Most New Yorkers don't think twice about walking under scaffolding because, due to the constant construction going on in the city, scaffolding is regularly built over the very sidewalk with a passageway for pedestrians to use. If scaffolding is constructed properly, the employees and pedestrians that come into contact with it should have nothing to fear, however, there are often structural issues with scaffolding and collapses happen frequently.
Two Pedestrians & One Construction Worker Injured
At around 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 14th, 2018, construction crews were working on breaking down scaffolding which had been constructed on Joralemon St in Brooklyn. At some point during the tear down, something went terribly wrong and a 20-foot section of the structure collapsed. The accident happened in a matter of seconds, giving victims almost no time to react.
Large peices of wood and metal fell to the ground, striking three people below, including two pedestrians who were just passing by and the construction crew supervisor. Although all of the victims are expected to recover, they did sustain serious injuries.
Although an investigation is still underway, the company in charge of the scaffolding, New Force Construction Corporation, has been fined $25,000 by the Department of Buildings for "failing to safeguard persons and property during a construction operation."
In this case, the injured worker should be able to collect workers' compensation, however, the company may be facing two lawsuits if the injured pedestrians seek to obtain compensation for the injuries that they suffered.
Workers' Comp Should Pay For Medical Expenses
Workers' comp was created so that anyone who is hurt on the job has a way to remain financially stable as they heal. But obtaining coverage is much more difficult than it should be and often, legal assistance is required.
Contact one of our law offices now to learn more about how we can help you.
Markhoff & Mittman, P.C.
120 Bloomingdale Rd #401
White Plains, NY 10605
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Markhoff & Mittman, P.C.
1778 Hempstead Turnpike
East Meadow, NY 11554
516-267-6873
Markhoff & Mittman, P.C.
186 Joralemon St #701a
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-509-3599
Markhoff & Mittman, P.C.
1825 Park Ave #901
New York, NY 10035
212-897-9004
Markhoff & Mittman, P.C.
3 Hatfield Ln. #2b
Goshen, NY 10924
845-360-9931
