NY & Long Island Construction Accident Attorneys

Working in construction is one of the most dangerous and injury-prone industry’s in the United States. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), over 20% – or 1 in 5 – of all worker fatalities in the U.S. in 2013 occurred in construction. Construction workers face dangerous conditions and heavy machinery as part of their career choice. However, because of the unique hazards posed by this line of work, there are tight safety regulations mandated by federal and state governments that must be followed.

Regulations Matter.

New York laws and regulations are designed to keep construction sites safe and protect the workers. Developers and construction companies are charged with that responsibility but too often sacrifice safety for profits by failing to provide properly functioning safety devices or by failing to inspect, supervise and/or coordinate the various subcontractors.

Most of these accidents are avoidable. The labor force that built our city, its schools, its hospitals, its roadways is entitled to have the safety rules followed. The homes we live in, the skyscrapers we work in, and the stadiums in which our favorite teams play, were constructed with their sweat and tears, and need not require the sacrifice of their blood and bones. 

The top 10 OSHA violations in 2014, and the industries they occurred in, were as follows:

• Fall protection - in the construction industry

• Hazard communication standards - in general industry

• General requirements for scaffolding - in the construction industry

• Respiratory protection - in general industry

• Powered industrial trucks-in general industry

• Control of hazard energy, lockout / tagout - in general industry

• Ladders / Scaffolding - in the construction industry

• Electrical, including components and equipment - in general industry

• Machinery and machine guarding - in general industry

• Electrical systems design - in general industry

Of the seven violations cited in the general industry, most of them occur on construction sites. The top four killers known as the "fatal four," are accidents involving falls, being struck-by-an object, electrocutions, and caught in-between accidents.

By filing a third-party lawsuit, you may be able to seek compensation for:

• Past & future loss of wages in full

• Your loss of earning capacity

• Physical pain and suffering

• Long-term rehabilitation costs

We understand that the time immediately following an injury can be very difficult. Rest assured that we are here to stand by your side, walk you through the tough steps ahead, and counsel you in order to allow you to make informed decisions about your future. Since our inception, Constantinidis & Associates, P.C., has a well-earned reputation for tough and committed advocacy. Learn more about how our personal injury law firm is uniquely qualified to represent you after an accident. 

The construction attorneys at Constantinidis & Associates, P.C., have the expertise in construction methodology to offer a jury a compelling presentation of evidence. Whether your accident involved the failure of a crane, a scaffold or ladder…whether it occurred during the use of a hoist, sandblaster, or welding torch…or whether rebar was being tied, rivets were being busted or a curtain wall was being installed…our lawyers are best equipped to litigate against the property owners, developers and general contractors.

Types of Construction Accidents Include

• Electrocution

• Welding accidents

• Falls

• Falling equipment/tools

• Defective construction equipment

• Fire

• Chemical/electrical burn

• Exposure to toxic chemicals

• Trench collapse/cave-in

• Forklift injuries

• Carbon monoxide poisoning

• Crane accidents

• Machinery accidents

Workers’ Compensation Claims vs. Third Party Lawsuits

If you were injured at work, you are entitled to file a Workers’ Compensation claim through your employer.  Nearly all employees in the State of New York are covered by some form of WorkersCompensation insurance. Some of the benefits provided by Workers Compensation include coverage for your medical expenses, partial coverage for lost wages, and potential disability benefits. You are entitled to these benefits regardless of who was at fault for your accident. If, however, your accident was caused by the negligence of a third party such as the manufacturer of faulty equipment, a grossly negligent supervisor, or a negligent maintenance company, you may be entitled to seek further compensation through a third-party lawsuit. A third-party lawsuit allows you to seek additional damages covering a wider range of losses beyond what you would be able to recover through Workers Compensation.