Long Island City Fall from Heights Lawyer
Construction can be a very dangerous job, especially in industrial areas like Long Island City. There is always a risk of falling at one of the worksites and suffering from a serious injury or even a fatality. If you or a loved one have been injured by a fall from an extreme height, contact a Long Island City attorney right away.
Shulman & Hill has helped numerous workers recover fair compensation for their injuries. Schedule your free legal consultation to learn more.
Long Island City Fall from Heights Statistics
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction has more work-related deaths than any other industry in New York City. In 2019, worksite injuries spiked by 221% compared to the previous five years. A greater number of construction projects and a sometimes loose adherence to safety standards may have contributed to this increase in workplace injuries. Falls from heights are among the most serious construction-related accidents.
Who is at Risk for a Long Island City Fall from Heights Accident?
Remodeling old properties and building new ones in Long Island City pose safety risks for workers as well as those passing by. Pedestrians can be hit by falling objects from construction sites. However, it is much more likely that a construction worker will be harmed in a fall accident either from an object striking them from above, or from falling off an elevated surface.
If all parties follow safety best practices, like OSHA guidelines, most fall hazards should be prevented. OSHA has a list of specific policies for construction sites to follow due to the risky nature of the work. These guidelines include regulations for covering open holes, adding rails to open platform sides and walkways, providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers, and many other necessary safety steps to reduce the risk of fall injuries as much as possible.
Construction sites are often pressured by strict deadlines that can tempt them to cut corners and violate safety regulations. When this happens, it can have devastating consequences. A 2017 study by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health found that 90% of New York construction-related fatalities occurred at construction sites that had safety violations.
If you or a loved one were injured and believe that a lack of oversight for worker safety contributed to your accident, a Long Island City attorney may be able to help you recover compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Common Long Island City Fall from Heights Injuries
Falls, especially at a construction worksite, can be very serious. These accidents can lead to one or more of the following injuries:
- Torn ligaments and tendons
- Sprains, fractures, or broken bones in the wrists, ankles, elbows, shoulders, hands, or feet
- Damage to the spinal cord
- Traumatic brain injury
- Death
Some of these injuries can be permanent and affect your ability to work for the rest of your life. Injuries that affect mobility or nerve function can cause permanent health issues. You may also face a sharp drop in income if you are not able to work in the same manner that you could before the fall, even if it is just temporary.
At Shulman & Hill, our experienced attorneys can help you pursue the best course of action given the circumstances surrounding your accident. We can assist you through every step of the process of filing a claim for workers’ compensation. If a party other than your employer may have contributed to your accident, we can also help you file a personal injury lawsuit.
Fall Risks in Long Island City
Though falls can occur in many places, construction sites pose a high risk for falls from heights. Guardrails, toe boards, and other measures are supposed to mitigate the falling risk, but they may be absent or inadequate. Fall from height injuries can be caused by:
- Scaffolding collapse
- Crane accidents
- Unsecured ladders
- Unsecured tools or other items
- Lack of proper safety protection
- Faulty flooring
- Insufficient training
At many worksites, more than one of these risks may be present.
How Can a Long Island City Falls From Heights Lawyer Help Me?
There are many reasons to seek out a qualified fall from heights accident lawyer when you are injured at your job. Filing a workers’ compensation claim can be tedious without the support of a professional attorney. Our lawyers at Shulman & Hill can ensure that the process is completed thoroughly, greatly reducing the chance for delays or denials.
If you are filing a personal injury lawsuit, a lawyer can help investigate your accident and identify potentially negligent parties. They can also review the full extent of your losses to ensure you do not accept a settlement that is too low, and negotiate with the insurance companies to help you obtain fair compensation. A Long Island City personal injury can handle all of the necessary paperwork and correspondence with insurance companies as well.
Why Choose Shulman & Hill?
Seeking help from a skilled Long Island City fall from heights accident lawyer is one of the best ways to maximize your chances of getting fair compensation for your accident. Medical costs are expensive, and with the cost of living in New York City being so high, many people cannot afford a significant decrease in their income.
Our attorneys at Shulman & Hill will provide their expert investigative and litigation expertise to help you seek justice so that you can focus on your recovery. If you have been hurt in a fall accident in Long Island City, contact Shulman & Hill as soon as possible.
WE WORK WITH YOU
TO GET YOU COMPENSATED
Everyday working people often struggle to afford top-tier legal representation. To ensure equal access to justice, we work on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no attorneys’ fees unless we achieve a settlement or verdict in your case.