Building Collapses
The attorneys at Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C. know that the safety of construction workers is not always first on the priority list for certain developers and construction companies. If it were, then there would not be so many instances of injuries and fatalities in construction site collapses.
But that is an all-too-familiar scene in our city, with several construction workers injured or killed by collapsing buildings in recent months. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a construction accident, contact the workplace injury attorneys at Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C. at 1.800.966.4999 or fill out our online contact form for a free case evaluation.
Due to the age of some New York City buildings and the continued efforts to develop real estate opportunities in the city, collapses have become almost routine events at construction sites.
Just in the last few months, there have been multiple injuries from building collapses at jobsites. On April 3, 2009, a 5-story building in a lot adjacent to a construction site collapsed at 6 a.m. in TriBeCa. Luckily, the building collapsed so early no one was there to be injured. If the collapse had happened two hours later, the area would have been filled with people. As it was, the only victim was a blue Crown Victoria.
The companies working on the building had been cited for multiple safety violations by the city. The building’s owners were waiting for the city to approve a permit to demolish the 153-year-old building. When construction on a residential building in an adjacent lot appeared to cause increased crumbling and cracking to the older structure, a partial stop-work order was issued to the construction site. This safety measure was a little too late, however, and the building collapsed days later.
Little more than a month earlier, workers and patrons at a pizzeria in Harlem were not so lucky when a wall between a construction site and the restaurant collapsed. Eleven people were injured, including five construction workers.
When buildings collapse on or near construction sites injuring or killing workers and onlookers, who is to blame? In situations like these, the liability for any injuries or death could rest with several parties. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you hold the wrongdoers accountable.
- We’ll work together with investigators, architects and/or engineers to find out why it collapsed and who is responsible.
- Those parties that may be responsible, including owners, managing agents, construction managers, contractors, subcontractors and supervisors, will also be served with notices to take deposition and questioned to determine if the workers on the site, as well as the public, were adequately protected from potential injuries.
If you have been injured in a building collapse accident, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation for your injuries. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation rarely provides enough money for all the damages you sustain due to an accident. Often, the workers’ compensation benefits do not even cover all of your lost earnings.
Almost two-thirds of employees injured on the job do not realize that often they can collect workers’ compensation benefits and also sue persons or parties other than their employer for money damages. Responsible parties for your injuries may include:
- The owner of the building or structure;
- The general or prime contractor;
- The project or construction manager;
- Other contractors and subcontractors;
- Even equipment manufacturers.
The experienced personal injury attorneys at Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C. know exactly what questions to ask in these situations and can help if you have been injured in a construction accident. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a collapsed building on the job, then contact Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C. for help with your claim. Keep in mind that you only have a limited amount of time after your accident to file any claims against the City of New York, so don’t delay.
When you suffer an injury at a construction site, you need the New York lawyers of Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C. at your side. Our attorneys are well-prepared to handle all your legal needs. Call us at 1.800.966.4999 or fill out our online contact form for a free case evaluation. We will fight for you!
