Markhoff & Mittman, P.C.

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

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

Long Island
Markhoff & Mittman, P.C.
1778 Hempstead Turnpike
East Meadow, NY 11554
516-267-6873

NYC
Markhoff & Mittman, P.C.
1825 Park Ave #901
New York, NY 10035
212-897-9004

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.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

One Amtrak Employee Killed And Two Others Injured In New York

An investigation is underway after an Amtrak employee was killed and two others injured in the Van Nest section of The Bronx.

Transformer Explosion Kills Amtrak Worker

The explosion, which took place at around 11 a.m., was at a Con Edison station. Three employees were working on the transformer when the blast occurred. According to investigators, the employees were performing fuse work. The power to the transformer should have been shut off - but it wasn't.

A witness who was driving on the Unionport Bridge, a spot that overlooks the train tracks and substation, said that she saw a huge fireball. She called 911.

An investigation to determine why the power wasn't turned off is ongoing. The two surviving employees have been treated for their injuries.

Explosion Can Kill Or Disable A Worker

Explosions in the workplace happen was surprising regularity and frequently cause the death of a worker. Those that do survive are often diagnosed with:

severe burns
injuries that result in amputation
lacerations
impalement
damage to internal organs
traumatic brain injury
eye injuries

Each of these injuries can end a career and are typically very expensive to treat. Workers' compensation should pay for the care that is needed, however, denials are common.

The workers' comp lawyers at The Disability Guys help injured employees fight for the compensation that they need. Let our experienced legal team handle the case so that you and your loved ones can focus on what is most important - healing.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Four Construction Workers Injured In NY Scaffolding Collapse

Four construction workers were sent to the hospital, one with serious injuries, after scaffolding collapsed at a tower in Hudson Yards.

Construction Workers Fall From 18th Floor

According to first responders, two of the involved construction workers fell when the scaffolding they were standing on collapsed. That scaffolding was on the 18th floor. By some miracle, the collapse stopped on the 17th floor.

It hasn’t been noted how the other two workers were injured, but it’s likely that they were hit by falling debris or even their falling coworkers.

Three sustained minor injuries, however, the fourth was listed in serious condition. He is thankfully expected to survive.

Construction Workers Who Survive Accidents Often Have Large Medical Bills

Even with the best health insurance offered in the country, construction workers typically have huge out of pocket expenses after being hurt on the job. If the injuries are serious enough, they are forced to pay for these expenses without a regular income because they won’t be able to return to work.

This is exactly why the law requires workers’ compensation coverage for employees. But getting a claim approved isn’t an easy process.

Employers can dispute claims and insurance companies look for ways to deny coverage or reduce the amount paid out. Without legal help, compensation may never be obtained.

A workers’ comp lawyer, like those at Markhoff & Mittman, P.C., can help ensure that all the necessary paperwork is filled out correctly, can speak with the insurance company on a client’s behalf, and can fight a denial in court. Our legal team has been helping injured workers since 1933 and we are proud to have helped thousands recover the compensation they earned through hard work.

If you or a loved one have questions about your workers’ compensation claim, contact our law offices at one of our convenient locations. Time may be of the essence so call now.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Explosion In Bronx Junkyard Kills One And Injures Another

More than 100 firefighters responded to a call about a blaze at a junkyard on Boston Road in the Bronx after an explosion caused the fire.

Officials Investigate Cause Of Bronx Junkyard Explosion

According to a police report, two workers were present when the explosion happened at around 3:10 p.m. and the force of the blast threw them both off their feet. When emergency officials arrived, they found one worker seriously injured. Today, he is in a medically induced coma fighting for his life.

They were unable to locate the second worker for a significant amount of time and initially declared him missing. Hours after the explosion his body was found.

There has been no word about what caused the explosion or what the impact the burning plastic and metal will have on the environment.

Workers' Compensation Should Cover The Injured Workers' Medical Expenses

Treatment for injuries were severe enough to force doctors to put the worker in a medically induced coma will be very costly. Thankfully, workers' compensation should cover all of these expenses.

That being said, it's disturbing how many workers' compensation claims are dismissed outright for simple mistakes. This is why so many injured workers and their loved ones seek the help of an experienced workers' compensation attorney.

An attorney can make sure that all paperwork is correctly filled out and filed in a timely manner. They can speak with the insurance company and find the evidence that is needed for the claim.

If a denial has been issued, an attorney can fight to have the denial overturned.

If you or a loved one are seeking a consultation with a workers' comp attorney, contact one of The Disability Guy's local law firms today:

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Building Collapses In The Bronx Killing One & Injuring Several Others

The family members of one construction worker are mourning after a partial building collapse claimed his life and injured several others in the Bronx.

Firefighters Called To Dig Construction Workers Out Of Rubble

Just before noon on August 27th, 2019, firefighters were dispatched to a construction site where callers to 911 had reported that a building had collapsed. When they arrived, they discovered that the third floor had collapsed, debris trapping workers on the second floor. While immediate attempts were made to reach workers caught in the rubble, the responding units had to place support beams under the first floor ceiling so that the remaining structure did not collapse.

By the time the trapped workers were reached, one man had died from his injuries. Several others sustained serious injuries.

Investigators have issued a stop work order and are working hard to determine what caused the collapse. The loved ones of the worker who was killed are hoping that answers come quickly and that, if someone failed to protect the construction crew, they are held accountable.

Thousands Of Workers’ Comp Claims And Construction Accident Lawsuits Are Filed Yearly

Generally speaking, construction accidents don’t just “happen”. These accidents occur because a person or group failed to take the necessary steps to ensure that the construction workers on the job are kept safe in a dangerous environment.

Nothing can take away the incredible pain and suffering experienced by an injured construction worker and their loved ones but there are certain claims that can help to alleviate any financial burdens.

A workers’ compensation claim can help an injured worker by paying for medical bills and a fraction of lost wages. These claims aren’t easy to obtain approval for, however, and often legal assistance is needed to ensure that the insurance companies make the appropriate payout.

In addition to a workers’ compensation claim, a construction accident lawsuit could be filed against the person or party responsible. These lawsuits can provide additional compensation for all lost wages, physical pain, and emotional trauma.

The Disability Guys have successfully assisted thousands of New Yorkers with their workers’ compensation claims and construction accident lawsuits. Contact our local law offices today to learn more about the compensation that you may be owed.