One worker was killed and another injured in an elevator accident in New York City last month. The two men were contractors, part of the construction crew building an elementary school at 42nd Street in Sunnyside, part of the P.S. 313 expansion project. Details surrounding the accident are few but it appears that the first man fell 5 stories down an empty elevator shaft immediately prior to the second man falling 1 story from the second floor to the first.
Workers at the site reported hearing a crash and gathered at the bottom of the elevator shaft. Rescue crews arrived and found the first worker, an unnamed 40-year old, who was reportedly still alive but died either during or soon after transportation to the hospital. The second man was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital with critical injuries. It appears that he was actually struck by debris caused by the first man’s fall.
An initial investigation of the elevator accident in Queens shows that the deceased worker was wearing a safety harness at the time of the fall but the harness was not connected to a lifeline. However, it appears that the lifeline or the harness may have malfunctioned. The New York City Department of Building issued a stop work order until the accident could be thoroughly investigated.
Elevator accident in New York are rare, especially accidents involving construction workers because of strict safety regulations and precautionary procedures. However, when they do occur, they are almost always fatal. Even non-fatal events can have devastating impact on the victims, including debilitating, lifelong injuries and mountains of financial debt.
While workers interviewed onsite say that there were “safety guys” at the Queens location regularly, it didn’t stop this tragic accident from claiming one life and dramatically altering another.
If your or a loved one has been involved in an Elevator accident in New York, call an experienced attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case. The victim or surviving family members may be entitled to compensation for injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.