Markhoff & Mittman, P.C. : 2020

Friday, March 13, 2020

Construction Worker Killed By Wall Collapse In Queens

A 50-year-old construction worker has been killed in a construction accident in Queens.

Wall Collapse In Queens Claims The Life Of A Construction Worker

On February 20th, 2020, just before noon, a wall collapsed at a construction site on 94th Avenue. The wall was meant to come down, eventually, as the three-story building was being demolished, however, the actual collapse was uncontrolled and unexpected.

When the FDNY arrived, they discovered that one man had been buried under the debris and another had been partially buried. They were able to free the partially buried worker very quickly and rushed him to the hospital where doctors determined he was in serious condition. The other man, however, was not as lucky and succumbed to his injuries before emergency responders even arrived.

The Department of Buildings has shut down the construction site and will perform an investigation to determine what happened.

Will Criminal Charges Be Filed Against The Construction Company?

While it is uncommon, it is possible for criminal charges to be filed against those responsible if it can be determined that these charges are appropriate.

Although criminal charges may not be filed, it could be possible for the family of the victim and the surviving employee to take legal action against the responsible party. This legal action would be in the form of a civil lawsuit and if successful, would provide damages that would cover the losses sustained by those harmed.

In addition to a civil lawsuit, the injured worker and the surviving loved ones of the deceased have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. This claim should cover medical expenses, the loss of a fraction of wages, and death benefits.

Although workers’ compensation is required by law, the law does not require insurance companies to pay all claims. This is why insurance companies train their adjusters to look for reasons to deny a claim. Sadly, this results in a large percentage of claims being denied for something as simple as a mistake made on a claim form.

At The Disability Guys, our workers’ comp lawyers have been rights for the rights of New York workers since 1933. If you need assistance with your workers’ compensation claim or appeal, contact our local law offices today.

White Plains
Markhoff & Mittman, P.C.
120 Bloomingdale Rd #401
White Plains, NY 10605
914-946-1452

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Markhoff & Mittman, P.C.
186 Joralemon St. #701a
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-509-3599

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Markhoff & Mittman, P.C.
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East Meadow, NY 11554
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Markhoff & Mittman, P.C.
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New York, NY 10035
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Thursday, February 6, 2020

Two NYC Utility Workers Seriously Burned In Explosion

Two National Grid employees have been hospitalized following a gas line explosion in Brooklyn.

Gas Line Explosion Terrifies Brooklyn Neighborhood & Injures Two Workers

On Tuesday, January 28th, 2020, two men were below ground working on upgrading the gas lines in a Brooklyn neighborhood when suddenly, an explosion rocked the area they were working in. Witnesses stated that the two men jumped out of the hole screaming and began to remove their clothing, which was burning. Local sanitation workers stopped to help the victims as best they could, giving them water while they waited for first responders to arrive.

Both men were rushed to Staten Island University Hospital North where they are hospitalized in serious condition in the burn unit.

It took hours for firefighters to put the underground flames out.

Con Edison employees also arrived, going from home to home to check for leaks. One of the neighbors stated that she was terrified her house would explode and left with her children and pets until it had been confirmed that the leak was under control.

Burns Can Take Months To Heal

Serious burns are come of the worst injuries that an employee can sustain. Depending on the severity, a patient with burns may have to spend several months being treated in a burn unit. Impacted limbs may have to be amputated and significant scarring is common.

Workers' compensation is one way that burned workers can obtain coverage for their medical expenses. While this type of insurance policy is supposed to cover any worker injured on the job, insurance companies fight to deny as many claims as possible in order to save money.

The experienced workers' comp lawyers at The Disability Guys have helped thousands of workers fight for justice and for the insurance coverage they deserve. Call one of our local law offices to learn more about your options after being hurt on the job.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Manslaughter Charges Filed After Brooklyn Construction Accident Claims A Life

The Brooklyn District Attorney, Eric Gonzalez, has announced that two companies and three people have been charged with manslaughter, while another company and three individuals are facing lesser charges, all associated with the deadly construction accident that claimed the life of a man in September 2018.

Prosecutors Believe Wall Collapse Should Have Been Prevented

According to court documents, Luiz Sanchez Almonte was killed on September 12th, 2018 when he was buried under the heavy weight of bricks when a wall collapsed. It took a full day for rescue workers to recover his body from under the rubble.

While construction accidents occur on a regular basis the difference in this case, according to prosecutors, is that the subcontractor willfully ignored a specific cave in warning that was issued not long before the collapse.

In addition to this, the subcontractor and those responsible had been told by their employees that the working conditions were dangerous. A neighbor behind the site had also informed them that her patio and garden had collapsed, believing it to be connected to the ongoing construction. Despite this, the subcontractor ordered the employees to continue working and did not halt work to assess the situation.

Additionally, the subcontractor also has a criminal history of a construction related incident involving bribery.

District Attorney Gonzalez hopes that these charges will not only help the family of Almonte feel a sense that justice has been served but will also inspire other negligent contractors to do what is right and to follow safety regulations.

These criminal charges aren't the only legal complaints that the defendants could face. The surviving loved ones of Almonte also have the right to take legal action against those responsible.

Death Benefits Available Through Workers' Compensation

When a worker dies in a job related accident, their loved ones can recover some compensation through workers' comp. While these benefits certainly don't make up for their loss, it can help to ensure that the family isn't impacted financially.

Additionally, a wrongful death lawsuit could potentially be filed against the negligent party. This lawsuit can provide additional compensation and send a message that negligence will not be tolerated.

To learn more about workers' comp and wrongful death lawsuits, contact one of our local law offices today.