Plenty of things can go wrong on a construction site. Equipment can malfunction. Inclement weather can make surfaces slippery or push workers around with strong winds. Issues with electrical supply, caved-in trenches and countless other incidents can lead to serious or even deadly injuries for construction workers.
Many incidents relate to working at an elevation. Dropped tools that cause struck-by incidents and falls, as well as scaffolding collapses, are all examples of gravity-related incidents on construction sites. Under New York state law, workers hurt in gravity-related incidents benefit from special protection.
The Scaffold Law – The basics
New York’s unique Scaffold Law has long protected construction workers from unsafe practices by putting the liability for gravity-related incidents on property owners. Businesses, landlords and other property owners are much less likely to retain the services of a cut-rate construction company that does not follow safety practices or provide appropriate safety equipment for workers when they face direct liability for any gravity-related incidents that occur.
Should a worker fall without a harness, get struck by falling construction materials or sustain injuries in a scaffolding collapse, they may have the option of filing a lawsuit. While most work injuries simply make professionals eligible for workers’ compensation, gravity-related construction site injuries open the door to personal injury lawsuits.
In cases where workers sustain major injuries that produce both medical expenses and lost wages, the Scaffold Law makes it possible for them to seek compensation from property owners. Reviewing the circumstances of a construction site incident with a lawyer can help people understand their rights. Both insurance claims and litigation can help offset the significant financial losses triggered by gravity-related construction incidents.