New York Scaffold Accident Lawyers
Today, nearly every building in the New York area seems to be covered in scaffolding. With so many construction, renovation, and maintenance projects, construction workers and even innocent passersby face the constant risk of being injured in a scaffold accident. When you have been hurt in a scaffold accident because of somebody else’s negligence, a New York injury lawyer from Harris Keenan & Goldfarb can fight to recover the compensation you need and deserve.
Since 1996, our attorneys have advocated for the best interests of injured accident victims in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and New York area. We have built a reputation for compassion, ethics, and excellence and a proven track record of dealing with liable parties and insurers to demand maximum financial recovery for our clients. If you have been injured in a scaffold accident in New York, contact Harris Keenan & Goldfarb for an initial case review. We’ll talk about your options for recovering compensation to help you treat your injuries and compensate for missed work.
Why Choose Harris Keenan & Goldfarb after Being Injured in a New York Scaffold Accident?
A scaffold accident can leave you with devastating injuries. To ensure you have the best chance at recovering full compensation for your losses, you need experienced legal counsel. A proven track record of success and a compassionate, attentive approach to representing you can make a big difference in the course and outcome of your case.
Choose Harris Keenan & Goldfarb after you’ve been hurt in a scaffold accident because of:
Eight-plus decades of combined legal experience among the attorneys on our staff.
A track record of success in and out of the courtroom, which includes having recovered more than half a billion dollars of compensation for our clients over our firm’s history.
Our focus on resolving your case as efficiently as possible while obtaining full compensation for you, so that you can quickly return to regular life when a scaffold accident has turned your life upside down.
Common Causes of Scaffold Accidents
Some of the most common causes of scaffold accidents in New York include:
- Design or manufacturing defects in scaffolding materials.
- Improper or careless construction of scaffolding.
- Inadequate scaffolding inspections and maintenance, including failing to replace worn scaffolding materials.
- Inadequate or worn planking.
- Inadequate training of workers assigned to work upon scaffolding.
- Failure to secure objects or materials from falling off scaffolding.
- Lack of safety equipment, including fall protection equipment.
- Failure to adhere to safety standards.
- Working up on scaffolding during hazardous weather conditions, including high winds, rain, sleet, or snow.
Options for Compensation after a Scaffold Accident
When you have been injured in a scaffold accident, you may have options for obtaining financial benefits and compensation depending on the circumstances of the accident. First, if you were injured in a scaffold accident at work, you may be entitled to file a workers’ compensation claim with your employer.
In New York, the workers’ compensation system can provide benefits such as:
Payment for reasonable and necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation for work-related injuries
Reimbursement of certain expenses for travel to and from medical/rehab appointments and procedures
Partial wage replacement for the loss of income due to missing time from work or working in a lower-paying light-duty position while you recover from work injuries
Disability benefits, which can pay a financial award for a permanent partial disability or continue wage replacement benefits for as long as you remain totally disabled from gainful employment
Vocational services, which can provide retraining and job placement if you can work in a different job or profession
If a scaffold accident that took place on the job was caused by the negligence of a third party, or if you were injured in a scaffold accident as an innocent bystander, you may have the right to file a personal injury claim against the party or parties at fault for causing the accident. A personal injury claim can allow you to recover financial compensation for:
Personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the accident
Medical and rehabilitation expenses
Costs of long-term care for permanent disabilities that result from your injuries
Loss of wages or income due to inability to work because of your injuries
Loss of future earning capacity and loss of job benefits if you are permanently disabled from returning to the workforce
Physical pain and emotional distress
Significant scarring and disfigurement
If the accident occurred because the contractors or construction owners failed to provide adequate safety measures for the scaffolding, another alternative might exist. New York Labor Law 240 states that construction owners and contractors must take reasonable steps to protect workers. Those steps include ensuring scaffolding is safe and employing hoists, ladders, stays, ropes, pulleys, hangars, and slings. If you’ve been injured on scaffolding, your attorney can examine the facts surrounding your injury and determine whether Section 240 applies. You may still collect workers ‘ compensation benefits when you file an action against the contractor or construction owner under Section 240. Section 240 has strict eligibility requirements, but you may obtain additional compensation under this law if you meet them.
