Construction site accidents can happen on any job that involves some sort of construction, such as a new building, bridge or road work. These incidents may occur on publicly-owned land or private property. This means that different rules and safety features might be in place depending on the location of the accident. It is therefore advisable to seek legal advice as soon as possible if you have been involved in a construction site accident.

A construction worker is unfortunately constantly at risk of being injured while on the job by heavy machinery, falling objects, slippery and uneven floors, debris and many different types of accidents that can occur when working on construction sites.

At Jaroslawicz & Jaros we handle all types of construction defect cases, including those involving faulty scaffolding and falls from ladders and roofs. The lawyers at Jaroslawicz & Jaros have successfully handled hundreds of construction accident cases working with experts to fully investigate these accidents and determine how serious the injuries are so that the most complete recovery can be obtained.

Our firm has recovered millions of dollars in out-of-court settlements with over 100 cases resulting in settlements and verdicts of over $1 million dollars.

Jaroslawicz & Jaros was not only successful in obtaining a $44 Million jury verdict for an injured construction worker, the largest such verdict in New York, but for over 40 years has helped develop, and make the law in this area, by writing the briefs and then arguing the appeals, at all levels of the State Appellate Courts, including New York’s highest court, the New York State Court of Appeals in Albany, New York, as well as at all levels of the federal courts.

Because construction litigation, also at times referred to as the “Labor Law,” requires detailed legal knowledge and expertise that the average attorney may not possess, it is important that you select a law firm with a proven track record of success in this area of the law.

Unfortunately, construction work is dangerous work, where the slightest error or misstep can often cause very serious injuries. This is especially the case when project bosses feel that safety needs to take a backseat to speed. When corners are cut, the results can be life changing.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has identified the top three causes of construction accidents as:

• Falls (from ladders, scaffolds and roofs);
• Being struck by a falling object;
• Electrocutions (touching electrical wiring).

These should all be preventable injuries that can be avoided with proper safety equipment, training, inspections, supervision, and enforcement.

When someone is injured while working on a construction project, it is often possible to find a “third party” who may be liable who is other than the injured worker’s employer. This is important because while Workers’ Compensation benefits do not provide compensation for the pain and suffering that a person endures as a result of an accident, in a “third-party” action, you may receive compensation for your pain and suffering, as well as all past and future lost wages and medical needs-these are all recoverable as damages.

Construction workers may be injured in many ways:

Falls from ladders, scaffolds or roofs:

When working from heights the slightest misstep can result in a fall from a height with devastating injuries. There are many safety rules in place to try and avoid such accidents. Unfortunately, the rules are not always observed and followed.

Slip or trip accidents:

Slip or trip accidents happen when someone slips on a wet floor or trips over an object or debris on the floor. Floors must be clean so that workers do not slip or trip. Walkways must be kept free from debris. Holes in floors must be protected and covered.

Struck by object accidents:

These types of accidents occur when someone is struck by equipment or machinery or by falling building materials, tools, tanks or other objects. While working in elevated construction sites leads to many injuries caused by falls, there are also many injuries caused when objects fall from heights – striking the workers below. Falling objects do not have to be large to severely injure someone as a small hand tool dropped from a floor above can cause serious injury.

Hit by a vehicle accident:

Motor vehicles and tractors must move around on construction sites. Some of the largest vehicles are at construction sites. From huge cranes and cement pourers to heavy forklifts and dozers, these are huge, heavy vehicles that have extraordinary power. One wrong move by an operator can be fatal, as can a misunderstanding of how a vehicle operates by someone who is not used to being around them. Construction sites are especially dangerous places to operate machinery since visibility and working surfaces are often very different to the conditions you would find on the road.

Electric Shocks:

Construction workers often come into contact with machinery and exposed infrastructure.

While there are strict procedures for working around electricity, these aren’t always followed to the letter – leaving people exposed to the possibility of serious burns, internal injuries, or even death.

Crane collapse:

The firm of Jaroslawicz & Jaros has been involved as lead counsel in cases involving cranes that collapsed on construction sites in New York City. In one case, we wrote and argued the appeal before the higher court where the appellate court upheld Jaroslawicz & Jaros’ claim for its client’s emotional distress in the 51st Street crane collapse.

There are many other types of accidents that can occur on construction sites. A construction site personal injury accident lawyer can help you to determine who was at fault for your accident and assist you in obtaining the compensation you are entitled to.

Construction accident claims may be complicated because more than one company is often at fault.

In some instances, what is called a “third party” may be to blame for the injuries that occurred on the job site. When a construction site accident occurs, the owners, architects, and manufacturers of equipment can all, at times, be held responsible for inadequate safety provisions. The general contractor and all subcontractors are also all required to provide a reasonably safe work site, to warn of any hazards at the site and work activities, to hire safe and careful employees, to coordinate job safety, and to supervise compliance with safety specifications, rules, and regulations.

Lawsuits associated with construction accidents require specific legal knowledge to prove which entity or Third Party was at fault for the accident and if any laws or safety rules were violated.

Because of the seriousness of the injuries suffered on construction sites, and the fact that it is common knowledge that all the “safety rules” are not always followed, the State of New York passed what is called the “Labor Law”-this law is specifically designed to protect injured construction workers. If any third party is found to have been negligent or to have violated the Labor Law Rules & Regulations then the only question is-What is my case worth?

Construction accident claimants should have a construction accident lawyer who understands the complexities involved in these types of cases.

Construction accidents settlements and verdicts

At Jaroslawicz & Jaros these are just some of our past results.

• $44 Million verdict in a construction accident case for a client who was injured when he fell from a wall on a construction site. This was the largest verdict of its kind in New York history.
• $4.9 Million settlement for damage to a building, which occurred due to the construction of an adjacent building.
• $3.5 Million settlement for a 37-year-old construction worker injured when he slipped while working
• $3.5 Million settlement for a 52-year-old construction worker injured when a spinning drill struck his knee
• $3.5 Million settlement for a 46-year-old construction worker who injured his knee when struck by tool
• $3.1 Million settlement for a laborer who was struck by a falling object while on a construction job.
• $2.85 Million settlement for a 31-year-old construction worker whose leg was injured by a falling object
• $2.5 Million settlement for a 45-year-old construction worker who injured his back on a ramp
• $2.5 Million settlement for a 25-year-old construction worker who injured his neck and back when wood fell from a height
• $2.1 Million settlement for a 27-year-old construction worker who injured his neck and back when he fell on truck

The attorneys at Jaroslawicz & Jaros have handled numerous cases involving people who have suffered serious injuries while working on construction projects, including falling off of ladders or scaffolds, falling into trenches or off roofs, being injured by falling pipes and other objects, stepping on debris, getting injured by machinery and many other fact patterns.

If you have been injured in a construction accident, call the experienced construction accident lawyers at Jaroslawicz & Jaros to find out if in addition to receiving your Workers’ Compensation benefits you may also file a Third-Party personal injury Labor Law claim.

Our free consultation is there to help you understand if you’ve potentially got a case. We’ve successfully represented thousands of injured workers.

If you’ve been injured in a construction accident, you need legal help. Construction sites are often incredibly dangerous and can cause serious and sometimes permanent injuries. If you were injured you may be facing medical bills and also missed time from work.

The attorneys at Jaroslawicz & Jaros are experienced construction accident lawyers who can help you get the compensation you deserve.