There has been a notable rise in the number of construction-related accidents in New York. Construction related accidents have been responsible for eight deaths so far this year in New York City. Over the course of 2014, construction injuries has increased by 24 percent. Another recent accident, in which a 12-ton heating and air-conditioning unit fell 30 stories from a crane to Madison Avenue, perfectly illustrates the unusually dangerous year in the construction industry.
New protocols are constantly introduced in an attempt to reduce the number of construction accidents. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), one in ten construction site workers are injured every year, accounting for more than 150,000 construction site accident injuries each year in the United States. Unfortunately, 2015 has been no exception for New York.
The Big Construction Industry in New York
The main cause of increase in construction accidents has been attributed to New York City’s recent building boom. More than $36 billion was spent in construction last year. This is a record that trumped the $32 billion spent in 2008. The number of new building permits issued by the city exceeded 98,000 in 2014, up from 74,000 in 2010.
In fact, Mayor Bill de Blasio calls for more construction to achieve his affordable housing and economic development goals. In his proposed budget for the next fiscal year, the Buildings Department is one of the few city agencies that has seen an increase in spending, totaling $148 million. This is 29 percent more than its current budget. Nevertheless, the more construction there is, the more danger it brings.
Construction Site Accident Are On the Rise
New York City’s Department of Buildings reports that construction-related deaths have more than doubled since 2013. With only six months into 2015, we are on track for an even more fatal year in construction. Although some of these fatal injuries may be caused by unavoidable accidents, most can be avoided if contractors and project owners take certain safety precautions.
According to a recent OSHA report, the number of work-safety violations in the construction industry is on the rise. Such violations put construction workers and others around construction sites at risk of preventable injury or death.
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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 monetary compensation 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 Lawyers.
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.
