Staten Island Construction Accident Lawyer
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Content reviewed by: Alex Shulman
- Last updated: Aug. 27, 2024
Staten Island is experiencing a population boom, which means new construction projects, like Skanska’s Staten Island waterfront project, are popping up all over the borough. This growth brings new economic opportunities, but the constant construction also brings more potential for construction accidents.
As a Staten Island construction worker, you likely take all necessary steps to ensure your and your coworkers’ safety. However, this does not guarantee you will never be involved in an accident. You have no control over many factors on worksites, and it is possible to be injured in an accident through no fault of your own.
While you will hopefully never be in a construction accident, you may sustain injuries that could leave you facing medical bills, lost wages, and similar hardships. In most cases, you can recover compensation for such losses, even if you are an immigrant, undocumented, or non-union worker.
Review your case with a Staten Island construction accident lawyer at Shulman & Hill to learn more. Our personal injury attorneys can discuss your options and provide the aggressive representation you seek.
Our Staten Island Construction Accident Attorneys Are Here to Help
At Shulman & Hill, no construction accident case is too significant, complex, or challenging for our experienced attorneys. With over a decade of experience representing injured New Yorkers, we have helped countless construction workers recover the compensation they need to move forward after a workplace accident.
Our emphasis on personalized service and maximum results has allowed us to recover $500 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients, including many multi-million dollar recoveries for construction accident victims and their families.
Our reputation for client-focused representation and maximized results has won us many accolades, including New York Super Lawyers, Attorney and Practice Magazine’s Top 10 Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Award, and The National Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers list.
When you turn to our attorneys, we’ll pursue all possible sources of compensation on your behalf. We handle third-party personal injury lawsuits and workers’ compensation cases in-house, so you don’t have to worry about hiring multiple firms or juggling different legal teams. We’ll manage all aspects of your case, from investigation and evidence gathering to negotiations and litigation, if necessary.
We recognize immigrants’ vital role in Staten Island’s construction industry and proudly represent them when they get injured on the job. As a multilingual law firm, our attorneys speak Spanish, Russian, and English, so we’re ready to provide quality representation in your preferred language.
Construction Accident Case Results From Shulman & Hill
Staten Island Construction Accident Case Process
No two construction accident cases are the same. Workers’ compensation covers most injured construction workers. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system in New York, meaning employees can receive compensation for work-related injuries no matter who caused the accident. Injured employees may seek compensation for medical care, lost wages, and disability.
Shulman & Hill obtained a $2,500,000 settlement for a non-union laborer
Shulman & Hill obtained a $2,000,000 settlement for an immigrant laborer
Shulman & Hill obtained a $1,175,000 settlement for a 29-year-old construction worker
Shulman & Hill obtained a $1,500,000 settlement for an undocumented day laborer
Shulman & Hill obtained a $1,500,000 settlement for a bus driver
You typically can’t sue your employer for your injuries, but you may be eligible to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against other parties responsible for your accident, such as equipment manufacturers, third-party contractors, and property owners.
While every case is unique, there are some general steps that most cases will follow. The amount of time each step takes varies from case to case, but the Staten Island construction accident case process typically involves the following:
- Free consultation: First, we’ll offer a free consultation to discuss the details of your case. We will learn about what happened and determine how we can help you.
- Investigation: If we agree to proceed with your case, we’ll begin an investigation and gather evidence to support your claim. This process may involve obtaining accident reports, witness statements, medical records, and other relevant information. We’ll determine the cause of the accident, identify any negligent third parties, and demonstrate how the accident caused your injuries.
- Calculating your damages: We’ll work with medical experts to determine the full extent of your injuries and how they will impact your life, now and in the future. Our construction accident attorneys will also calculate your economic losses, such as medical expenses and lost wages.
- Documentation and paperwork: Our attorneys will handle all the necessary paperwork and filings on your behalf, whether we’re pursuing workers’ compensation benefits or a personal injury lawsuit. These steps may include filing a C-3 form with the state Workers’ Compensation Board or submitting a personal injury demand letter to the liable party.
- Settlement negotiation: We can often resolve construction accident cases through settlement negotiations with the insurance company or liable party. Our construction injury lawyers will negotiate on your behalf to secure a fair settlement.
- Representation in hearings or trial: If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we won’t hesitate to take your case to trial or a workers’ compensation hearing. We will be prepared to present a strong case before a judge or jury.
Our team will treat you compassionately throughout the process and ensure you receive proper medical treatment for your injuries. Such was the case when we represented Rickford, who found comfort in our frequent calls to check on him. As with all our construction accident clients, we made sure he made all his medical appointments and inquired afterward about how they went.
We also connected him with trustworthy doctors and sought a variety of medical perspectives to ensure we had an accurate understanding of his injuries and resulting pain. These efforts were one of the reasons we secured a seven-figure settlement on his behalf.
Recovering Damages in Staten Island Construction Cases
Your construction accident case’s value depends on various case-specific factors. The compensation you can pursue depends on the type of claim you pursue.
