A Dangerous Industry that Deserves Strong Protection

As attorney Jonathan C. Reiter explained in his recent video statement, construction sites are some of the most dangerous workplaces in the city. Workers often perform jobs hundreds of feet in the air, surrounded by heavy machinery and hazardous materials.
“Every day brings new risks,” Reiter said. “That’s why constant vigilance and a strong safety culture are essential.”

Gravity-related accidents — such as falls from scaffolds, ladders, or rooftops and falling object injuries — remain the most common causes of serious injuries and deaths on New York construction sites. Even a dropped wrench or a loose piece of concrete can cause catastrophic harm.

New York’s Strong Laws — and How They Protect Workers

Reiter emphasized New York’s Scaffold Law (Labor Law Section 240) — one of the strongest worker protection laws in the United States.
This law holds property owners and general contractors responsible for providing proper safety equipment and maintaining safe work conditions. Even if they weren’t directly supervising the worker, they can still be held liable for failing to follow safety standards.

“The law recognizes that workers who dedicate their lives to building our city deserve full protection — and full compensation — when injured,” said Reiter.

Beyond Workers’ Compensation — Full Recovery Matters

While workers’ compensation covers medical bills and partial lost wages, it often falls short of what injured workers truly need.
Reiter’s firm helps clients pursue additional compensation for all lost income, future medical care, pain and suffering, and even lost Social Security benefits — ensuring that families don’t face financial ruin because of someone else’s negligence.

“Workers aren’t just case numbers — they’re fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters,” Reiter noted. “Our mission is to help them rebuild their lives when tragedy strikes.”

Evidence Disappears Fast — Don’t Wait to Get Help

Construction sites change every day. Equipment gets moved, debris cleared, and evidence can disappear quickly.
Reiter urges injured workers not to rely on workers’ comp alone, but to contact an experienced attorney immediately. His firm investigates the scene while evidence is still fresh, identifies safety violations, and determines every possible source of recovery.

Fighting for the Latino Construction Community

Jonathan C. Reiter Law Firm PLLC is committed to serving Spanish-speaking and Latino construction workers throughout New York City.
Many laborers come from immigrant families and work tirelessly to support their loved ones — often without knowing their full legal rights. This new outreach initiative includes bilingual legal consultations, educational materials, and community partnerships aimed at empowering Latino workers to stand up for their safety and rights.

“Nuestra comunidad latina construye esta ciudad. Merecen respeto, protección y justicia,”
— Jonathan C. Reiter, Esq.

A Lifeline for Injured Workers in All Five Boroughs

Whether you work in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, or Staten Island, the Jonathan C. Reiter Law Firm PLLC stands ready to help you understand your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.

If you or someone you love was injured on a construction site, contact the Manhattan construction injury accident law firm that’s protecting the workers who build New York.

Contact:
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Phone: (212) 736-0979
Website: www.jcreiterlaw.com
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Los sitios de construcción: entre los lugares de trabajo más peligrosos

Los sitios de construcción de Nueva York son algunos de los lugares más peligrosos para trabajar. Los obreros suelen laborar a cientos de metros del suelo, rodeados de maquinaria pesada, materiales peligrosos y múltiples contratistas en un mismo lugar.
Como señaló el abogado Jonathan C. Reiter en una entrevista con The New York Times:

“Es un entorno con tanto potencial de peligro que requiere una vigilancia constante y un enfoque diario para mantener la seguridad. Esa cultura de cuidado tiene que ser parte del trabajo.”

Accidentes más comunes: caídas y objetos que caen

Los accidentes relacionados con la gravedad son los más frecuentes. Esto incluye caídas desde andamios, escaleras, puentes o partes inacabadas de edificios.
También se consideran los accidentes por objetos que caen, como herramientas, piezas de metal o concreto, que pueden causar lesiones graves o incluso la muerte.
Estos incidentes ocurren a diario y muchas veces se deben a la falta de medidas adecuadas de seguridad.

La Ley de Andamios de Nueva York — Protegiendo a los trabajadores

La Ley de Andamios de Nueva York (Sección 240 de la Ley Laboral) fue creada específicamente para proteger a los trabajadores de construcción.
Obliga a los propietarios y contratistas generales a proporcionar el equipo y las medidas de seguridad adecuadas, incluso si no estuvieron directamente involucrados en el accidente.
Esta ley es una de las más fuertes del país en cuanto a protección laboral, y permite responsabilizar a quienes no cumplan con las normas de seguridad.

¿A quién puedo demandar si sufro un accidente en una obra?

El propietario, el contratista general e incluso los subcontratistas tienen la obligación legal de garantizar un lugar de trabajo seguro.
Si no lo hacen y ocurre un accidente, pueden ser considerados responsables.
Las leyes de Nueva York van más allá de la compensación laboral y ofrecen protección adicional a los trabajadores lesionados.

