A fatal construction accident in New York City claimed the life of a man earlier last month. The victim was working on the ground floor of a construction site located at 350 St. Nicholas Avenue in Ridgewood on April 6th when he reportedly fell down a hole to the basement level at least 20 feet down. FDNY arrived at the scene of the accident within minutes and were able to extricate the man. He was rushed to nearby Wyckoff Hospital and initially listed in critical condition. However, his injuries proved to severe to survive and he later passed away.
An initial investigation into this fatal fall at a jobsite in New York City found that the man was moving a sheet of plywood covering a shaft into the basement at the time. It’s unclear whether there were any fall safeguards (barriers or signage) present at the accident site. Sadly, reports from eyewitnesses at the scene state that the victim (who was in his late 30s) left behind a wife and children
Under the New York Labor Law, property owners and general contractors for the job site in New York have an obligation to safeguard workers. This duty extends to protecting them from potential fall hazards and providing safety equipment (such as safety nets, harnesses, and even fall-arrest equipment). If the proper equipment is not provided or fails, they can be held absolutely liable for the accident regardless of the actions of the worker.
The surviving family members of victim who died in this fall can successfully recover financial compensation for pain and suffering for the time the worker survived after the accident and the amount of money he would have contributed to his household for his work-life expectancy.
If you or a loved one has been seriously hurt in a similar accident, you need to speak with an experienced New York City construction accident attorney today. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for your free consultation right now.