Falling object accidents in New York can be fatal at job sites around the city. One lucky construction worker escaped with his life though seriously injured from his recent accident. Earlier this month an unnamed construction worker was rushed to the hospital with severe head and facial trauma after an unspecified piece of construction material fell from above and struck him in the face.
The man was working in a building under renovation along West 86th street when a heavy object (perhaps a tool or building material) dropped to the ground from the scaffolding and struck the man below. FDNY responders were at the accident scene in minutes and the worker was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital.
Under the New York Labor Law, the property owner along with the general contractor for the construction project can be held absolutely liable for worker’s injuries, unpaid medical bills and past and future lost wages.
Falling object accidents in New York are among the top 5 most fatal accidents in the construction industry. According to OSHA data, these types of accidents result in fatalities almost as often as falls from heights simply because victims often suffer irreparable head trauma. As such, OSHA has strict regulations in place to protect workers from such avoidable accidents including the use of barriers on platforms and rigorous inspection of lifting equipment.
This latest falling object accident in New York resulted in the New York City Department of Buildings issuing a citation to the contractor for failure to safeguard. The DOB also issued a partial stop work order because scaffolding at the jobsite was found to be unsafe.
If you or a loved one has been injured by falling debris at a jobsite in New York City-regardless of whether or not you were employed at the site-you could be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Contact an expert falling objects accident attorney in New York City to learn and protect your rights. Call the experienced Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122.