¿La compensación laboral es suficiente?

No siempre.
La compensación laboral cubre gastos médicos y parte del salario perdido, pero no ofrece una recuperación total.
Si se demuestra negligencia o violación de las normas de seguridad, los trabajadores pueden recuperar el valor completo de lo que perdieron:

• Todos los ingresos perdidos 
• Atención médica futura 
• Beneficios del Seguro Social 
• Compensación por dolor y sufrimiento 

“Los trabajadores que dedicaron su vida a aprender su oficio merecen una compensación total cuando esa capacidad se les arrebata,” afirmó Reiter.

Actúe rápido: la evidencia desaparece

En una obra de construcción, las condiciones cambian a diario.
Las herramientas se mueven, los escombros se limpian y la evidencia puede desaparecer en cuestión de horas.
Por eso, es esencial contactar a un abogado especializado de inmediato.
Un experto puede investigar el lugar del accidente mientras la evidencia aún está fresca y determinar todas las fuentes posibles de compensación.

Reglas de seguridad que protegen a los trabajadores

Nueva York cuenta con innumerables reglas dentro del Código Industrial que protegen a todo tipo de trabajadores:
electricistas, carpinteros, albañiles, técnicos de HVAC y obreros.
Estas reglas incluyen:

• Acceso seguro entre pisos 
• Protección contra objetos sobresalientes 
• Requisitos para andamios y redes de seguridad 

Cuando se violan estas normas y un trabajador resulta herido, la ley ofrece soluciones que van más allá de la compensación laboral.

El verdadero impacto de un accidente de construcción

Más allá de las lesiones físicas, un accidente puede cambiar por completo la vida de un trabajador y su familia.
Pérdida de ingresos, beneficios y estabilidad.
La ley reconoce que no se trata solo de facturas médicas, sino de reconstruir una vida que ha cambiado para siempre.

“Nuestra comunidad latina construye esta ciudad. Merece respeto, protección y justicia.”
— Jonathan C. Reiter, Esq.

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Manhattan Construction Injury Accident Law Firm
Teléfono: (212) 736-0979
Sitio web: www.jcreiterlaw.com
¡Hablamos Español y defendemos tus derechos!

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Construction work is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, and workers face serious risks every day. Unfortunately, injuries are common says Jonathan C. Reiter a leading NYC based Construction accident lawyer. 

When a worker is hurt on a construction site, the first priority should be seeking medical care as soon as possible. However, it doesn’t take long for bills to start piling up. Additionally, construction workers must worry about missing time from work and dealing with pain from their injuries. 

On a large construction site, there can be many parties who bear responsibility for a construction worker’s injuries. 

Construction Sites Are Dangerous

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), over 4,300 construction workers were killed at work in 2014. These deaths accounted for over 20 percent of workplace fatalities that year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that construction workers suffer deadly workplace injuries at a rate three times higher than American workers in other industries.   

By nature, construction is a dangerous job. In some cases, workers must do their jobs at extreme heights, where a slip and fall can mean a catastrophic injury or death. Crews must also work with heavy machinery and tools that require electricity, putting them at risk of electrocution. In other cases, they must use chemicals and toxins on the job. 

On construction sites, around 95 percent of health issues workers encounter are due to injuries, with the remaining 5 percent made up of illnesses. Construction work injuries are so common that OSHA refers to the most common construction work injuries as the “fatal four.” Together, these four types of injuries accounted for over 60 percent of construction worker deaths in 2014. 

• Falls – At 40 percent of all construction deaths, falls are the most common accident type among the fatal four. There were 359 deaths in 2014.
  
• Electrocution – 8.2 percent of construction deaths were caused by electrocution, with 74 workers dying due to electrocution.
  
• Struck by an object – This can include objects dropped from a height or a tool or piece of machinery striking someone. These types of accidents accounted for 8.1 percent of fatalities, with 73 workers killed.
  
• Caught in between objects – Crushing injuries killed 39 construction workers and accounted for 4.3 percent of construction deaths. 

Who Is Liable for Construction Worker Injuries?

Many construction sites in New York City are sprawling job sites with a lot of moving parts. There can be many parties involved on a job site, and each of these parties may bear some responsibility for a construction worker’s injury or death. 

• Site owner – The owner of the site is usually the possessor of the property while a construction job is ongoing. As the land’s owner or occupant, the site owner typically exercises significant control over the site and the work being performed. This usually means they are legally liable for injuries or deaths that occur when they knew or should have known about a hazardous condition on the property.
  
• General contractor – The general contractor, as well as certain subcontractors, may be held liable when a worker is injured or killed. In many cases, it falls to the general contractor to make sure that workers have the appropriate safety equipment and training to work without being unnecessarily exposed to dangers.
  
