Construction is the most dangerous occupation in New York City. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that more workers died in NYC construction accidents than in any other industry in a recent year. Many others suffer serious injuries that leave them in pain, disabled, and facing severe financial hardships.
When construction accidents happen in the Bronx, qualifying workers can apply for workers’ compensation benefits through their employer’s insurance company. Others may also be able to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim if an outside party is responsible for their injuries. The best way to learn your options is by talking to an experienced construction accident lawyer.
At The Perecman Firm, our attorneys can identify every legal avenue open to you and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf. Our construction accident law firm has more than 40 years of experience helping injured workers recover the money they need to get their lives back on track. We have extensive experience with cases that fall under New York’s scaffolding law and also assist with workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability (SSD), and personal injury claims. Learn more about how we can help by calling or contacting us online for a free initial consultation.
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Why Choose Our Firm to Handle Your Construction Accident Case
If you’ve been hurt in a construction accident in the Bronx, it’s vital to hire an attorney with experience handling such complex cases. Our law firm has a long history of successful results in construction accident claims, including:
- A jury award of $15 million for a sheet metal worker who fell from a ladder
- A $12 million settlement for a union worker struck by an angle iron and fell 15 feet from the top of a ladder
- A jury award of $11.89 for an asbestos-abatement specialist who fell from a suspension scaffold and suffered a career-ending back injury
Life after a catastrophic injury can be unpredictable and frightening. At The Perecman Firm, we’ll fight for the money you need for financial security and a more stable future.
Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Construction Accident?
Several parties could be liable for a construction site accident. Identifying every responsible party is important to recover maximum compensation for your injuries. Potential defendants in a construction accident lawsuit include:
- Your employer – Most New York construction workers can apply for workers’ compensation benefits if they sustain a job injury. You don’t need to prove your employer was at fault for the accident to get paid. Workers’ comp covers your medical bills and a portion of your lost wages while you heal. You may also have a valid personal injury claim against your employer under New York’s scaffolding law if you fell from a ladder or were involved in another “gravity-related” accident.
- The property owner – Negligent property owners are frequently liable for construction accidents. If your injuries resulted from the property owner’s negligence, you might have a case for a third-party personal injury claim. Personal injury claims allow you to pursue damages for losses not covered by workers’ compensation, such as the full amount of your lost wages and pain and suffering.
- Vendors and contractors – Construction sites are busy places where many types of workers converge. If a negligent vendor, contractor, or subcontractor (not your employer) caused a construction accident that hurt you, you may file a personal injury claim against them.
- Construction equipment manufacturers – Faulty construction equipment can lead to devastating injuries when it malfunctions. When a design flaw or defective part leads to a construction accident, victims may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent manufacturer.
Understanding Your Rights After a Construction Accident
Construction accidents take a heavy financial and personal toll. Medical bills, lost wages, long-term disabilities, and other losses can lead to severe financial hardships.
There are three main types of compensation you can pursue to offset these costs:
- Personal injury claim – These cases are based on the concept of negligence, which means you must show that another party’s carelessness led to your work injury. Personal injury claims related to construction accidents are typically filed against negligent vendors, contractors, or property owners. You generally cannot file a personal injury claim against your employer, though New York does have exceptions.
- Workers’ compensation claim – State workers’ compensation laws require most employers to carry insurance to cover an injured worker’s medical bills and a portion of their missed wages. Though benefits are supposed to be provided regardless of fault, many employees face hurdles in getting the benefits they deserve. A construction accident lawyer from The Perecman Firm, will fight to preserve your rights to full workers’ compensation benefits.
- Social Security Disability (SSD) claim – Injured construction workers who suffer long-term disabilities may qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. To be eligible for SSD, you must have worked enough to earn sufficient credits from the Social Security Administration. Additionally, your disability must have already lasted a year, be expected to last at least a year, or be deemed fatal by your doctor.
Demanding Full Payment for Your Losses After a Construction Accident in the Bronx
Construction accidents often leave workers with severe injuries, which can be expensive to treat and may also have considerable future costs. Depending on the circumstances that led to your injuries, a Bronx construction accident lawyer can help you seek compensation for:
- Past, current, and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning potential
- Physical pain and suffering
- Psychological trauma and emotional distress
One of the chief problems accident victims face is knowing what their case is worth. Our accomplished lawyers will place an appropriate value on your case so you don’t settle for less than what you deserve.
How Long Do You Have to File a Construction Accident Lawsuit?
In most cases, New York law gives you three years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. That said, it’s in your interest to speak to an attorney as soon as possible so you don’t risk missing the deadline. Talking to a lawyer immediately also helps your case by giving your legal team enough time to find compelling evidence to back up your claim.
For workers’ compensation purposes, you must report a workplace injury to your employer within 30 days of the incident and file a claim for workers’ compensation within two years.
How Our Bronx Construction Accident Attorneys Can Take the Pressure Off You
Recovering from a construction accident injury is hard enough. Trying to understand the complex workers’ compensation and personal injury laws in New York is a burden you shouldn’t have to bear. That’s where a construction accident lawyer in the Bronx can help.
Your primary goal after a construction accident should be resting and getting the medical treatment you need. While you’re recuperating, your lawyer can collect evidence to support your claim, ensure any necessary paperwork is correctly filed, handle correspondence with the defendants and their lawyers, and manage settlement negotiations with the insurance company(s).
No law requires you to hire an attorney. But going up against your employer or another company is tough, and that’s a lot to take on when you’re recovering from major injuries. Working with a construction accident lawyer means you benefit from their years of training and thorough knowledge of the laws and precedents that might apply to your case.
Tips for Protecting Your Rights After a Construction Accident in the Bronx
Getting prompt medical treatment is essential after a job injury. If you don’t need emergency treatment, here’s what to do after a Bronx construction accident:
- Notify your employer. Waiting too long to report your injuries could jeopardize your workers’ compensation benefits and other aspects of your case. Make the report in writing if you can. If you can’t make the report, have a family member or trusted friend do it.
- Document the scene of the accident. Evidence from the scene is often crucial in construction accident cases, so take photos and videos of where the accident happened and any nearby hazards that led to your injury.
- Seek medical care. If you don’t need emergency services, see a doctor as soon as possible. Follow your doctor’s prescribed treatment plan or you could hurt your case.
- Do not provide a recorded statement to the insurance company. They will be watching for any inconsistencies they can use to undercut your case and save them money. Let your lawyer do all the talking with insurers.
- Hire a construction accident attorney right away. Waiting too long to seek legal counsel can make it much harder to build a strong case and recover the money you need.
Common Causes of Construction Accidents in the Bronx
Some of the most common causes of construction accidents in the Bronx include:
- Falls from scaffolds
- Struck by a falling object
- Electrocution
- Trench collapses
- Fires and explosions
- Defective/unsafe equipment
- Negligent or poorly trained supervisors
- Faulty stairways or railings
- Chemical exposure
- Caught between/crush injuries
Common Construction Accident Injuries
Leading causes of construction accident injuries include:
- Damage to joints, muscles, and connective tissues
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Burns
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord and neck injuries, including paralysis
- External injuries to the face and head
- Vision loss
- Hearing loss
- Emotional distress
Talk to a Bronx Construction Accident Attorney Now
Getting legal help is vital if you suffered in a construction accident in the Bronx. If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury on a job site, contact The Perecman Firm, today for a free consultation.