Window Washing Accident Lawyer in New York City

It’s hard to imagine the City That Never Sleeps without its iconic high-rise buildings. And someone has to keep all those windows clean. Enter New York City’s window washers, who have high risks to worry about.  

Scaling skyscrapers is not for the faint of heart. Window washing may be more than a bit daunting, as it carries very real dangers with some potential for accidents, serious personal injury, or even death.

Have you or one of your loved ones been hurt in a window washing accident? Regardless of your immigration status, you have rights. Call us to learn how an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you and your family. You can reach Hill & Moin today at (212) 668-6000 to schedule your free initial consultation.

Window Washing Injuries

It’s easy to understand that with great height comes great potential injury. A New York window washer is particularly susceptible to fall injuries.

What kind of injuries might result from a window washer accident? Consider the following:

• Broken bones or fractures due to blunt trauma
• Traumatic brain injuries with potentially long-standing repercussions
• Injuries to the central nervous system, including the spinal cord, neck, and back injuries, leading to loss of mobility or paralysis
• Adverse effects of toxic exposure to chemical cleaning agents
• Repetitive motion injuries such as rotator cuff tears, chronic joint pain, and reduced mobility

In short, a window washing accident may result in life-changing injuries that can dramatically affect the life of the person directly involved and his or her loved ones. What’s worse, these injuries may occur through no fault of the worker.

Common Causes of Window Washing Injuries

The vast majority of New York window washers are methodical and careful about their work. They understand just how critical it is to work safely and in accordance with industry standards to avoid an unfortunate accident. So why do window washing injuries continue to occur?

Window washers often rely on equipment to keep them safe, such as scaffolding, ladders, safety harnesses, clips, and safety lines. The New York Department of Labor outlines structural requirements and safety measures that need to be met in connection with window washing. These stipulations are in place to protect you, the worker.

Property owners and contractors are responsible for ensuring that all equipment, especially items directly connected with the welfare of the employee, are sound and in good working order. When safety checks are missed and corners are cut, window washers may soon become victims of the responsible party’s negligence.

A window washing accident may occur because of:

• Collapsing scaffolding or ladders
• Scaffolding that is not installed according to recognized industry safety regulations
• Defects or the misuse of safety equipment

It may be an incredibly disconcerting realization that your window washing accident occurred due to another party’s negligence or recklessness. But you don’t have to face your situation alone.

Have you been injured in a window washing accident in New York? Find out how you and your family may recover damages and put this unfortunate event behind you. Call Hill & Moin at (212) 668-6000 to connect with a personal injury lawyer who cares.

You Have Been Hurt in an Accident – Who Pays for Damages?

While the vast majority of New Yorkers work within the safe confines of office buildings, window washers like you literally work outside of the box. Window washers make up a somewhat exclusive club among the city’s workforce. There are detailed labor laws in place that protect your rights and help cover damages incurred by people in your challenging line of work.

Notice how New York labor law assigns responsibility to specific parties in the realm of window washing:

• Section 200: Employers bear the burden of responsibility to ensure that the equipment you use and the methods you employ in using them “provide reasonable and adequate protection” to all employees. If something is amiss, the employer needs to rectify the dangerous condition.
• Section 202: Specific to window washers, this labor law clearly states that “the owner, lessee, agent, and manager of every public building and every contractor involved shall provide such safe means for the cleaning of the windows.” So if a building manager’s negligence led to a window washer accident, you may have a solid case.
• Section 240: Scaffolding, or the poor condition thereof, is often a contributing factor in window washing accidents. This labor law dictates that contractors and owners ensure that scaffolding is “placed and operated as to give proper protection to a person so employed.” 

Labor laws can be a lifeline to workers who have had an accident through no fault of their own. Don’t let yourself be intimidated by the legal obstacles before you. Instead, work with a team that has a comprehensive knowledge of New York labor law and experience with window washing cases. 

Call Hill & Moin today at (212) 668-6000 and talk to a lawyer to find out how your city’s labor laws may provide protection in the event of an accident.

Workers’ Compensation in New York

As a New York City worker, your employer is required by law to provide workers’ compensation. How does this help you after having been in an accident?

If you suffer an injury while performing any task directly related to your employment and report it to your employer within a certain period of time since the accident occurred, you may be eligible for compensation. Workers’ compensation is in place to cover medical costs or lost wages due to injury.

But what happens if your employer or your employer’s insurance company denies the validity of your accident claim? As frustrating as this may be, it’s not unheard of. If you have run into a similar barrier, you may want to contact a Hill & Moin LLP personal injury lawyer who understands employee rights under New York law. He or she can help you collect evidence and build a strong case that proves your injury was work-related.

Don’t risk facing aggressive insurance companies on your own. If you have been in an accident, we urge you to partner up with attorneys who know exactly how to deal with worker compensation claims. Find out how the lawyers at Hill & Moin can help you and your family get what you deserve.

Why Choose Hill & Moin For Your Representation

Beyond the glazed windows of many New York skyscrapers lie hundreds of personal injury law firms, each one more eager than the last to get your business. However, not all law firms are created equal.

This begs the question: If you are a New York City window washer that has had an accident, why should you call Hill & Moin?

Our attorneys care about their clients, whether longtime clients or new ones. Our track record proves it. We have helped many people recover significant compensation following window washer accidents. And if another firm among our network of New York attorneys would be best suited to handle your case, we will refer you to that firm.

Overall, we want what is best for you. When we take on your case, we work hard to understand how your accident has affected you and your family. Our lawyers can ensure that you receive proper compensation for injuries suffered as a result of equipment defects, unsafe work conditions, or negligence by an employer or building manager.

Don’t wonder about your rights. Call Hill & Moin LLP today at (212) 668-6000 to learn more about Personal Injury Recovery SolutionsⓇ that work.