The construction industry is the most dangerous industry to work in. Fatalities often result from construction injuries due to heavy machinery and tall structures. There have been more construction sites popping up in the recent years due to an increase in demand for residential and commercial properties. An accident should require the attention of a medical professional. Often, your body will produce adrenaline and it will mask the pain that you should feel. Gathering information regarding the accident is crucial. You should take photographs of the scene of the accident and any contributing factors that could have added to the accident. If there are any witnesses, gathering witness testimony can greatly help with your case.

When a construction accident causes harm to an employee, workers’ compensation laws will generally apply. However, the injured worker may hold the site owner, general contractor and manager liable. New York Labor Law Sec 200, 240(1), and 241(6) were enacted to offer extra protections to construction workers from the many dangers of construction work. When innocent people suffer injuries as the result of a construction accident, they may be able to also be eligible to recover damages by pursuing an injury claim. Contact a construction lawyer in NYC that can be a Guide to New York Labor Laws for you. Labor Law 240 states that a property owner and general contractor have a “nondelegable” duty to protect the workers. This means that even if another trade working at the site, was responsible for the hazards that cause your accident, the owner and general contactor are responsible. 

Labor Law 241 (6) states that in addition to labor law 240, an owner or general contactor can be at fault. This is when an owner fails to provide reasonable and adequate protection and safety to persons where there is construction, excavation or demolition work. Labor Law 200 states that an owner or contractor is at fault when they created a dangerous condition. This includes if there was notice given about the dangerous condition and did nothing to fix that. The OSHA discussed that the most frequent-suffered injuries that workers and bystanders experience when managers take inadequate steps to shield from risks. Injuries that occur as a result of falling from scaffolds and trauma from tool strikes or materials that dropped from high elevations. Electrocutions resulting from contact with high voltage electrical lines and tools can lead to a severe lawsuit with accountability on the owners.

There are roughly 150,000 construction accidents per year in the United States. For a decade, NYC was averaging about 20 construction worker deaths on the job per year. If you find yourself injured on a construction site, there are certain safety precautions that you need to take. Seek medical attention immediately.