Wednesday, August 5, 2009

New York Construction Fall Accident Lawyers

Some of the most serious construction accidents involve workers who either slip and fall during work or fall off a scaffold. These types of falls cause major injuries to construction workers. In fact, these are the types of injuries that most often result in death. Even when the worker survives, there are many tough challenges he or she is faced with such as costly medical bills, an uphill recovery battle and the loss of income during that results from missed work. Sometimes, you could even be left with a permanent disability - unable to work for the rest of your life.
How does it occur?
Fall injuries happen for a variety of reasons. The most common types of construction falls occur when a worker falls of a weak scaffold or malfunctioning equipment, falls off a ladder, slips and falls or falls after being hit by another falling object. Whatever the causes, the injuries can be devastating. The worker could suffer catastrophic injuries or broken bones. He or she could suffer brain injuries or even death as a result of the fall.
The Department of Labor and Occupational Safety and Health Administration have stringent rules for the construction industry. These accidents are entirely preventable. The following hazards cause the most fall-related injuries:
Unprotected sides, wall opening and floor holes: These are found almost in any construction site, but the key is to use the appropriate guardrail, safety net and fall arrest systems, especially when workers are doing their jobs at a height of 6 feet or more.
Improper scaffold construction: All scaffolds must be constructed according to manufacturers instructions. Again installing appropriate guardrail systems and fall arrest systems will go a long way to protect workers
Unguarded protruding steel rebars: These iron bars, which are a common sight in any work site, should be bent over or protected with caps so a worker cannot be impaled by falling on them
Improper use of portable ladders: Falls from ladders can cause injuries ranging from sprains to deaths. The risk of falling off portable ladders increases if ladders are not positioned safely or if they are placed on an uneven surface.
If you or a loved one has been injured a construction fall accident, it would be in your best interest to retain a New York personal injury law firm with experienced New York construction accident attorneys to represent you and help protect your rights. In some cases, where the employer or contractors negligence is apparent, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Call Wingate, Russotti and Shapiro today for a free consultation.

No comments:

Post a Comment