Don’t Settle For Less

Don’t Settle For Less

Woman Killed in Façade Accident in New York City Spurs City Inspectors into Action

On Behalf of | Feb 18, 2020 | Apartment Accidents

A 60-year-old woman was strolling down the street in early December when she was killed in a terrifying accident. The victim was struck by a massive piece of building façade that broke free from a Manhattan high-rise. She was killed immediately and although EMTs arrived within minutes, there was nothing they could do. While façade accidents in New York City aren’t common, they do occur multiple times per year. In most of these accidents, it is only the nearby parked cars that are damaged or crushed. 

An investigation revealed that the same building had been cited by the DOB for having an unstable façade in April of 2019 but the building’s owner didn’t do anything to rectify the issue. They paid a fine but failed to even erect a sidewalk shed to protect pedestrians walking by.

Now, after this latest fatality in New York caused by failing facades, the Department of Buildings is launching a massive inspection campaign with plans to physically examine upwards of 1,300 facades. The plan is to identify those facades in need of immediate repair and pressure the buildings’ owners to make repairs or at least take measures to protect pedestrians from falling debris.

Property owners of these dangerous buildings can be held financially responsible for any injuries sustained by an innocent passerby, their lost time from work, unpaid medical bills and any out of pocket expenses. However, proving that the property owner was at fault for a façade accident in New York City is not a simple matter and requires a skilled and experienced attorney who knows how to build an iron-clad case.

If you’ve been hurt by an object tumbling to the ground, contact an experienced façade accident attorney in New York today. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 right now.

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