A man was seriously injured earlier last month when tons of brick and mortar fell across the sidewalk and into the street in Murray Hill. The façade collapse accident in New York City happened along a stretch of East 38th Street near the intersection of 3rd Avenue around noon on June 8th. Photos and video from the scene show that an entire swath of brick and mortar on the face of a vacant parking garage simply peeled away and dropped into the street.
One man, a worker who was in the wrong spot at the wrong time, was injured by the falling debris. EMTs arrived on scene and stabilized the man before transporting him to a nearby hospital. The worker was seriously injured but thankfully, his injuries are not expected to be life-threatening.
In addition to the injury, the façade collapse in Murray Hill caused several thousands of dollars’ worth of damage—crushing several parked cars at curbside.
As shocking as this accident was, it could have been worse. The bricks apparently fell from five stories high. From that height, the amount of energy generated by the falling debris could have easily resulted in a fatality.
Investigative journalists uncovered a complaint filed with the DOB in May that the building was undergoing extensive renovations without the proper permits. Inspectors from the agency tried to gain access to the building weeks but were unable. They didn’t return to the property prior to the accident.
In such cases, if the work being performed inside the building contributed to this façade accident in New York, the contractor in charge of the work as well as the building owner could be held financially liable. If the work was not directly related to the collapse, the building’s owner could still be held responsible for the victim’s injuries.
If you’ve been injured by falling bricks, concrete, or decorative masonry, contact an experienced façade accident attorney in New York City today for the compensation you deserve. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for your free consultation.