Occupational Safety and Health Administration Investigating Fatal Construction Accident At Home In Borough Park, Brooklyn
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK (February 7, 2024) – A construction worker has tragically died at home illegally built along 50th Street in Borough Park, Brooklyn.
New York City officials are saying that the accident took place just after noon on Friday. A construction worker was working on the first floor of the Borough Park home when the floor suddenly gave way.
The worker became pinned under the debris in the basement. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim.
Rescue workers were able to free the man from the debris and life-saving measures were taken. But those efforts were not successful and the construction worker was later pronounce dead.
A full investigation into the Borough Park home collapse remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Brooklyn Construction Accidents
Despite many decades of workplace safety improvements, the construction industry still has many deaths and serious injuries every year. According to OSHA, “Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 395 of the 1069 construction fatalities recorded in 2022 (BLS data). Those deaths were preventable.” There are many other common causes of construction accident fatalities.
- Workers may become electrocuted by open wires or electrical equipment.
- Workers may be caught in/between heavy equipment.
- Workers may become buried under collapsing walls.
- Workers may become buried in trench collapses.
Depending on the facts of any case, a construction company could be liable if a construction worker is killed on the job. Most gravity related construction accidents that occur in New York are adjudicated under New York State Labor Law § 240/241. In short, building owners and general contractors are held strictly liable when a worker falls and is injured. Several steps should be taken after any construction accident.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- An experienced construction accident attorney should be contacted.
The vast majority of construction accidents are preventable. They tend to occur when construction companies fail to follow safety protocols. Accidents are substantially more likely to occur when workers are making illegal or unauthorized modifications. It is important that accident victims understand that they do have rights. The family of any person that died in a construction accident maybe able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.
Investigating New York City Construction Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of the construction worker killed in this Borough Park accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent similar tragedies.
Do you need more information about a Borough Park construction accident? Our team of workplace safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
