Last month an elevator accident in Brooklyn claimed the life of an infant and seriously injured the child’s mother. This month another victim has been critically injured after falling at least seven stories down an elevator shaft. This most recent elevator accident in New York happened at a job site in Williamsburg where the man, a 42-year old employee of the Economy Elevator Company, was working at the time.
FDNY EMTs arrived on scene within minutes of the accident. The FDNY was able to extract the man from the bottom of the elevator shaft, located inside 246 Johnson Avenue, and rushed him to nearby Elmhurst General Hospital. He was listed in critical condition.
Eyewitnesses to this terrible elevator accident in Brooklyn said the victim was wearing a harness at the time of his fall but it wasn’t immediately clear if the harness was attached to anything. The Department of Buildings and OSHA will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of this elevator accident.
Such harnesses are designed to prevent falls but sometimes they are improperly secured or aren’t maintained correctly and break, at job sites around New York, doing little to stop victims from tumbling helplessly downward. If safety regulations were not followed or ignored, the building owner and general contractor at the job site could be held responsible for the worker’s injuries.
Under the law, workers who are victims of elevator accidents in New York City can file a workers’ compensation claim for medical expenses and reimbursement of a portion of their lost time from work. For their injuries, workers can file claims against the responsible parties for not providing a safe place to work. These cases have resulted in settlements and court judgements for pain and suffering, unpaid medical and rehabilitative expenses and lost time from work – past, present and future.
If you’ve been injured by a fall down an unprotected shaft or in any kind of elevator accident, contact a New York City elevator accident lawyer today. The experienced professionals at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel can help you get the money you deserve. Call 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 today.