Category: Construction Accidents

Falling objects are a serious hazard on construction sites

Objects dropped from work sites injured more than 52,000 people in the past year, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. That averages to about 143 people a day or one person every ten minutes reporting an injury due to an object falling on them. Injuries while working at a construction site unfortunately do happen and may be serious.

If you work on a construction site, your chances of being struck when someone above you drops an object are much higher than the average person.

What is the real danger?

In some cases, even a safety helmet won’t do you much good. Heavier tools, like hammers or wrenches, may gain enough force as they fall to cause crushing injuries. For example, if an eight-pound tool fell on you from a height of 200 feet, it would be similar to having a small car dropped onto your head.

Some common injuries from falling objects include:

• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Brain injuries
• Death

The most commonly cited recent example is of a man who was delivering drywall when a construction worker 50 stories above dropped a tape measure. The one-pound tool fell with such force that when it hit the man’s head, it caused a fatal injury. He was not wearing his safety helmet at the time.

What protections are required?

While you probably have many safeguards in place to protect yourself from falling, your tools may not. In addition, construction sites often cannot avoid dropping chunks of debris. If you work on the ground, this puts you at risk.

Most construction companies provide at least the minimum safety precautions:

• Personal protective equipment, such as harnesses, to prevent you from falling
• Toe boards to stop your tools or other objects from slipping through railings
• Debris nets to catch objects that fall before they hit the ground
• Helmets
• Restricting barricades to stop citizens from entering your work area

Some feel it is time to include more comprehensive ways to prevent tools from falling rather than simply using nets and work zones to limit the amount of damage they do. Tying off or harnessing your tools — the way workers are required to harness themselves — might prevent more injuries and save more lives.

What should you do if you are injured?

After you have reported your injury and sought medical treatment, you will need to file a workers’ compensation claim to receive benefits. Having an attorney to help you with your claim will relieve you of the stress and frustration of dealing with the insurance company. Your attorney will also make sure you receive the maximum benefits you are owed.

Similarly, if you – like the man delivering the sheet rock – were injured on the job, but your own employer was not responsible for your injuries, you may have grounds for a third-party lawsuit. Your wisest course of action will be to discuss your case with an attorney who will investigate your claim and aggressively fight for any compensation for which you might be eligible.

Falling objects can cause injury to those passing by

In large cities, it is sometimes possible for objects in construction areas or near businesses to fall and injure someone, the borough of Queens in New York City being a prime example. Often in these construction sites, power tools, building materials and heavy equipment are in use and, much of the time, it is not at ground level. That means construction workers and anyone walking by may be in danger of serious injury.

Falling objects, such as pieces of wood or stone or bags of material that break away can cause injury to the head, neck and shoulders . Depending upon the material and weight, serious injury to the spinal cord and brain may result. That can lead to long hospital stays, lost wages, long-term care, and many months or more of pain and suffering. A victim of an accident involving falling object may need to seek compensation to mitigate the costs of recovery.

At our law firm, Daniella Levi & Associates, we aim to provide proper legal support to determine the extent of a victim’s injury as well who can be held responsible. We are well experienced in guiding victims through the legal process of obtaining justified compensation for any injuries relating to these construction accidents.

If you or someone you know has been injured by a falling object at a construction site, you may be seeking for more information. Please visit our page on falling object injuries to learn more about your rights and what legal actions may be taken.

Source: Daniella Levi & Associates, P.C., “Queens falling objects injury lawyers”, October 01, 2014

Woman killed by fallen stone

Some New York residents may identify with a fatal accident that occurred on Sept. 4. A 34-year-old woman in Chicago died after a stone from a historic church fell from 30 feet above onto her head. The victim worked at Lurie’s Children’s Hospital and was planning to marry her boyfriend, who was with her when the incident occurred.

According to witnesses at the scene, the female pedestrian was crossing the street when the she was struck by the stone from the Second Presbyterian Church located at the South Loop. City inspectors initiated an investigation after the incident occurred. Local reports claim that the stone was likely a piece broken off from a gargoyle head. The church was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2013 and was first built in 1874. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the building failed inspections twice during 2011, and once each in 2010, 2009 and 2007.

The church had passed its latest building inspection during March 2013. However, records from 2010 cite the building for having fractures, flaking and washed-out mortar at several elevations on the outside walls. Her surviving relatives may benefit from seeking information about filing a claim in court. Legal counsel could investigate the incident in an effort to determine which party should be considered most liable for the falling stone.

