New York Attorneys for Scaffolding Accident Injuries

Construction workers are at tremendous risk for falls

In New York, encountering scaffolding is an everyday occurrence. It is easy to take their safety for granted, but pedestrians and the workers who must ascend them are frequently injured and killed.

Barasch McGarry Salzman & Penson lawyers help construction workers and innocent bystanders obtain compensation for injuries caused by defective or improperly installed scaffolding. As a New York law firm, we have seen so many resulting brain injuries, spinal injuries and deaths devastate families.

Scaffolding accident statistics

In 2009, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, there were 54 fatalities nationwide from scaffolding accidents, with more than 4,000 accidents occurring every year. Scaffold-related hazards include:

Planking or support giving way Employee slipping Employee being struck by a falling object Falling

Electrocution Overloading with people or equipment Poor weather

According to OSHA, scaffolds should be equipped with guardrails and fall-arrest systems, and employees should also be trained in their assembly, monitoring and use. To prevent objects from falling onto workers on a scaffold, panels, screens or canopies should be used. Construction companies should use electrocution prevention strategies and provide safe access via ladders and stairs.

Companies who fail to adhere to these rules may be fined by OSHA, but they may also be sued in civil court for their negligence.

What to do if you are injured

If you are injured in a scaffolding accident, you should:

Seek medical attention Report the accident to your supervisor Note the details of the accident and the names of witnesses

Take photos, if possible Contact a lawyer who has significant experience handling construction accidents

Most workplace accidents are covered by an employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Yet often third parties, such as subcontractors, property owners and equipment manufacturers, are responsible for injuries and can be sued in court. These claims are separate from workers’ comp claims. Our attorneys have the resources to pursue every avenue of recovery related to injuries from supported scaffolds, suspended scaffolds and aerial lifts.

Construction accident lawyers who know scaffolding

Scaffolding accidents are among the most dangerous in construction work. We help injured workers obtain the compensation they so desperately need. Contact Barasch McGarry Salzman & Penson online or at 888.746.8212 for a free consultation with a lawyer in New York who understands scaffolding claims.