Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
Construction is one of the most dangerous industries to work in. Working from heights and relying on cranes and complex machinery can all increase the risk of being injured on a Bronx construction site. When injuries occur, they are often severe. Our work injury lawyers may help you seek workers’ compensation and a third-party claim after job site injuries.
If you were injured in a construction accident, contact a qualified Bronx construction accident lawyer who can review your case and explain your options. At Shulman & Hill, we can work with you through every step of your case to ensure you have the best chance possible of receiving compensation. Contact us for your free initial consultation with our work injury team.
Why Hire a Bronx Construction Accident Lawyer From Shulman & Hill?
If you are injured on a construction site, it could be helpful to work with a qualified construction accident attorney. With the right team to help, you can seek compensation for your injuries and lost income. Some of the ways that a Bronx construction accident lawyer from our firm can help you include:
- Setting up a free legal consultation to discuss your case in detail to see how they may be able to assist
- Investigating the case, conducting research, and gathering the evidence necessary to help you build a strong case
- Working with other relevant parties, such as expert witnesses
- Negotiating with insurance companies to reach a fair settlement
- Answering any legal questions you may have
- Filing paperwork on time
- Representing you in court if the case goes to trial
What You Should Know About Workers’ Compensation After a Bronx Construction Accident
New York requires most employers to provide workers’ compensation insurance for all employees. If you work for a company, you may have access to workers’ compensation benefits after your accident and injuries.
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault policy that provides benefits to injured workers. If your injuries occurred at work or are work-related, you could receive:
- Medical care coverage
- Income loss benefits
- Death benefits for families whose loved one died from their injuries
Getting approved for and receiving these benefits is not always easy. We have Bronx workers’ compensation lawyers that help clients handle their claims and fight for the benefits promised by this coverage. Our team can review your case for free and discuss your options for compensation during a free initial consultation.
We Can Manage Both of Your Cases in the Bronx
Hiring a work injury lawyer from Shulman & Hill to handle your construction accident case has significant advantages over many other firms. Injured workers often need to hire two separate firms if they suffer a job site injury. This is because they have two separate cases:
- The workers’ compensation claim
- The personal injury case against the liable party
Shulman & Hill has both a workers’ compensation and a personal injury department. This allows us to handle both cases when necessary. Many injured workers struggle to ensure both law firms have access to evidence and communicate with one another about the case. The victim often puts in a lot of work as a go-between for the firms instead of focusing on healing.
With Shulman & Hill on your side, you do not need to worry about this. Both of your cases progress under the same roof. The attorneys handling them are on the same team, have access to the same evidence, and give you the opportunity to worry only about your treatment and rehabilitation.
Who May Be Liable for a Construction Accident?
In addition to workers’ compensation claims, injured construction workers may have a valid personal injury case against a liable third party. New York law will not allow you to sue your employer, but if another party caused your accident, you may be able to act.
One of the jobs of a Bronx construction accident lawyer is to determine liability for the accident. Knowing who is liable will make it easier to file the claim and work on getting the client the necessary compensation they may be entitled to. Determining liability after an accident can be complicated. Therefore, it could be immensely helpful to work with a qualified attorney. A legal professional can conduct the investigations and research needed to determine who is liable.
Depending on what happened in your construction accident, it is possible that one or more parties will be liable for damages. Some of these include:
- Property owners
- General contractors
- Subcontractors
- Other companies, such as a manufacturer of a defective power tool
How to Determine Liability in a Bronx Construction Accident Case
Our construction accident attorneys can use a few different factors to determine who is liable for the accident. Some of the factors we may look to include:
Location of the Accident
Construction workers perform various jobs in different places, meaning that they may work at different sites based on the job they do. The location where the accident occurs can help determine who is liable. Sometimes, the property owner owes workers a certain duty of care and may be liable.
Conditions of the Accident Site
All construction sites must be kept in a reasonably safe condition, which includes remaining free from tripping and slipping hazards and being free from sharp projections which could cause injuries. If the job site was kept in disarray, and you tripped, slipped, or were otherwise injured as a result, you may have a case against the property owner and/or general contractor.
Defective Equipment
If there is faulty or defective equipment on the job site, which the contractors or owners knew about, and as a result, you were injured by the defective equipment, then there may be a liability against the contractors or owners. Manufacturers of defective tools or equipment might also be liable under some circumstances.
Elevation and Height Risks
If a construction worker fell from a height because they were not provided with an adequate safety device, or if the device they were provided (i.e., ladder, scaffold) failed in some way and the worker was injured, the contractor, owner, or potentially the equipment manufacturer in the event of a device failure, may all be held liable.
A contractor or owner may also be liable if a worker is injured by an object that fell while it was being hoisted or was supposed to be secured for the purpose of the work.
Our team prides itself on our track record of identifying potentially negligent third parties and holding them accountable for construction site injuries. Because many of our clients need to focus on healing and recuperating after an accident, they appreciate our help with filing claims and pursuing compensation on their behalf. Our Bronx construction accident lawyers have the skills and resources to properly investigate your case and find evidence to bolster your personal injury claim.
Common Construction Accidents in the Bronx
According to statistics from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), about 20 percent of workplace fatalities in the United States happen at construction sites. This does not account for the countless other types of accidents that may happen on a construction site that do not result in death.
Some of the common accidents that can occur on a Bronx construction site include–but are not limited to–the following:
- Hoist or crane accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Falls from heights
- Injuries from falling objects
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Electrocution accidents
- Gas leaks and explosions
- Trench and tunnel accidents
- Forklift accidents
- Electrocutions
- Elevator shaft accidents
- Machinery accidents
Construction sites have many risks, requiring careful training and oversight in addition to stringent laws and regulations. While it is important to be safe on construction sites to avoid injuries, your employer and any relevant third parties (property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, etc.) should have guidelines in place to make sure workers do not get hurt.
If an accident occurs, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Moreover, you might have the opportunity to seek compensation by initiating a lawsuit against negligent third parties. While these are distinct legal matters, our lawyers are adept at handling both. Your case’s specifics will dictate the best course of action. Our Bronx workers’ compensation lawyers will explore your options.
Contact one of our professional, skilled attorneys for a free legal consultation. We provide these case assessments so injured construction workers in the Bronx can understand their next steps and how to navigate their options following an injury.