Walking under scaffolds and through active construction zones is a common occurrence for New York City pedestrians. With hundreds of ongoing construction projects throughout the five boroughs, it is highly likely passersby will have to traverse construction sites. Unfortunately, unsafe passageways and walkways can result in personal injuries. If you or a loved one suffered an injury involving an unsafe passageway or walkway abutting a construction site, contact the lawyers at Sullivan Papain Block McManus, Coffinas, and Cannavo, P.C., for a free consultation.
Why Choose Us?
- We have extensive experience handling construction site accidents of all types in New York City.
- A large and prestigious personal injury firm, we offer a wealth of resources we can use for our clients, as a large and prestigious personal injury firm.
- We have recovered more than $2 billion in settlements and verdicts for clients in the past 10 years alone.
Why You Need a Lawyer
Dangerous construction sites and trip-and-fall hazards often come down to construction company negligence. Going up against a construction company and its insurance provider, however, is not easy. Major insurance corporations often attempt to take advantage of clients by offering less than they know a claim is worth.
Your odds of an insurer offering an inadequate settlement decrease significantly when you hire an attorney. The construction accident lawyers at Sullivan Papain Block McManus, Coffinas, and Cannavo, P.C., can represent you during insurance claim negotiations or take your case to trial if necessary, to ensure that you receive fair compensation.
The Danger of Debris on the Walkway
Trip-and-fall accidents are some of the most common reasons for injury claims in New York. Failure to keep a construction site free from foreseeable trip hazards is an act of negligence that could cause serious and even fatal injuries. Debris such as bricks, cement, mortar, tools, buckets, and cords covering a passageway or walkway could cause bystander or pedestrian injuries.
- Wrist fracture
- Hip fracture
- Head injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Sprains and strains
- Twisted knee or ankle joint
- Shoulder or brachial plexus nerve injury
- Lacerations and bruising
Falls are especially dangerous for the elderly. Falls are the number one cause of injury-related death among older Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Debris covering a walkway abutting a construction site in New York City could cause a fatal fall for a senior citizen. If you lost a loved one in this circumstance, you may have grounds for a wrongful death claim against the construction company and/or another liable party.
Determining Liability
A construction company will be liable for most debris-related accidents that occur on public passageways on construction sites. It is the company’s job to hire site managers, workers, and subcontractors who are reasonable and prudent. The construction company will be vicariously responsible for the actions, omissions, and misconduct of its workers – including the negligent failure to clear pedestrian pathways of construction-related debris.
Another potential defendant could be the property owner. If the city owned the land where your accident occurred, you could have a claim against New York City for damages. You will have to prove that the city negligently failed to clear the debris, and that this mistake caused your accident and personal injuries. A lawyer can help you determine liability for your accident and seek compensation through all available outlets.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one tripped and fell in a debris-covered passageway or walkway in a New York City construction zone, contact us to discuss your case. You may have grounds for a personal injury claim against the construction company or another party. If so, you could be eligible to recover damages for your medical costs, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Call (212) 732-9000 anytime to schedule your free consultation with one of our construction accident attorneys.