Demolition Accident Attorney in New York

Over 40 Years Representing Injured Construction Workers

A new construction project seems to pop up somewhere in New York City every other day, and no matter how groundbreaking the new building may be, there’s only a finite amount of space in the area. For every new building that needs to be built, another one needs to be demolished to make room, and that comes with its own risks and hazards. Without proper planning, protection, and equipment, construction workers could suffer any number of injuries.

It only takes a simple act of negligence or wrongdoing to turn what should have been a routine demolition into a catastrophic event. If you or a loved one was injured in a demolition accident, it’s important to seek out qualified legal assistance to help you secure the compensation you need to cover any medical bills or damages you incur.

Contact The Perecman Firm P.L.L.C., today to discuss your case with one of our NYC demolition accident attorneys.

Did You Receive the Necessary Protection?

In order to combat the dangers associated with demolition projects, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has dedicated a portion of their website to addressing hazards and safety regulations construction sites need to follow to keep their workers safe.

One of the most important aspects they address is the need to provide all workers with the necessary protective gear, including:

• Head, eye, hand, face, and foot protection (helmets, gloves, boots, goggles, etc.)
• Hearing protection (earplugs, earmuffs, etc.)
• Respiratory protection (masks, respirators, etc.)
• Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)
• Job-specific protective clothing

While each demolition project comes with its own unique safety requirements, workers need to have a certain level of protection and training in order to remain safe during this major undertaking. Without it, they could suffer a variety of injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Fall-related injuries
• Explosion injuries
• Falling object injuries

Safety Preparation Is Key

Equally important as providing the proper protective gear is taking the time to properly survey and plan for the demolition. There are several unknown factors that make these projects especially dangerous, including:

• Structural design changes from during the original construction.
• Modifications, approved or not, that changed the original design of the building.
• Materials that require special handling located within the structure like asbestos, lead, silica, and a variety of other heavy metals or chemicals.
• Unknown structural integrity of the materials being demolished.

OSHA maintains a complete list of safety requirements on their website. They note that the two most commonly cited demolition standards are 1926.850(a) – Preparatory operations, which makes up approximately 75 percent of all citations on the worksite. 1926.850(a)(1) makes up over half of the preparatory operations citations and requires the completion of an engineering survey before commencing any demolition project.

Speak To An Attorney Today

Demolition accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries and even death. No matter what kind of injury you suffered, contact the NYC construction accident lawyers at The Perecman Firm P.L.L.C., to discuss your case. Our attorneys have secured over half a billion dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients over the past 40+ years, and are committed to providing top-notch care to every client that walks through our doors. Give us a call at (212) 577-9325, or fill out our online form to begin your free case evaluation today.