In a workers’ compensation claim, you may seek medical coverage, replacement of lost wages, and disability benefits. However, in a personal injury lawsuit, you can pursue economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover financial losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and lost earning capacity. In contrast, non-economic damages compensate for non-monetary impacts on your life, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Our Staten Island construction accident lawyers can determine your case’s value after thoroughly investigating the accident and your damages. We will need as many details as possible to develop a compelling case for maximum compensation. We’ll pull from evidence for some information and ask you about the accident and its impact on your life. We aim to help you secure compensation that covers all your damages so you have no out-of-pocket expenses or continued financial strain.
The insurance company may try to shift the blame to you to reduce your compensation, but we won’t let that happen. When the insurance company argued that our client, a security guard who slipped and fell on ice at a construction site, was at fault for his injury, our attorneys obtained a $750,000 settlement. This compensation allowed him to cover medical bills for his neck surgery and other damages.
We also obtained a $750,000 settlement for an immigrant laborer who fell from a roof at a construction site. The defendants failed to provide our client with proper safety devices in violation of New York State Labor Law 240, resulting in severe injuries to his right shoulder and other parts of his body.
Understanding the Timing of a Construction Accident Case
Your construction accident case is subject to several deadlines. New York’s statute of limitations for workers’ compensation claims is two years from the date of the accident. State law also requires you to notify your employer of your injury within 30 days. If you’re filing a third-party personal injury claim against a non-employer, you have three years to do so under New York’s personal injury statute of limitations.
New York City Local Law 78 also requires the people in charge of the construction site to report the accident to the city within three business days. Similarly, if a state government entity is responsible for your accident, Section 10 of the Court of Claims Act requires you to notify the state of your intent to file a claim against it within 90 days.
Aside from these deadlines, every case has a different time frame. We will constantly communicate with you to ensure your case moves forward promptly. The sooner you contact us, the better our chances are of building a strong construction accident case and obtaining the compensation you deserve.
"As soon as you get injured, call Shulman & Hill. If you're not sure about what you're doing or how the process goes, they have all the information."
What To Do if You've Been in a Construction Accident in Staten Island
Shulman & Hill is the team to turn to when you’ve been in a Staten Island construction accident. We encourage you to contact us soon after your injury, even if you are concerned about your non-union, immigrant, or undocumented status affecting your case. You have rights, and we have the experience to protect them and fight for you.
In addition to contacting our team, be sure to do the following:
- Seek medical attention even if your injuries seem minor
- If you are worried about seeking medical attention as an immigrant in New York City, you have rights.
- Report the accident to your employer.
- Take photos of the accident scene and any visible injuries.
- Collect contact information and statements from any witnesses.
- Keep records of all medical treatments, expenses, and lost wages related to the accident.
You can contact us even if you have not yet received all the necessary medical care. When our client Rickford contacted us with his workers’ compensation case, we helped him get an immediate surgery date after another law firm failed to do so.
What Do I Do if My Family Member or Loved One Was Injured or Killed in a Construction Accident?
Some accidents may be fatal, and others may result in severe disabilities that affect a person’s ability to speak up for themselves. Shulman & Hill has experience with these cases. Our team can help you get the justice and compensation your family deserves.
New York’s workers’ compensation system provides survivor benefits for surviving spouses, minor children, and other dependents. These benefits are a weekly cash benefit equal to two-thirds of the deceased worker’s average wage for the year leading up to the accident. If the deceased had no surviving dependents, their surviving parents may be eligible for a $50,000 payment.
If you have a wrongful death case against a third party, you may also be eligible for compensation for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and emotional damages. You must file a third-party wrongful death claim within two years of your loved one’s death.
What Leads to Construction Accident Injuries?
Staten Island had the fewest construction accidents of the five NYC boroughs in 2022. However, Staten Island had the second-highest number of new building permits. Therefore, these numbers will likely increase in the coming years.
Regardless, construction accidents do occur in Staten Island. Falls are the most common type of accident. Common causes of construction accident injuries include the following:
- Inadequate or faulty safety equipment
- Improper safety training
- Building collapse
- Equipment malfunctions
- Slips and falls on debris
- Scaffolding failure
- Electrical accidents
- Falling objects or materials
- Being struck by moving machinery
- Crane accidents
- Trench and excavation collapses
- Forklift accidents
- Chemical exposure
At Shulman & Hill, we’ve represented clients injured in these types of accidents and more. Whether you’ve fallen from a scaffold or been electrocuted due to faulty wiring, we are uniquely positioned to handle your construction accident case.
Rely on the Team at Shulman & Hill
You shouldn’t have to worry about navigating the legal system while recovering from a Staten Island construction accident injury. That’s why Shulman & Hill is here to help you every step of the way. We redefine the level of service you expect from a law firm through open communication, attention to detail, and vigorous representation.
If you or a loved one has suffered a construction accident injury in Staten Island, contact us today or call (212) 221-1000 for a free consultation or to answer any questions We also serve clients in other locations . Let us be your trusted legal advocates during this difficult time.