Steps to Take Following a Scaffold Accident
After a scaffold accident, you should remember to take the following actions that can help you when you pursue legal claims for compensation for your injuries:
If it’s possible to do so immediately after the accident, take photos or video of the accident scene, including broken, worn, or loose scaffolding materials, any safety equipment, or any unsecured materials or objects stored on the scaffolding.
If the accident took place on the job, notify your employer of your injuries as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after the accident.
Seek medical attention as soon as you can after the accident to let a doctor examine you and diagnose injuries you may have suffered in the accident.
Keep bills and invoices for expenses related to the accident, in addition to your pay stubs if you miss work due to your injuries.
Follow through on all recommended treatment and rehabilitation for your injuries.
Finally, see a New York personal injury lawyer from Harris Keenan & Goldfarb to discuss how our firm can help you pursue your legal rights.
Harris Keenan & Goldfarb
How Can a Lawyer Help?
When trying to recover from serious injuries sustained in a scaffold accident, you may not have the time and energy to pursue legal claims to recover compensation for your losses fully. Let a New York personal injury lawyer from Harris Keenan & Goldfarb help by handling all the details of your case.
You can rely on our firm to:
Investigate the accident and recover evidence to show who bears responsibility for causing the accident and your injuries
Help you understand your legal options for financial recovery, such as workers’ compensation, filing a personal injury claim, or seeking compensation under New York Labor Law Section 240
Document your injuries and expenses to establish the compensation you deserve
File your claims with the responsible parties and insurance companies and vigorously pursue full financial recovery
Advocate for your rights in formal claims hearings or at trial if necessary
Depending on the underlying circumstances of a scaffold accident, various parties may be held liable for the injuries that you suffered in the accident. These include the scaffolding contractor that installed the scaffolding, other contractors who performed work while up on the scaffolding, the manufacturer of the scaffolding materials, or the owner of the property where the accident took place.
In addition, if you were injured by a scaffold accident that occurred in the course and scope of your employment, your employer may be liable to provide you with workers’ compensation benefits.
You have limited time to file claims for compensation after being injured in a scaffold accident. If you were injured in a scaffold accident on the job and want to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, you are required to notify your employer that you were injured and what your injuries are within 30 days of the accident. If you need to pursue a formal workers’ compensation claim to recover benefits, your claim must be filed within two years of the accident.
If you have a personal injury claim to file after a scaffold accident, you must file a lawsuit in your case within three years of the date of the accident.
When you do not timely file your legal claims after a scaffold accident, you may end up losing your rights to recover compensation for your injuries and losses. This makes it important to consult with a personal injury lawyer from Burns & Harris to ensure that your claims are timely pursued.
While you may believe that you are entitled to compensation if you were injured through no fault of your own in a scaffold accident, you can give yourself the best chance at maximizing your financial recovery by working with an experienced lawyer from Burns & Harris. In addition to evaluating your legal options, a lawyer can review any settlement or compensation that you are offered in your claim to determine whether it pays you fair value. If not, a lawyer can pursue settlement negotiations to obtain a better offer or pursue litigation of your claims to try to maximize your financial recovery.
At Burns & Harris, we can represent you in a scaffold accident claim on a contingency fee basis. This means you will not have to pay legal fees upfront to hire a New York scaffold accident attorney for your case. Instead, we are paid only if we recover compensation for you in your case. That way, you will not have to worry about the cost of hiring a lawyer while you are already dealing with financial pressures from medical expenses and lost income when you miss work.
When injured in a scaffold accident, you must move quickly to secure your legal options for recovering compensation. Call Harris Keenan & Goldfarb today at 800-724-6529 for a no-obligation consultation to learn more about how a New York scaffold accident lawyer from our firm can assist you with pursuing financial recovery in your case. You can also fill out our intake form, and a member of our team will call you.
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