, scaffolding, falling objects, labor law violations, OSHA violations, dangerous chemicals, dangerous machinery, and vehicle accidents. If you were injured or made sick on the job as a construction worker, you should consult our seasoned, aggressive White Plains construction accident lawyers. We have more than 35 years of experience.

Construction companies are required to inspect every construction site with safety engineers and offer programs to improve the safety of their workers. However, accidents continue to occur. Construction accidents can have particularly severe consequences because of the dangerous equipment and hazardous materials present at numerous job sites.

Typically, when injuries suffered as the result of defective scaffolds or ladders are caused by a statutory violation, a New York law holds owners, contractors and subcontractors strictly liable. Section 240 of New York State Labor Law, also known as the “Scaffolding Law,” provides that contractors and property owners must provide workers with fall protection equipment and other scaffolding and safety measures. If you are injured in this type of accident, you could obtain damages. Section 241 provides that if you were injured by an owner or contractor’s violation of the Industrial Code in construction or demolition, you can hold the owner or general contractor liable.

When our lawyers representing White Plains construction accidents are able to establish the liability of general contractors, owners, general contractors, subcontractors, or suppliers, we can recover damages. These damages are usually meant to compensate for your pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, loss of enjoyment of life, medical bills, lost wages, long term treatment, and loss of consortium.

Generally, your exclusive remedy against your own employer on a construction site is workers’ compensation benefits. In New York, construction workers who are injured or suffer an occupational disease on the job may be able to obtain weekly disability payments through their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. These amount to a percentage of your average weekly wage. Workers’ compensation insurance also covers reasonably necessary medical treatment of job-related injuries.

While you usually can’t sue your employer, you can pursue damages in a third party lawsuit. Our knowledgeable White Plains construction accident lawyers make every effort to identify any potential third parties whose negligence or other fault led to a client’s injuries.

In addition to bringing a lawsuit brought under the Labor Laws, you may have grounds to bring a product liability lawsuit. Equipment and vehicle manufacturers may be held accountable when they make, design or market an unsafe product. Defective products may be defective in terms of their manufacturing, marketing, or design. These products may include the following: ladders, trucks forklifts, scaffolding, cranes, pressure vessels, power tools, derricks, hoists, conveyors, bulldozers, tractors, scrapers, back hoes, woodworking tools, winches, graters, and boilers.

If you were injured in a construction accident, you are likely in pain and concerned about medical bills. It’s important to call a lawyer about whether you have grounds to sue for damages. Seasoned White Plains attorney Mark A. Siesel represents construction accident victims. He has more than 35 years of experience representing clients in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens, along with Rockland, Westchester, Dutchess, Sullivan, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster Counties. Please contact us at (914) 428-7386 or complete our online form for dedicated legal representation.