New York City Falls From Heights Lawyer
Falling from heights can put you at risk of serious injuries and even death. As one might expect, injuries place a costly burden on your income, expenses, and family. New York City construction workers are at a heightened risk for severe or fatal injuries. In fact, nearly one in four construction injuries and fatalities are due to falls.
Whether you are working on a bridge, scaffolding, or ladder, you may find yourself in need of a New York City falls from heights lawyer. Fortunately, New York workers are specially protected under labor laws. In fact, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation if you sustain an injury from a fall. Working with personal injury lawyers at a firm like Shulman & Hill can be a huge help when embarking on this process.
New York City Fall From Heights Accident: Who Is Most At Risk?
Although everyone who puts themselves on an elevated, non-enclosed surface may be at risk for falling from an extreme height, construction workers are at most risk. Because construction workers regularly put their life on the line to construct and repair tall structures, they run the risk of obtaining serious injuries. To make matters worse, many construction sites do not properly follow rigorous safety guidelines.
In 2017, the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health stated that around 90% of construction fatality sites had safety violations. Workers’ falls are largely attributed to these safety violations.
Common Reasons Workers Fall From Heights in New York City
As previously mentioned, construction workers are especially at risk of falling from extreme heights. Several things can cause a construction worker to fall. Weather, lack of protection, and insufficient training are among the most common reasons for falls at the workplace. Workers can fall from heights due to issues with the surface they are working on as well. The lack of guardrails or a hole in an unfinished floor can easily cause workers to fall from an extreme height. Even so much as climbing a ladder can cause this issue.
Below are some common reasons for a fall from an extreme height:
- Faulty flooring
- Inclement weather
- Lack of guard rails
- Lack of protection
- Insufficient training
If you are unsure if the cause of your accident would qualify for compensation, reach out to a fall from heights lawyer at Shulman & Hill for help. Our team can help explain your legal rights.
How a New York Fall From Heights Attorney Can Help
If you have fallen from an extreme height, you should consider hiring a fall from heights lawyer as soon as possible. Falling, especially at a construction site, can lead to several severe injuries. This can make it difficult to continue working your current job or find a new one in the future.
Below is a list of some of the most common consequences of a fall from heights accident on a construction site:
- Ankle injuries
- Wrist injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Torn ligaments
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Death
Unfortunately, construction site falls often result in more than one of these injuries at one time. The higher the fall, the more severe the injuries may be. More severe injuries pose a greater risk to your life and financial security. Because of how detrimental a fall can be on you and your family’s health and well-being, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation for any workplace injuries.
New York Scaffolding Law
One of the most important things to know about filing a claim after a fall from heights accident is the New York Scaffolding Law, or Labor Law 240. This law covers most fall accidents that occur on construction sites. Simply put, this law holds general contractors and property owners accountable for falls when there was a failure to provide adequate safety equipment. As a result, anyone injured as a result of falling debris, tools, or construction materials may be able to pursue compensation accordingly.
To get a better understanding of this law, you should contact a New York City fall from heights lawyer. Our attorneys at Shulman & Hill are well aware of the intricacies of Labor Law 240 and can help you pursue compensation.
Wrongful Death
In worst-case scenarios, a fall may result in a fatality. As one might expect, falling from a bridge or other extreme height puts the victim in grave danger.
If a loved one has died due to a fall at a construction site, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. A wrongful death lawsuit will not fill the void in your life left by your loved one’s passing, but it can help you recover from your financial losses. This is especially true if the deceased party was the sole wage earner in your family.
Why Choose Shulman & Hill?
Shulman & Hill is a prominent workers’ compensation and personal injury law firm in New York City. Our team of legal experts know how to fight on your behalf to increase your chances of maximizing compensation.
Shulman & Hill combines relentless legal determination with a compassionate mindset to help provide our clients the peace of mind needed for recovery. In fact, we work on a contingency-based model. This model allows us to review cases for free. If we determine that your case is worth pursuing, we will not charge you unless we win.
We want to assist you in any way we can. If you need help at any point in the legal process, be sure to reach out to us for a free case consultation. You can also give us a call at (555) 555-5555.
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.