Three people were injured in a scaffolding accident in Manhattan when a structure collapsed outside an Upper East Side condominium. The victims were working on the façade of a building located at 220 East 65th Street at around 4 PM when the multi-story pipe and board structure erected to allow workers access to higher floors of the façade collapsed. The debris from the collapse sprawled into the street and forced officials to block off a portion of the road until the injured were evacuated and cleanup could begin.
It appears as if the injured individuals were actually in the process of erecting the scaffolding. While still a dangerous process, the injuries they suffered could have been much more severe if they had been working far above ground level when the safety structure failed.
Three of the workers at the job site were injured but only one was hurt seriously enough to be transported to a nearby hospital. That individual was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital with injuries that were classified as “minor.” The individual is expected to make a full recovery.
The department of Buildings was at the scene of the accident, examining the wreckage and attempting to determine the cause of this latest scaffolding accident in New York.
The New York Labor Law holds the property owner and general contractor of the project absolutely liable for elevation related construction accidents. Since the investigation will uncover that the scaffold failed, the Labor Law can be invoked and the property owner and general contractor of the project will be held accountable for the injuries suffered by the victims. However, you will need an experienced attorney familiar with the New York Labor Law to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been injured at a job site because a piece of safety equipment such as a scaffold failed, you may be able to collect compensation from liable parties. Speak with an experienced scaffolding accident attorney in New York City today. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for your free consultation.