Construction sites in New York pose many different hazards, from heavy machinery that can cause serious injuries to dangerous scaffolding that can lead to debilitating and deadly falls from heights. While slip and fall accidents might not be discussed as commonly as other types of accidents on construction jobs, it is important to know that these accidents do occur with some regularity. There are a variety of hazards that can lead to slip, trip, and fall injuries on construction sites. If you were working on a construction site and got hurt in a slip, trip, or fall, you should seek advice from a construction accident lawyer in New York as soon as possible. In the meantime, the following are some key things to know about construction site slips and falls.
Slip and Fall Statistics on Construction Sites
How common are slips, trips, and falls on construction sites? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “falls, slips, and trips [are] the most frequent type of fatal event in the construction industry, representing 37.9% of all fatalities.” In 2019 alone, there were a total of 1,102 deadly accidents in the construction industry, and 418 of those fatalities resulted from slips, trips, and falls. Those numbers also demonstrate that the rate of fatal slips, trips, and falls is rising in the construction industry, with an increase by nearly 23% from the prior year on record.
While the majority of deaths from slips, trips, and falls involve falls from heights to lower levels, slips, trips, and falls on the same level also result in nonfatal and fatal injuries on construction sites. In 2019, falls on the same level resulted in about 7,500 nonfatal injuries, although that number has been year in years past. In terms of nonfatal injuries and falls, slips, trips, and falls are often responsible for 50% to 75% of all nonfatal fall-related injuries on construction sites.
Seeking Compensation After a Construction Accident Slip and Fall
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident on a construction site, what options do you have for seeking compensation? In general, one or both of the following two options may be available to you:
● Filing a workers’ compensation claim to seek medical benefits and compensation for wage loss and disability; and/or
● Filing a lawsuit against your negligent employer under New York Labor Law.
It is important to know that New York Labor Law allows construction workers to sue negligent employers when an employer’s negligence causes injuries on a construction jobsite.
Contact a New York Construction Accident Attorney
Were you recently injured in a slip, trip, or fall accident while working on a construction site in New York? You may be able to seek financial compensation by filing a workers’ compensation claim and by considering a lawsuit under New York Labor Law. One of our experienced New York construction accident attorneys can speak with you today about your case. Contact Leitner Varughese Warywoda PLLC for more information about filing a construction accident claim.
