Construction Accidents In Buffalo, New York

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 194,300 nonfatal and 971 fatal construction workplace injuries took place in 2017. In New York, the number of fatal construction workplace injuries has risen from 2016.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of trial lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. have obtained several multimillion-dollar settlements for injured construction workers in Buffalo, New York. Call us today at 716-839-3939 so that we can assist you in assessing whether you have a claim.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. obtained a $1,800,000.00 settlement for a 41-year-old injured construction worker who fell approximately 30 feet to the ground from a scaffold pick. A scaffold pick is a construction of two ladders connected by a metal plank. The worker suffered a collapsed lung, broken ribs and a fractured vertebra. He also required three complex surgeries as a result of his fall.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. fought to obtain compensation for the injured worker by:

1. Taking six depositions of witnesses. This included depositions of the injured construction worker, the president of the residential construction business which employed the worker and co-workers that were present on the day of the incident;
2. Hiring an expert in the field of economics to calculate and testify to the injured construction worker’s future economic damages including lost wages and future medical treatment expenses;
3. Hiring an expert in the field of vocational rehabilitation to examine and testify to the injured construction worker’s disability status and potential for re-entering into the workforce; and
4. Consulting with experts in the field of orthopedic surgery regarding the injured construction worker’s permanent loss of use of his arm and the need for future surgeries.

Additionally, Jed Dietrich, Esq. has represented several other injured construction workers in Buffalo, New York. Jed Dietrich, Esq. fought to recover:

1. A $1,250,000.00 settlement for a construction worker who suffered a fractured arm and a right foot injury after a 30-foot fall from a 2x4;
2. A $675,000.00 settlement for a construction worker who suffered a shattered left ankle after a 15-foot fall from an elevated work space; and
3. A $125,000.00 settlement for a construction worker who suffered burns to his scalp, neck, back, arms and buttocks after a load of hot asphalt was released upon him.

You, and your loved ones, deserve the best personal injury lawyer in Buffalo, New York. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his elite team of Buffalo, New York construction accident lawyers have settled $175,000,000.00 on behalf of their clients. They will battle to obtain the best possible result for YOU!

The dangerous nature of the construction industry makes it very likely that even the most careful workers can be seriously injured.

Often, construction accidents are caused by:

1. Slips, trips and falls;
2. Falls from ladders, scaffolding, stairwells and picks;
3. Collapse of improperly constructed trenches, excavation walls and scaffolding;
4. Failure to follow state safety regulations;
5. Failure to provide safety harnesses, safety glasses, ear protection and other safety appliances;
6. Improper operation of or failure to keep a proper lookout while operating bulldozers, dump trucks, excavators, forklifts, scissor lifts and other construction vehicles;
7. Burns, explosions and chemical spills; and
8. Falling objects.

Unfortunately, construction accidents not only lead to serious bodily injuries, but construction injuries also lead to death. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were 69 fatal construction workplace injuries in New York State in 2017.

If you, or a loved one, suffered a serious injury on a construction site, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top rated team of construction accident lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. for a free consultation. We can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 716-839-3939. We will come to you and there is never a fee until we WIN for you.

Generally, an employee cannot sue their employer in New York State. However, workers who are injured from a fall or a trip and fall at a construction site can sue owners and other entities at a construction site under certain circumstances.

Contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today at 716-839-3939 to find out if you have a claim and to preserve your rights.

Fortunately, New York State has several labor laws in place to help protect construction workers who are injured on the job. The following are the portions of the New York State Labor Law that are applicable to construction accident cases:

1. Section 240. Scaffolding and Other Devices for the Use of Employees.

   Section 240 requires all owners, contractors and their agents to construct and maintain any equipment that allows workers to reach elevated heights in a manner which provides proper protection to those who use them.

   Such equipment includes, but is not limited to:

   1. Scaffolding;
   2. Hoists;
   3. Stays;
   4. Ladders;
   5. Slings;
   6. Hangers;
   7. Blocks;
   8. Pulleys;
   9. Braces;
   10. Irons;
   11. Ropes;
   12. Picks; and
   13. Other devices.
   
   

   This section also requires that there be a suitable safety rail attached to scaffolding or staging that is more than twenty feet high. Furthermore, scaffolding must be constructed so that it is able to carry four times the maximum weight that it will actually bear.

   Section 240(1) imposes strict liability on employers for injuries resulting from elevation-related accidents. Strict liability means that if you are injured after a fall from scaffolding, ladders or other similar equipment, and your employer failed to provide you with proper safety equipment, then they can be held legally liable for your injuries.

   For example, if an employer provided a faulty ladder for use on a construction site and a construction worker fell from the ladder and suffered serious bodily injuries, the employer may be held strictly liable.

   Faulty ladders may be evidenced by:

   1. Worn or torn rubber footing;
   2. Loose screw(s);
   3. Crooked or unevenly spaced rungs;
   4. Improper sliding or locking capabilities;
   5. Rust or other signs of age; or
   6. A recall of the ladder by the manufacturer.
   
   

   If you, or a loved one, were a construction worker who suffered injuries after a fall, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top team of ladder and scaffolding injury lawyers in Buffalo, New York at 716-839-3939.

2. Section 241(6). Construction, Excavation and Demolition Work.

   Section 241(6) requires that construction areas be constructed and operated so as to provide reasonable and adequate protection to construction workers. Owners, contractors and their agents can be held liable for injuries that construction workers suffer as a result of a violation of New York’s Industrial Code.

   For example, Section 23-1.16(f) of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations requires that employers not allow workers to use safety belts or harnesses that show any indication of mildew, broken fabric or excessive wear that could materially alter the strength of the equipment.

   Therefore, if a construction worker was injured because of a torn or excessively worn safety belt or harness, they may be able to file a claim for personal injuries.

   If you, or a loved one, were a construction worker who suffered a workplace injury due to your employer’s failure to provide you reasonable and adequate protection, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top team of construction, excavation and demolition work injury lawyers in Buffalo, New York at 716-839-3939.

3. Section 200. General Duty to Protect Health and Safety of Employees; Enforcement.

   Section 200 requires that all construction areas, equipment and other devices be operated, constructed and maintained so as to provide construction workers with a reasonably safe environment.

There are strict time deadlines for personal injury claims resulting from a workplace injury.

When you call, Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of experienced construction accident lawyers will work to identify all of the parties who are responsible for your injuries.

Potential defendants in a construction accident case include:

1. The general contractor;
2. Independent contractors;
3. Site owner; and
4. Project managers or supervisors.

Each construction accident injury case is unique. It is best to contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. NOW at 716-839-3939 so that we can help you. Jed Dietrich, Esq. is a Buffalo, New York construction accident lawyer who is recognized as a Best Lawyer of America. He will always fight to obtain the best result possible for his clients. Call Jed Dietrich, Esq. today for the help that you need.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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