Accident Attorneys with experience in premises liability matters could help people who have suffered injuries on another’s property due to the owner’s negligence. These victims may be due restitution to help account for medical expenses, loss of income and any other damages related to the incidents. These lawyers may also help victims evaluate the damages in order to calculate the appropriate amount of compensation to seek.

Source: The Huffington Post, “Woman Killed By Stone That Fell From Gargoyle On Historic Church“, Kim Bellware, September 04, 2014

Increasing safety from falling objects on highways

There have been many instances in which people have been seriously injured or killed because someone has thrown a rock, a piece of concrete or other item off a highway overpass. These falling objects can cause an accident but many times, the object goes through the windshield, injuring the occupants inside.

In New York’s neighboring state of Pennsylvania, a 52-year-old woman was a passenger in a vehicle headed east on Interstate 80. One 18-year-old and two 17-year-olds are facing charges in the incident. The woman suffered very serious injuries, including losing one eye and possibly the second. In addition, she had to have part of her brain and her forehead removed.

In Wheatland, New York, on July 10, wivb.com reported that a tractor-trailer was struck by an object thrown off an overpass on Interstate 90. The driver did not suffer any injuries and the case is still under investigation by the New York State Police.

Many states have begun fencing off overpasses in order to prevent such incidents. There are several factors considered before a decision is made on whether to fence off the overpass, including whether it was close to a school, whether it is in a rural or urban location, whether it was lighted and whether there was a sidewalk.

While many of the incidents involving falling objects off overpasses are committed by juveniles, those who are injured may still be able to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damages. No one should have to suffer injuries simply because he or she was traveling on the interstate.

Source: cantonrep.com, “Ohio tries to make highways safer from deadly projectiles” Robert Wang, Aug. 04, 2014

2-year-old suffers fatal falling object injury

When a New York business does not make its premises safe for visitors and customers, and someone is injured or killed, the business and property owners could be liable for a variety of claims in civil court. However, compensation can’t undo an accident. The family of a 2-year-old boy is trying to come to grips with the child’s death after a statue of a dolphin fell on him.

The fatal accident occurred in another state on Friday, June 6. The tragic story becomes even more sorrowful after learning that the boy’s 6-year-old sister tried to stop the metal statue from falling onto her brother.

Apparently, police had already warned the art gallery that had the statue on the sidewalk to keep the sidewalk clear. In fact, according to a spokesman for the police department, the art gallery had been told last year to keep the same statue off the sidewalk and inside.

There didn’t appear to be anything seriously wrong with the little boy at first other than a bloody nose. However, the child had suffered internal injuries and only lived for four short hours after the accident.

A citation was issued to the owners of the art gallery, although it was not specified what the possible consequences could be for the citation.

When someone loses a loved one due to a falling object or other safety hazard in a business, a wrongful death lawsuit may be filed. The lawsuit could seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering and final expenses. An Accident Attorney can provide more information about a family’s legal options when such a tragedy occurs.

Source: NY Daily News, “2-year-old crushed to death by falling dolphin statue in San Francisco” Meg Wagner, Jun. 10, 2014

New York tower involved in 19 lawsuits

Extell’s One57 is a tower of New York condominiums, and it is probably best known for the penthouse suite that is on the top two floors — a suite that sold for around $90 million. This sets a high mark for that type of real estate in the city, and it sold before the penthouse was even completed. However, the condo tower has now been in the news for some rather less-impressive statistics; namely, the fact that it is involved in 19 different lawsuits.

Many of the lawsuits come from the construction process itself. For example, one contractor is suing for more than $25 million, saying that the owners of the tower did not give him complete plans in a prompt fashion, slowing down the work he could do and costing him money.

A lot of the lawsuits involve personal injury claims, however, from injuries allegedly suffered by workers who built the tower. In fact, a full ten of these cases have been filed, including one that involves falling objects. That case has been filed by a woman who lost her husband on the job. He was an electrical contractor who was involved in the project. When something fell from the higher stories, he was struck and killed by it.

Construction sites must be safe, but contractors and owners will sometimes cut corners to save time or money – or both. The result can be an unsafe area that leads to injuries or even death, as demonstrated by the cases that have been filed. Anyone who has been injured while at work, or who has lost a loved one to an injury, has a right to seek compensation from those responsible.

Source: The Real Deal, “Extell’s One57 facing 19 lawsuits” Julie Strickland, Apr. 08, 2014