• Architects – In some cases, a construction accident occurs because a building or structure is inherently unsafe or hasn’t been properly inspected before work is permitted to continue. It may be possible for an architect or a building engineer to bear responsibility for a construction worker’s death or injury. 
• Equipment manufacturers – If a construction site injury or death occurs due to faulty or defective equipment, the maker of that equipment could be held liable for a construction accident that leads to death or injury. 

What to Do If You Have Been Hurt on a Construction Site

If you have been injured on the job as a construction worker, there are steps you can take to help protect your claim. First, you should get medical help for your injuries. It’s important to avoid delays in medical treatment, as an insurance company or other responsible party might try to argue that your injuries were caused by some other type of accident rather than the construction site accident. 

You should also gather as much information as you can after your accident. If there’s an opportunity to file an accident report, make sure you follow the proper protocols for making your report. Talk to witnesses and ask them to write down what they observed. If possible, take photos of the accident site as well as your injuries. 

It’s also important to discuss your case with an experienced New York City construction accident lawyer. Construction injury cases can be complicated. A knowledgeable construction accident lawyer can help you understand your rights.  

Sources:

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However, cranes are also complex machines with a lot of moving parts. If they are damaged or assembled improperly, they can drop heavy equipment or construction materials hundreds of feet to the ground. In other cases, a crane collapses, causing serious injuries or fatalities.

According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), there are about 125,000 cranes in operation in the United States today.  

Causes of Crane Accidents

Crane accidents and collapses can happen for any number of reasons. However, there are certain types of crane accidents that tend to happen more often than others. Common causes of crane accidents and collapses include:

• The crane dropping materials to the ground
• Cranes making contact with power lines
• Overloaded cranes that collapse under too much weight
• Cranes assembled improperly
• Worker falling from cranes
• Boom collapse
• Rigging failures
• Crushing by counterweights
• Unqualified crane operator
• Crane accidents caused by improper maintenance
• Overturned cranes

According to OSHA, cranes making contact with power lines account for 45 percent of all crane accidents. Crane accidents can also happen when a construction company or site supervisor selects the wrong type of crane for the job. When companies attempt to save money by cutting corners on safety, horrific accidents can occur. However a crane accident or collapse occurs, these are catastrophic events that tend to cause life-changing injuries.

No matter how a crane accident happens, it is typically a serious event that results in devastating injuries and even fatalities. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a crane accident or collapse, you have important legal rights. Don’t hesitate to speak to a construction accident lawyer about the next steps in your case.  

Strong Winds Whip Up Crane Safety Debates

In 2017, a series of crane accidents renewed debate about crane safety and what can be done to prevent crane accidents and collapses. As NPR reports, three massive cranes in South Florida were battered by the strong winds of Hurricane Irma. In one accident, a crane’s arm was snapped off by the wind and left dangling by wires more than 40 stories in the air. The other two cranes broke up in the wind. The story states, “…these latest failures are raising new questions about whether [cranes are] safe in major storms. In all three cases, the long arms of the crane snapped loose. At Gran Paraiso, multi-ton counterweights crashed to the sidewalk below.”

Injuries Caused by Crane Accidents

Crane accidents almost always result in catastrophic injuries. When you consider the size of the typical construction crane, it’s easy to see how these massive machines can inflict devastating injuries. Common crane accident injuries include:

• Crushing injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Injuries to the neck, back, and spine
• Struck by a falling object
• Electrocution when cranes come into contact with power lines

In the most devastating construction accident cases, a construction worker is killed due to a crane collapse or other type of crane accident. In these cases, the deceased worker’s family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim, which entitles them to receive compensation for the loss of their loved one. While money can never replace a beloved family member, the compensation can help ease the financial burden of medical bills, funeral costs, and other damages.

Is the Construction Company to Blame?

When a crane accident or collapse occurs, one of the first steps in a case is to determine who is responsible for the accident. Depending on the size and scale of the construction project, there may be multiple people or entities involved in the accident. In some cases, construction companies are from out of state or even outside the country.

In some cases, a construction company hires an inexperienced crane operator. Working a crane requires a great deal of training and skill. When construction companies fail to properly vet the operators they employ, they can be held accountable for accidents that result.  

This is why it’s important for a worker injured in a crane accident to work with an experienced construction accident lawyer. Too often, injured workers become overwhelmed by the medical costs and lost wages associated with their injury. In the face of serious pain and suffering, along with financial burdens, they fail to get the compensation they deserve. A knowledgeable construction accident lawyer can help you hold the proper parties accountable. No one should have to shoulder the burden of a construction company’s negligence.

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Prior results cannot and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future case. Recoveries always depend upon the facts and circumstances of each case, the injuries suffered, damages incurred, and the responsibility of those involved.

Sources:

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