How a Construction Accident Lawyer in Queens Can Help
When you retain the services of our award-winning firm, you can count on us to support you through every stage of your construction accident claim by:
- Reviewing your case to determine all possible sources of compensation
- Conducting an independent investigation into the construction accident
- Identifying potentially responsible parties and securing valuable evidence
- Communicating with construction site owners and insurers on your behalf
- Working with reliable expert witnesses to obtain useful case testimony
- Negotiating tirelessly to maximize the value of your case every step of the way
How Dangerous Is the Construction Industry in Queens?
As the most populated city in the U.S., and one of the world’s biggest cultural and economic centers, New York City is constantly being built, unbuilt, and rebuilt. While that keeps construction workers busy, all this work also puts them at risk of injury.
The following data from the NYC Department of Buildings’ (DOB) Construction Safety Report and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) illustrate just how frequent and dangerous construction activity is in Queens and the other boroughs:
- After a lull in new construction following the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 14 percent increase in initial and renewal building permits in NYC the following year.
- Nearly 35,000 building permits were issued in Queens that year alone — an 18 percent increase in borough-wide construction activity over the previous year.
- The number of NYC construction accidents investigated by the DOB fell 10 percent. However, construction injury and fatality numbers rose at the same time, meaning the accidents that did occur were more harmful.
- The year the DOB report was issued, there were over 700 construction-related accidents citywide, causing 505 injuries and nine deaths.
- The top reported causes of NYC construction accidents that year were worker falls, falling materials, scaffolding issues, equipment issues, and excavation issues.
- More than three-quarters of NYC construction accident fatalities that year were the result of worker falls. The remaining construction deaths were all caused by equipment-related issues.
- Nationally, there were 2.8 work-related injuries for every 100 full-time construction workers in one recent year. A total of 1,066 construction workers died on the job.
What Causes Most Construction Accidents in Queens, New York?
Any number of factors can contribute to a construction or worksite accident.
Some of the most common causes of such construction accidents in Queens include:
- Exposed or damaged electrical circuits that cause shocks, electrocutions, or fires
- Poorly manufactured or maintained heavy machinery or equipment
- Inadequate or defective personal protective equipment (PPE) for construction workers
- Lack of worker training regarding safe lifting techniques and other procedures
- Scaffold, trench, and ladder collapses caused by poor balancing or overloading
- Spills, debris, and cluttered walkways that cause slips, trips, and falls
- Unattended leaks in gas lines or chemical drums that cause fires and explosions
How Much Is My Construction Accident Injury Case Worth?
The amount your case could be worth depends on several circumstances. In most construction accident cases in Queens, the injured worker must file a workers’ compensation claim with their employer’s insurance provider. Workers’ comp covers necessary medical care and provides wage-loss benefits to make up for a portion of their lost income. It can also provide disability benefits if they become impaired and unable to work long-term.
However, you could be entitled to file a third-party lawsuit against the responsible party if the accident was caused by someone other than your employer, such as the property owner (e.g., a defect of the property or failure to hire an experienced GC), the general contractor (e.g., failure to implement safe policies and procedures), or another subcontractor (e.g., leaving materials around that causes a trip and fall, dropping something from a height, or failing to properly safeguard its workspace).
This could allow you to pursue compensation for:
- Hospital bills and other medical costs related to your injuries
- Incidental costs, such as mileage expenses from medical travel
- Lost wages from any time you miss at work while recovering
- Projected losses in earning capacity from long-term injuries
- Subjective losses, such as your injury-related pain and suffering
Is There a Time Limit to File a Construction Accident Lawsuit?
There is a time limit on filing a construction accident lawsuit in Queens. New York’s statute of limitations sets a three-year deadline on all personal injury lawsuits, including construction accident injury lawsuits.
This three-year window generally begins on the date of your injury. If you try to sue after the deadline has passed, the court can and most likely will dismiss your suit as untimely. Remember that your ability to threaten a lawsuit is a key piece of leverage during settlement talks. That means the time limit is critical, even if you never intend to go to court.
The Queens construction accident lawyers of Finz & Finz, P.C. will help you by identifying important case deadlines and handling your case in a timely manner.
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