Fall Accidents on Construction Sites

An experienced attorney can help you get back up.

Falls are a risk on any construction site, but doubly so in New York, where projects regularly span multiple floors high above street level. That’s why New York law requires construction companies to put safeguards in place to avoid falls. When those standards aren’t met, workers can be seriously hurt. You need a construction accident attorney to make things right.

Keogh Crispi, P.C. has a strong track record standing up for injured construction workers, including a $3.175 million recovery for a laborer who fell 22 feet from an unsecured ladder. If you’ve been hurt in a fall, we would be honored to hear your story. Contact us today for a free consultation.

New York’s laws protect construction workers from fall hazards.

Perhaps the most discussed law regarding falls on construction sites in New York is Labor Law 240, the “Scaffold Law.” Labor Law 240 establishes that general contractors and property owners (except owners of one- and two-family dwellings) are responsible for providing fall protection for workers on construction sites, with specific pieces of equipment needed for specific levels of elevation. If you were working at height and fell (or if someone or something fell on you), you may have a claim under Labor Law 240.

In addition to falls from height, construction sites also see their share of slip and fall and trip and fall accidents. Spilled grease or another slippery substance can easily create a hazard, as can piles of debris and materials that accumulate on sites. These types of falls are covered by Labor Law 200, which requires site owners, general contractors, and under some circumstances, subcontractors to provide a generally safe work environment.

Falls can change lives. We can help you rebuild.

Falls may sound like minor accidents, but they are actually the leading cause of traumatic brain injury nationwide. Of course, the greater the height, the more dangerous the fall. Construction workers may sustain spinal cord injuries, broken bones, crushed limbs and other serious injuries. You may be unable to work for some time, or you may even need to change careers due to a permanent injury. Your home life and relationships can be affected, too. The way forward is to pursue full and fair compensation for those losses.

When you come to us after a fall, we’ll listen to your story. You know what happened, and we can help you tell your story in a way that protects your rights. We will investigate the accident, including interviewing witnesses, poring over documents, and reviewing physical evidence from the scene to determine why you fell and who was responsible. Was there a trip hazard, and if so, should the general contractor have known about it? Was safety equipment used, and did it function properly? Every detail matters. We often hire experts to help us put together what happened and determine who was at fault.

We also work hard to establish the full and long-term extent of the losses you’ve sustained, including both past and future losses. Again, we fight for the full compensation you deserve because we know this about your life and your future. Fighting for maximum compensation also sends a strong message and helps to protect other construction workers from similar accidents.

The legal team you need, from start to finish.

We’ve earned a strong reputation and consistently meaningful results for our clients because we put in the work to prepare every case for trial. When an insurance company sees that we’re prepared to face them in court, they offer bigger settlements. If they don’t, we’ll take them to trial. Either way, you can rest assured that we will be your staunch advocates throughout the process, including you in strategic discussions and keeping you informed while we deal with the insurance company day-to-day. We work on a contingency fee basis – that means you don’t pay us unless and until we win your case.

The evidence critical to a fall accident case can disappear quickly, so it’s important to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible after you’re injured. Start putting the pieces back together with an experienced construction accident attorney on your side. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.