New York Building Collapses Injury Lawyer

One can only imagine what it is like to be trapped under a mound of rubble, scared and in pain. Reporters often ask victims and witnesses of building collapses how they felt. A similar comparison arises in many accounts: “It felt like an earthquake.” Even after the building collapse is over, a victim may still have lasting psychological, physical, and financial aftershocks for years to come.

After such a devastating construction accident, it may seem like your world has fallen at your feet, but you are neither hopeless nor helpless. During an earthquake, you would probably be grateful to anyone who tries to help you escape the tremors. Likewise, you may benefit from seeking help regarding your building collapse case. Too often in everyday life, we try to handle things on our own. But without in-depth knowledge of personal injury law and the workers’ compensation system, you may find yourself struggling to get the compensation you need to support your family.

Accident lawyers can lend you a compassionate hand. To us, each client is like a member of our family. Learn how an understanding construction accident lawyer may assist you today by calling us at (212) 668-6000 to schedule a free legal consultation. In the meantime, we hope that the following information will answer some of your most pressing questions.

Why the Causes of Building Collapses Matters

In 2019, New York saw at least 565 construction-related injuries and fatalities. In particular, building collapses caused a lot of harm to construction workers and bystanders.

Many factors might play into a New York City building collapse:

• Weak foundations: To create a sturdy foundation, builders must select appropriate materials to support the weight of the building and its contents.
• Inappropriate building locations: The ground underneath a building must be stable enough to support the foundation properly.
• Improper building materials: Building materials must withstand harsh weather and the weight of the building as it settles.
• Inadequate maintenance: Rust, water leaks, and termites are among many issues affecting older buildings that require vigilant attention.
• Human error: Accurate measurements and adherence to specific building plans are essential to avoid dangerous mistakes during the planning and construction process.
• Cost-saving measures: Unskilled laborers or the use of inferior materials may save money initially but later result in disastrous consequences.
• Non-compliance: The purpose of New York safety regulations and codes is to determine if proposals for construction or renovation are suitable for the location. Failure to follow these guidelines has had grave results.
• Deviation from the original purpose: Converted buildings may not serve their new function well. Remodeling an existing structure may produce unexpected problems. For instance, care must be taken where construction materials are placed so as not to apply excessive lateral pressure on a foundation. Anytime remodeling is done, permits should be obtained from the city and inspectors may need to visit the site.
• Harsh weather and natural disasters: Hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, and tornadoes severely tests the structural integrity of buildings. Heavy snow can also bear down on a roof as it accumulates, creating the potential for collapse as the weight and stress increase.
• Intentional demolition: Condemned buildings slated for destruction may also pose dangers to homeless people or other unauthorized individuals who enter the work zone. Other instances of deliberate damage to property, such as acts of terrorism, have ended in fatalities and injuries.

If the cause of a collapse accident relates to material or equipment failure, negligence, or mistakes, New York law protects you. Not only can you seek to hold the liable parties responsible for their actions, but you may also help to prevent similar collapse accidents from happening in the future. You don’t need to wonder about your rights; a qualified lawyer can assist you to protect your family’s interests by insisting upon a fair settlement for your injuries.

Why You Deserve Compensation for Your Injuries

New York workers’ comp insurance provides cash benefits and reimburses medical care for workers who are injured on the job. This insurance affords protection to virtually all employees of for-profit companies, including contractors, interns, volunteers, undocumented, and part-time workers.

After an accident as serious as a building collapse, the best object of your attention is your well-being. Why not allow one of an efficient building collapse accident attorneys to take over the tedious details of filing for state or insurance benefits while you recover from the collapse?

An experienced lawyer can help you submit a claim to the New York Compensation Board to a portion of your average weekly wage and relief for your medical bills. The amount you get is not dependent on who is at fault for the collapse, but the injury or illness must be related to that event. Employers may also carry insurance policies that cover medical expenses for their workers hurt outside of job hours.

To get through the process more quickly and avoid any errors due to inexperience, schedule a complimentary law firm case evaluation with a medical expenses professional.

Most buildings in New York, NY, have proven to be structurally sound for decades. However, if a building collapsed, there may have been someone involved in its architectural design, construction, maintenance, or demolition who neglected some necessary duty. If so, it is not right for you to pay the price.

Getting legal assistance may help you seek fair compensation from the entity responsible for the building collapse, which may be the:

• Engineers and architects: Building designers must consider multiple variables in their construction plans. From the location, materials, height, and anticipated weight and load, the job of engineers and architects is to design a safe structure and avoid collapses.
• Property owners: Premises liability laws require property owners to warn workers and other property visitors of foreseen hazards to ensure their safety.
• General contractors and subcontractors: General contractors and the ones who work under their supervision execute the building plans designed by engineers or architects. New York also imposes specific building regulations that must be closely followed. Deviations from the project guidelines or failure to meet regulations are risky behaviors that may be considered negligence if a building collapses.
• Demolition crews: Tearing down a building is a more complex endeavor than you may imagine. In controlled building collapses, demolition supervisors have to decide how to bring buildings down, predict how and when they will fall, and make sure that the surroundings are clear of people who may be hurt.
• Suppliers and manufacturers: To construct or tear down a building, workers must have the correct materials and well-functioning equipment. Using defective tools or materials may lead to injury.

If you are unable to identify who may be responsible for your construction accident, don’t worry. All you need to do is share your building collapse story with one of New York’s capable attorneys. He or she can determine from the details you provide who holds the responsibility for your unfortunate injury. Call us today at (212) 668-6000 to find out how much your construction accident may be worth.

How to Secure a Fair Settlement for a New York Building Collapse

Time is the first factor in receiving compensation for your construction accident injury. Deadlines govern how soon you must act to apply for state benefits, insurance payouts, or compensation from personal injury lawsuits.

After a building collapse, it is understandable to be shaken up. However, hesitating for too long can jeopardize your financial future. Our clients know that we are very familiar with the methods to recover damages, lost wages, and medical expense reimbursements. So, if you hire us, our injury lawyers can act quickly to get you the compensation you need to take care of your family.

Let’s say structural damage causes a building to collapse, resulting in a severe head injury for a construction worker trapped under the ceiling. She decides to try navigating the system without professional counsel, but she misses one crucial deadline, a mistake that delays her workers’ compensation payments.

Due to stress, the worker also makes a small mistake in her insurance paperwork. The company denies her claim due to her failure to submit the required document correctly. Being unfamiliar with the system, she does not realize that she has the right to appeal the insurance company’s decision, so she forfeits her entire insurance settlement. All the while, she is experiencing migraines and flashbacks of her collapse accident.

The worker fails to reach out to a New York City personal injury attorney to pursue additional damages because she does not realize how strong her case is. Later, she finally talks to an injury lawyer, but by then it is too late to file according to the statute of limitations for New York, NY.

Years afterward, she and her loved ones face financial struggles. If she had taken a moment to contact attorneys for a free case review, she might not be dealing with so many money worries.

This account is imaginary, but why take the chance of having a similar tale to tell? Instead, make yours a story like a real-life 54-year-old worker injured when a garage floor collapsed underfoot. This New Yorker reached out to our law firm soon after the building collapse. Thanks to this workers’ quick action and our trusting attorney-client relationship, our lawyers were able to secure a $975,000 settlement for the worker.

If you are suffering because of injuries sustained in a building collapse, the knowledgeable legal professionals at our firm and in our statewide network can fight to get you the compensation you so desperately need. Call for Personal Injury Recovery SolutionsⓇ at (212) 668-6000 to learn how professional personal injury lawyers serving New York City and the rest of the state can help you secure your future. Don’t wonder about your rights!