Ladder & Scaffolding Accident Lawyer in NYC

Falls from ladders and scaffolds cause hundreds of worker injuries and deaths every year. A worker can suffer a serious injury from just six feet up if he or she lands the wrong way. Fractured bones, head and brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries are just three of the most common damages workers suffer in fall accidents. In many cases, workers would not have sustained injuries if everyone involved had exercised due care. It’s our job at Pazer, Epstein, Jaffe & Fein, P.C., to get to the bottom of these incidents in NYC and help workers obtain the compensation they deserve.

Staying Safe While Working from Heights

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) names falls as one of the construction industry’s “fatal four,” or the four most dangerous risks for workers. Falls from ladders and scaffolds killed 364 workers in 2015, representing 38.8% of all fatal accidents. OSHA gives many rules and regulations for keeping workers safe from falls on construction sites and in other industries. Employers must obey these rules and provide for the reasonable safety of employees. OSHA rules aim to eliminate the most common causes of falls, including:

Failure to obey OSHA’s regulations, industry best practices, and standard duties of care can result in worker injury and death. We’ve handled more fall-related cases than we can count from an employer’s refusal to obey OSHA’s safety standards, or negligent employment practices in the name of greater profitability. We don’t take employer negligence lightly and neither should you as an injured employee.

When to Sue for a Ladder or Scaffold Injury

After most fall injuries in the workplace, victims can pursue benefits through workers’ compensation claims. However, personal injury lawsuits generally result in greater compensation amounts if someone else’s negligence contributed to the incident. Once you file for workers’ comp in New York, you give up your right to sue your employer. This might not be the best course of action for your particular case. Speak to an attorney before filling for workers’ comp after a bad fall.

Before you file for workers’ comp, consider if negligence played a role in your injury. You may have suffered broken bones, concussion, brain injury, or a spinal cord injury when you fell off the ladder or scaffold. A personal injury lawsuit could be the best way to recover for all your related damages, not just your medical bills. If your employer was negligent or careless in some manner that contributed to your injuries, think about a lawsuit.

Conferring with one of our NYC attorneys can open your eyes to potential legal solutions after a harmful fall in the workplace. You may have a case against your employer, a coworker, a product manufacturer, and/or a third party. Our legal team can help you come up with the right strategy for your individual situation, and pursue maximum compensation through the appropriate outlets. A fall may have interrupted your life, but a lawsuit can get it back on track. Find out more during a free consultation with one of our lead lawyers.