New York Ladder / Scaffold Slip Fall Injury Lawyers

NY Personal Injury Attorneys

Many construction workers are asked to perform their jobs at high elevations. For obvious reasons, these specialized workers are exposed to hazards that greatly outweigh those of their land based colleagues.

In fact, accidents from slip and falls are the most common cause of construction related fatalities in the United States, constituting 10% of all work related deaths. Most slip and fall related accidents are caused by equipment failure or improper use of safety gear while working on scaffolding, skylights, rooftops, ladders, and building tops.

Most falls are preventable if proper safety precautions are taken. Accidents usually occur when employers seek to cut corners to save time and money or workers are improperly trained to use the safety equipment they are provided. While surprising, most falls do not occur off tall skyscrapers or other extremely high elevations. The bulk of falls resulting in serious injuries occur in small, routine constructions jobs.

Labor Law Section 240, also known as the "New York Scaffold Law," requires owners and contractors to provide workers with appropriate work site safety equipment for use when working at an elevated level. It is the responsibility of the owner or contractor to provide proper scaffolds, safety lines, hoists, harnesses, guardrails and other necessary safeguards while you are working at an elevation. If an owner or contractor fails to provide proper safety equipment, then that party is responsible for the workers' injury or death.

Falls covered by Labor Law Section 240 include:

• Ladder falls: Falls from ladders and scaffolds account for 41% of all fall injuries. Ladders should be checked for proper positioning and steadiness, structural integrity, and appropriateness to the job. Safety measures can include non-skid rungs and side guardrails.
• Scaffold accidents: Falls from scaffolds account for approximately 50 deaths and 4,500 injuries every year. Scaffolds must be properly constructed and mounted and the weight limit should not be exceeded. Common causes of scaffold accidents include plank slippage and support failures. Safety measures can include guardrails and fall arrest systems.
• Other construction falls: Falls include falls from the roof, from a girder or pole through an unprotected wall, a fall through a floor hole, or through flimsy or inappropriate flooring. Safety measures that should be taken include guardrails, safety nets and safety lines.

If your were injured in a fall off a ladder, scaffolding, roof, or any other elevated surface, and were not provided a safety harness, netting, security railing, or other proper protective measure, you may have the right to sue the party responsible for securing your safety.

Our slip fall attorneys recognize the economic disparity between you and your employer and we fight to level the playing field when negotiating a settlement or trying your case in court. You don't have to face the large insurance companies alone. We stand up and fight aggressively to ensure that your scaffolding or ladder fall injury will be taken seriously. Our trial attorneys work with your workers' comp lawyer to help you obtain maximum recovery from third parties who may be proven negligent.

Contact our New York slip fall lawyers to schedule a free consultation about your workplace accident today.