Late in 2011, a catastrophic accident rattled the Brighton Beach neighborhood in Brooklyn. A five story apartment building, designed to house 14 condominium units, came crashing down during construction, burying five workers under a cascade of corrugated metal shards.
New York City firefighters scrambled to unearth the workers entombed beneath the rubble. All five were eventually freed; one of the workers (who had been outside the structure when it collapsed) declined treatment, while the other four were rushed to the hospital.
Three of the hospitalized workers were stabilized at Lutheran Medical center. One, 54-year-old worker, did not last through the night; he died shortly after the accident.
For injured workers and their families, the services of a New York construction accident attorney may be the only avenue to fair compensation and assurances that similar tragedies will be avoided in the future.
Construction Mistakes Blamed for Brooklyn Building's Downfall
Reportedly, improper building practices were being followed that may have contributed to the structural collapse. Concrete was being poured starting on the top floors and moving down; the reverse, although more labor intensive and costly, is considered to be safer.
An investigation exploring the exact cause of the collapse is still underway. However, the commissioner of the city Buildings Department told the New York Times that his organization believes that pouring concrete from the top down played a major role in the accident, causing the lower floors to buckle under the substantial weight of the wet cement.
Construction Accident Claims In New York
Construction lawsuits serve a dual purpose. Not only do such legal actions help injured victims (or the families of workers who are killed) secure the compensation they need, they also discourage unsafe construction practices.
Many workers incorrectly assume that workers' compensation is the only route to compensation for workplace injuries. While workers' compensation can be important, and it does limit the types of legal actions an employee can bring against his or her employer, it is not by any means the sole remedy for injured construction workers.
Third party suits against independent contractors, premises owners or occupiers, or others responsible for injuries can mean more compensation for workers and their families. Likewise, if a construction worker's employer failed to ensure stringent adherence to safety code standards, New York law allows for recovery above and beyond that provided through workers' compensation.
If you have been injured in a New York construction accident, contact an experienced construction accident attorney to explore the full range of legal options. If a workplace accident has impacted your life - whether you have personally suffered or seen a loved one meet an untimely end - you should do the same.
