A partial building collapse in Brooklyn left one innocent person injured earlier this month. Bricks, mortar, and a sign came crashing down on a pedestrian as she walked past the Brooklyn building around 2PM on May 3rd. Residents rushed to her aid and EMTS arrived within minutes. The woman (who had been struck in the leg by falling debris) was treated at the scene.
Residents were shocked because there had been previous indications that the building was unsafe. When building inspectors arrived to investigate the accident, they found serious safety deficiencies that caused them to evacuate the building. Indeed, the structure which has stood for more than 100 years, revealed several cracks, loose mortar, and the potential for another similar building collapse at the Brooklyn location. The DOB declared the structure unsafe and removed 16 families and one business from the premises.
The woman who was struck by falling debris can make a claim against the property owner for pain and suffering for her injuries, any lost time from work and unreimbursed medical expenses. The owner of the building should have inspected the façade, made necessary repairs, and notified residents and passersby of any potential danger. The fact that no such inspections occurred and no barriers were placed on the sidewalk to protect pedestrians walking past the building demonstrate that the property owner neglected his duty to reasonably avoid injury to others.
Proving liability against the property owner or any other responsible party under New York’s premises liability law requires expertise and experience. An investigation must be performed into the building’s history in terms of complaints, maintenance, repair and prior incidents. If necessary, an engineer should be retained to examine the building and records to establish what should have been done to keep the building safe, as opposed to what the property owner actually did.
If you’ve been injured in a partial building collapse in New York City, contact he experienced New York City premises liability lawyers at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel. Call 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for your free consultation today.