A man lost his life after falling from an 80-foot drop on a construction site.
In early April 2014, a New York construction worker lost his life in a scaffolding accident outside a Midtown hotel. The accident ensued after the worker fell from scaffolding at 210 West 55th Street near Broadway.
The employee was working on the front portion of the structure, using a scaffold. In the accident, the man dropped approximately 80 feet to an unprotected area, according to the Department of Buildings. Witnesses nearby were plagued with a horrifying view of the incident.
Before the accident, those who observed the worksite allegedly questioned whether proper precautions were in place. According to nearby onlookers, the construction worker was approximately eight floors above the street when he fell. The man’s body landed on the scaffolding above the entrance of the hotel below – in view of those around.
The renovation of the hotel had been ongoing for almost one full year. Pursuant to the incident, the Department of Buildings put construction to a halt and issued a citation for “failure to safeguard persons or property affected by construction operations.”
Unfortunately, this construction accident resulted in the worst possible scenario – death. However, this is a common result of construction accidents involving scaffolding falls.
Pursuant to a scaffolding fall, it is important to decipher what caused the particular worksite accident. In fact, accident scene reconstructionists, safety experts and engineers often rush to the scene after an incident in an effort to investigate what happened and to help assess liability. Many times, the following issues can lead to this type of accident:
While these issues commonly lead to a scaffolding accident, every incident is unique. Investigators look at matters on a case-by-case basis.
Worksite accidents and workers’ compensation laws have a unique intersection with personal injury issues; however, the systems are very different. As a result, it is important to retain legal assistance after a workplace accident, as the legal complexities can be overwhelming and difficult to understand.
If you or your loved one was involved in a scaffolding accident, it may help to retain an attorney who can protect your interests. A legal professional will help determine the cause of the workplace accident and help decipher the type of compensation you are entitled to. Depending on the situation, you could receive recovery for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. To learn more, speak with a lawyer in the area.
Keywords: construction, accident, scaffolding, workers’ compensation
