2015: The Promise of Another Fatal Year For Construction

It’s no secret that construction is an inherently dangerous field to be in. Workers face many hazardous conditions that potentially cause devastating injuries. Every year, thousands of construction site accident are reported, many of which result in fatality.

Although the construction industry has changed and new safety protocols have been introduced in an attempt to reduce the number of accidents, workers continue to face serious dangers at work. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), one in ten construction site workers are injured every year. More than 150,000 construction site accident injuries are reported each year, and unfortunately 2015 is no exception.

2015 Is Off To a Fatal Start for Construction

So far only four months into 2015, at least seven fatal construction site accidents have been reported in New York City, compared with eight in all of 2014. Despite constant efforts to improve construction site safety, statistics show that workers and members of the public are still not necessarily any better off than they were during the last peak in real estate.

Accidents and deaths have become a common part of the construction industry in New York City. Earlier this month, a worker died at a meatpacking district construction site. The very next day, four construction workers were hospitalised after a wall collapsed during interior demolition to make way for 1 Vanderbilt, a new office tower near Grand Central Terminal.

Construction Site Accident Are On the Rise

According to New York City’s Department of Buildings, construction-related deaths have more than doubled since 2013. With only four months into 2015, we are on track for yet another fatal year in construction. Although some of these catastrophic injuries and fatalities are caused by unavoidable accidents, most can be avoided if contractors and project owners take certain safety precautions.

There is no excuse for construction professionals not to operate their project sites in compliance with safety codes that ensure the safety of their workers and the public. The NYC Buildings Department officials are constantly improving the use of data and technology to hold these negligent and reckless construction managers accountable. This is especially important since the there has been a 20% increase in the number of building permits the city has issued since 2008. This number is only expected to rise going forward.

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If you or a loved one was injured in a construction site injury, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Although exercising your rights and seeking money damages will not turn back time or undue your pain and discomfort, it will allow you to have the financial means to get the necessary treatment for your injuries. To ensure that you get the full compensation that you deserve, you should hire an experienced New York construction accident lawyer.

For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with an experienced New York construction accident attorney, please call Gersowitz, Libo & Korek, P.C. at 800-529-9997.