​WHAT COMPENSATION IS AVAILABLE TO INJURED CONSTRUCTION WORKERS?   

 

You may be entitled to  compensation for pain and suffering, past and future, loss of earning, medical bills, surgery and other medical expenses. Union members  may be entitled to compensation for loss of a pension or benefits.

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COMMON TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION SITE ACCIDENTS 

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LADDERS, STAIRS & SCAFFOLDS  

 

Ladder, stairway and scaffold accidents sometimes occur because of defective treads, ladder rungs, handrails, work areas cluttered with debris, the incorrect ladder being used for the specific task, ladders not being inspected by a competent individual or using a ladder in close proximity to unprotected electricity.

 

Injuries can occur while working on or near a ladder, such as an Extension, Platform, Multi-Purpose, Telescoping,  Folding,  Industrial, Commercial Stepladder, Rung Ladder, Two-Section Rung, Trestle, Painter’s Ladder, Mason’s Ladder or any  type of ladder or safety device. If you were injured while working on or near stairs, including but not limited to, a Slide Rolling or Compact Stairway, Spiral, Arched, Double Winder, Single Winder, Half Landing, Quarter Landing Stairs, or any other device you may be entitled to compensation. 

 

Serious injuries and fatalities occur when scaffolds are not inspected or used properly. Workers fall from scaffolds because planks were not supported with a secure footing, guardrails were missing or were not at a proper height. Scaffolds must be sound, rigid, and sufficient to carry their own weight plus several  times the maximum intended load. Unstable objects, such as barrels, boxes, loose bricks, or concrete blocks should not be used to support scaffolds. 

 

If you were injured while working on or near a scaffold, such as a Jack Scaffold, Light-Duty Scaffold,  Bricklayers Scaffold, Outrigger Scaffold, or any  type of elevation and or safety device  contact us for a FREE consultation 800-410-1111

 

TRENCHING     

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Trenching accidents occur, for example, because of improper sloping, shoring, supports to prevent soil movement, cave-ins, the lack of a proper exit from the trench, debris near the edge of a trench and or improper inspections. 

According to OSHA, cave-in's pose the greatest risk and are more likely than other excavation related accident to result in worker fatalities.

 

If you were injured in a trenching accident that involved a Utility Trench, Foundation Trench, Drainage Trench, Access Trench, Hydro-excavation, Pipe Jetting, Splice Pits, or any other type of excavation, you may be entitled to compensation. 

 

DEMOLITION

 

An engineering survey completed by a competent person before any demolition work begins should include, for example,  the condition of the structure and the risk of an unplanned collapse. Utilities should be secured, fire evacuation and prevention plans established, and the proper types of safety equipment should be addressed, prior to demolition. 

 

If you were injured in a demolition accident that involved Soft Strip Demolition, Demolition by hand, Wrecking Ball, Pusher Arm, Deliberate Collapse, Wire Rope Pulling, Explosion, Implosion, Demolition using Grapples and Shears, High-Reach Excavators, Underwater Demolition, Demolition by Hydraulic Equipment, Cranes,Excavators, Bulldozers, Rotational Hydraulic Shears, Silenced Rock-Breakers or any other demolition method, call us for a FREE consultation 800-410-1111

 

Sections 240(1) or 241(6) of the Labor Law are activated, for example, when an industrial code violation caused the accident, when safety equipment wasn’t readily available, when a worker falls from an unsecured scaffold, ladder or is struck by a heavy object that wasn’t properly secured.

 

CRANES

 

Serious injuries and fatalities occur when cranes and worksites are not properly inspected. For example, workers are struck by overhead loads, caught within the crane’s swing radius, the load contacts a power line or exceeds the load of the crane’s rated capacity.  If a load fell on you because it was not properly secured, Labor Law 240(1) and 241(6) may apply, including but not limited to accidents involving a Bridge Crane, Gantry Crane, Jib Crane, Monorail Crane, Carry Deck Crane,or Truck- Mounted Crane.  

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MOTOR VEHICLES

 

Motor Vehicle accidents occur, for example, because operators were not properly trained, the vehicle was not maintained, improper modifications were made, safe operating procedures for moving loads were not followed, the vehicle was operated at an excessive rate of speed, or reverse signal alarms were not properly operational. 

 

If your accident involved a Boom Lift, Scissor Lift, Fork Lift, Single Man Lift, Telehandler, Bulldozer, Wheel Trctor-Scraper, Skid Steer Loader, Backhoe Loader, other earthmoving equipment: scrapers, loaders, crawler or wheel tractors, bulldozers, Excavator, Trencher, Feller Buncher, Articulated Hauler, Off-Highway Truck, Asphalt Paver, Motor Grader, Drum Roller, Multi-Terrain Loader, Skidder, Dump Truck, Concrete Mixer Truck, Drill Rig, Pipe Layer, or any other type of equipment you may be entitled to compensation. 

 

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

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OSHA provides that all personal protective equipment should be of safe design and construction, and should be maintained in a clean and reliable fashion. Responsible parties are required to train workers to properly wear and or use equipment, its limitations, proper care, and maintenance. 

 

If you were injured because of improper and or defective safety equipment, such as a harness, anchor, body belt, connector, lanyard, lifeline or if proper safety equipment wasn’t readily available to you, you may be entitled to compensation. 

 

 

Ramps, Debris, Trips & Falls

 

If you fell from an improperly sized ramp, , for example, or tripped on debris at a worksite, you may be entitled to compensation for past and or future pain and suffering, past and or future loss of earning, medical bills, surgery, and other medical expenses. Ramps must be a certain width and consist of planking that are a certain thickness and strength. Failure to meet the mandatory width and length of a ramp places workers at risk of slipping or falling and can trigger Labor Law 240(1) and or 241(6).

 

 

Electrical Accidents

 

High Voltage Power Lines are one of the most fatal threats at a job site, according to OSHA.  Contact with high-voltage power lines, Power and Extension Cords with exposed wires or short circuits cause serious electrical injuries, even when a small amount of electrical energy is present. 

 

If you were injured because safety equipment was not readily available to you or the protective equipment did not meet the rating class of the highest voltage equipment in the circuit, or you were working near unprotected electricity, an overhead power line, or made contact with energized conductors or parts,  or any other hazardous condition, you may be eligible to recover compensation from third-parties for your injuries. Call us for a FREE consultation 800-410-1111

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Michael A. Brownstein, Esq. 

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Education

University of Michigan

New England Law

New York State Trial Lawyers Association

National institute for Trial Advocacy 

 

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice 

New York

Florida

District of Columbia

U.S. District Court, Eastern & Southern Districts of New York 

 

Philanthropy

Air Force Aid Society

Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation

Navy SEAL Foundation

 

Television Appearances 

Michael has appeared on television more than 1,000 times. ​​​​

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