Scaffolding Accidents In Buffalo, New York

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According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the amount of fatal injuries suffered throughout the construction industry is higher than all other industries. The largest number of deaths resulting from construction accidents are attributed to workers falling from great heights.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. has personally fought to obtain monetary compensation for workers who fell from great heights in Buffalo, New York. These include:

1. A $1,800,000.00 settlement for a man who fell approximately 30 feet to the ground from a scaffold pick;
2. A $1,750,000.00 settlement for a man who fell approximately 40 feet to the ground from the roof of a building; and
3. A $1,250,000.00 settlement for a man who fell approximately 30 feet from a 2x4.

Countless construction job sites throughout Buffalo, New York require the use of scaffolding to build, renovate or paint building structures. When properly constructed and when workers are properly harnessed in, scaffolding can enable construction workers to gain safe access to work locations that would otherwise be impossible to reach, provide a secure working platform, and temporary storage for supplies and tools required to complete the job.

It is estimated that approximately 2.3 million construction workers use scaffolds on a daily basis throughout the United States. Construction workers, roofers, painters, various maintenance workers and window cleaners regularly work on and in close proximity to scaffolding. All of these workers are exposed to the risk of severe injuries or even death if they are not properly tied off or if the scaffolding is poorly assembled, inadequately maintained or dismantled incompetently.

After a worker suffers injuries from a scaffolding accident, they will receive workers’ compensation benefits to cover their medical bills and lost wages. In cases where a worker’s fall from a height resulted from the employer’s failure to provide proper safety equipment, they may be held liable in a personal injury lawsuit for a violation of the New York State Labor Law. Additionally, in certain instances contractors and subcontractors can also be held liable.

Scaffolding accident victims want the best personal injury lawyer in Buffalo, New York in their corner. Since 1999, Jed Dietrich, Esq., recognized as a Best Lawyer of America and New York Super Lawyer, has exclusively handled serious personal injury cases and has helped many injured construction workers in Buffalo, New York recover the compensation that they deserve after a devastating fall.

Insurance companies have paid Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his highly experienced, top rated and elite team of Buffalo, New York scaffolding accident injury lawyers over $175,000,000.00 in verdicts and settlements to compensate his clients for their serious personal injuries. Our team understands how to properly and aggressively pursue scaffolding accident injury claims, and we will fight to attempt to get you the maximum compensation possible for your injuries. Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. TODAY at 716-839-3939 for a free consultation if you were seriously injured in a scaffolding accident. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, and there is never a fee unless we win for you!

According to the Network Environmental Systems, Inc. (NES), scaffold violations were third on OSHA’s top 10 list of safety violations in 2018. Persons commonly exposed to the most devastating scaffolding accidents include scaffold assemblers and dismantlers, staff working on scaffolds and anyone else in close proximity to the scaffolding. Assemblers and dismantlers are especially at risk because they work on scaffolds before the platforms, planks and guardrails are fully put together or installed.

Below are some of the most common causes of tragic scaffolding accidents:

1. Insufficient fall safeguards, harnesses or other safety equipment;
2. Inadequate or lack of proper on-the-job training;
3. Lack of rules or enforcement of safety rules on the worksite;
4. Weak or unsteady planking;
5. Breakdowns at various parts or points of attachment;
6. Loose or missing bracing;
7. Faulty safety equipment;
8. Overloading of scaffolding;
9. Falling objects; and
10. Shifting environmental or weather conditions, such as high winds or snow.

If you, or a loved one, were seriously injured in an accident in a scaffolding accident, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his aggressive, tenacious and hardworking team of lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today at 716-839-3939. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, and there is never a fee unless we WIN for you! Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of highly experienced Buffalo, New York scaffolding accident attorneys will battle to obtain the best result for you.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), approximately three-fourths of all scaffold-related injuries result because of inadequate support, slipping, planking or being struck by a falling item. The BLS believes that by implementing proper safety measures to prevent scaffold-related accidents, over 60 fatalities and 4,500 injuries can be prevented every year.

OSHA suggests that construction companies should establish appropriate strategies and guidelines for the safe assembly, employment and dismantling of scaffolds, and recommends the following:

1. Design a dependable scaffold: It is essential to design a safe scaffold that can tolerate its own weight and at least four times the maximum weight it is meant to uphold. Construction companies should consult with engineers to assess the scaffold and the engineers should review the design and identify any overly burdened spots that may be in need of additional reinforcement.
2. Properly assemble the scaffold: After assembling the scaffold, it should be inspected. A list of appropriate uses for the scaffold must be established. All safeguards and fall protections have to be thoroughly inspected to ensure the correct equipment is being used in the approved manner.
3. Specialized Training: Systematic training is necessary for all employees working on or near the scaffold. Companies using a scaffold must have a detailed training system for new employees as well as a periodic refresher training program for all other employees. Professional training should stress safety above everything. Only those that are trained and qualified should be granted access the scaffold.
4. Safety protective equipment: Every employee should be provided with suitable safety gear, such as body harnesses, rope grabs, helmets, lanyards and independent lifeline anchorages. It is necessary to strictly enforce the constant use of all safety gear among workers to prevent falls.
5. Regularly check safety equipment: Frequently check to ensure that all safety equipment is properly functioning. If any parts show signs of wear or are malfunctioning, they should be replaced immediately.
6. Keep the scaffold tidy and clean: Any spills or liquids, as well as debris, should be wiped up or picked up as soon as possible to prevent slipping or tripping.

It is extremely important to have detailed procedures in place for operating, assembling, dismantling and shifting the scaffold. Head controllers should be exceptionally knowledgeable, capable, experienced and thoroughly trained to ensure that assembly and dismantling are completed prudently as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you, or a loved one, were injured in a scaffolding accident, contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today at 716-839-3939. Our team of highly experienced and top rated scaffolding accident injury lawyers in Buffalo, New York will fight for the compensation that you deserve for the injuries that you suffered. This may include monetary compensation for your medical bills, lost time from work and pain and suffering.

New York Labor Law § 240, commonly referred to as the scaffolding law, encompasses special provisions for employees injured by or on scaffolds and other similar equipment.

These special provisions are designed to help protect construction workers who are injured on the job. Section 240(1) of the New York Labor Law imposes strict liability on employers for injuries resulting from elevation-related accidents. This means that an employer could be held liable if a construction worker is injured or dies from a fall from scaffolding and the employer failed to provide adequate safety equipment. In addition, section 240(1) requires scaffolding over twenty feet high to have a suitable safety rail and be constructed so that it can carry four times the maximum weight that it will bear.

While workers’ compensation provides scaffolding accident victims with medical expenses and a portion of lost wages, Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of experienced scaffolding accident injury attorneys in Buffalo, New York will meticulously investigate your scaffolding accident and examine all of the evidence. Once all of the liable parties are determined, we can pursue damages through a personal injury lawsuit, which may include compensation for your present and future medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. has the experience and proven results to help you get the compensation you deserve after a scaffolding accident. Contact us today at 716-839-3939 for your free consultation with our team of Buffalo, New York scaffolding accident attorneys. There are strict time constraints for filing a claim for personal injuries after a scaffolding accident in New York State, so do not delay! Contact us today!

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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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