Construction equipment accidents are quite common on construction sites. They can involve dangerous falls from equipment like ladders, struck-by injuries resulting from poorly loaded cranes, backover injuries from negligently serviced cranes or other vehicles, as well as many other kinds of accidents. Much too often, construction equipment accidents result in debilitating and fatal injuries. If you or someone you love sustained injuries in one of these accidents on a construction site, an experienced New York construction accident lawyers at our firm can help you. In the meantime, the following are five things to know about construction equipment accidents in New York.
1. Dangerous Equipment Can Take Many Forms
Equipment injuries can occur on many different kinds of equipment and for a variety of reasons, including lack of proper safety protocols, negligent maintenance of machinery and other equipment, improperly training workers on equipment, or equipment defects. Equipment injuries can include large vehicles like cranes and bulldozers, saws, and even ladders.
2. You Will Likely be Able to Seek Workers’ Compensation Benefits
For most equipment accidents on construction sites, injured workers will be eligible to seek workers’ compensation benefits.
3. You May be Eligible to File a Lawsuit Against Your Employer Under New York Labor Law
New York Labor Law also allows injured construction workers to sue employers for negligence on construction sites when an injury occurs. While most states do not have these kinds of protections for construction workers, it is essential to know that New York does and that you may be able to file a lawsuit.
4. You May be Able to Sue a Manufacturer if Defective Equipment Caused the Injury
Lawsuits for construction accidents can also be filed against manufacturers or other parties responsible for equipment defects that result in injuries.
5. Wrongful Death Claims are Possible in Construction Equipment Accidents
While nobody ever wants to consider the possibility of losing a loved one on a New York construction site in an accident involving a piece of equipment, these accidents are actually much more common than you might suspect. The construction industry is among the most dangerous industries in which a person can work, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that approximately one out of every five workers deaths in 2020 occurred in the construction industry. If you lost a loved one in a construction equipment accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim as well as seeking death benefits through the New York workers’ compensation system.
Contact a Construction Accident Lawyer in New York
Were you injured in an equipment accident on a construction site, or was a loved one severely fatally injured as a result of an equipment accident? Let our experienced New York construction accident attorneys help you seek the financial compensation you deserve. New York Labor Law is unique in allowing injury victims and families to sue for compensation after a construction accident when the employer’s negligence caused the injury. Contact Leitner Varughese Warywoda PLLC for more information about how we can assist you with your case.
