A construction worker was rushed to the hospital in critical condition last week after falling nearly thirty feet and becoming wedged between an I-beam and a wall at a jobsite in Chelsea. The terrified man was rescued by first responders and immediately taken to the hospital where doctors fought to save his life. This latest near-fatal fall from heights in Manhattan comes as the mayor’s office is in delicate negotiations with construction union leaders, hoping to finalize stricter training standards for construction workers in New York City.
The construction accident in Manhattan occurred on the evening of Tuesday June 6th near the intersection of 15th Street and 11th Avenue. Reports show that the man was working above ground level inside a construction elevator at the jobsite when the counterbalance weight broke free and the car lurched upward. The man was tossed out of the elevator car and fell nearly 30 feet before coming to a stop jammed between the outside of the building and a beam that formed a portion of the elevator’s support structure.
Firefighters arrived on scene within minutes and were able to extract the 27-year-old victim. He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital where he was listed in critical condition.
OSHA and DOB investigators will likely be looking into whether the construction elevator was properly maintained or if it was secured properly. Either would be a serious safety violation and could make the property owner and company in charge of the worksite financially liable for the victim’s injuries. Under the New York Labor Law, the property owner and general contractor for the project could be held absolutely responsible for this accident. Similar cases involving falls from heights in New York City construction sites have resulted in large financial settlements to help victims cope with the long and difficult recovery process.
If you’ve been injured in a fall, contact an experienced New York City fall from heights lawyer immediately.