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Construction Site Accident Attorneys | Lawyers for the Injured

Construction Site2022-07-27T15:17:35+00:00

Personal Injury Lawyers Criminal Defense Attorneys Albany NY

Worksite Injury Claims & Legal Advice

Your Source for Experienced Construction Site Injury Lawyers

At LaMarche Safranko Law, our years of experience handling worksite injury claims directly translate to you obtaining the maximum possible recovery for your construction site injury.

Did you fall from a height? Was something dropped on you? Was the equipment you were provided defective? Were safety devices absent from the worksite?

If you’ve been injured in a construction accident, at the job site in either a commercial building or residential building, you should know that worker’s compensation claims are not your only option. If your injuries are serious they can result in economic loss, and long term pain and suffering. In addition to worker’s compensation, you may be entitled to pursue a claim against other contractors who may have caused your injury, as well as the owner of the work site or building.

Working in the construction industry is dangerous. If you are injured at a job site, you were likely injured because of a fall, being struck by a falling object or by suffering an electrical shock. Whatever the cause of your injury, as a construction worker, you have the right to expect reasonable protections to enable you to do your job safely each day. Labor Laws in New York protect workers on construction sites against unsafe conditions. There are special laws in place designed to protect workers who are involved with building and construction. For work site and construction site accidents, the applicable laws are:

  • NYS Labor Law § 240(1) – also known as the “Scaffold Law,” provides protections to injured workers when a fall from a height or an elevation-related injury is involved. For example, falling off a ladder or scaffold, or being injured by a piece of falling debris not properly secured.
  • NYS Labor Law § 241(6) – provides that those who are directing and controlling the work site take steps under the law and provide certain equipment to keep the job site safe. For example, work areas must be free of debris and sharp objects and must be properly illuminated.
  • NYS Labor Law § 200 – Requires owners and contractors to take reasonable steps to protect workers and provide safe workplaces.

These statutes are designed to place the responsibility for a worker’s safety squarely on the owners and contractors rather than on the workers.

Frequently Asked Questions about Construction Site Accidents

Our personal injury lawyers provide answers to some important questions below.

If I am injured while performing construction work, what are my rights?2023-06-06T18:20:45+00:00

If you are injured on a worksite you have options. Your first option is to file a worker’s compensation claim so your medical expenses and a portion of your lost earnings can be paid if you are unable to work. Another option is to bring a lawsuit against the owner or contractor or subcontractor who caused or contributed to your injuries.

What do I have to prove if I fall or if something falls on me at a jobsite?2020-07-08T16:57:29+00:00

In order to bring a successful lawsuit, you must demonstrate you were not provided the required protection at a construction site, and that as a result, you suffered an injury. If you demonstrate both of these things, and if the injury you sustain is elevation related (fall from a height or struck by something that fell) the owner and/or contractor are fully responsible for your injuries and damages.

Can I sue my employer in NY for personal injuries I suffered at a construction site?2020-07-08T16:57:11+00:00

No. Because of the existence of the workers compensation law in New York State, an employee can not bring a claim against his employer or any other employee even if the employer or employee caused your injuries. However, if you are injured at a construction site and bring a claim against an owner or contractor or subcontractor who caused your injuries, they could bring a claim against your employer for the role your employer played in contributing to your injuries if you sustain a “grave injury”. A grave injury is defined as: death; permanent and total loss of use or amputation of an arm, leg, hand, or foot; loss of multiple fingers; loss of multiple toes; paraplegia or quadriplegia; total and permanent blindness; total and permanent deafness; loss of nose; loss of ear; permanent and severe facial disfigurement; loss of an index finger; or an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force resulting in permanent total disability.

Can I pursue a worker’s compensation claim and file a lawsuit?2020-07-08T16:56:46+00:00

Yes. You may be able to pursue both claims. If you have been injured because of the negligence of the owner of the building, a contractor or subcontractor at the construction site, you may be entitled to pursue a legal action in addition to your worker’s compensation claim.

If I am injured on a worksite in NY, who do I sue if I can’t sue my employer?2023-10-11T15:33:39+00:00

If you are injured on a job site, you can bring a claim against any other party that caused or contributed to your injury including the owner of the building, or other contractors or subcontractors.

What is the process of a personal injury case if I am injured on a construction site?2022-10-13T22:46:15+00:00

Following an accident on a construction site, a personal injury attorney will meet with you to determine what occurred and how this incident happened. The attorney will conduct an investigation, determine who caused or contributed to your injuries, and if appropriate bring a claim against any negligent parties. Once a claim is filed, lawyers for all parties will exchange discovery. Upon completing discovery, depositions of all parties will be conducted. Once depositions are completed, and all other discovery is complete, a trial date will be scheduled if the matter cannot be resolved by way of a settlement.

  • What does discovery mean?

If your personal injury lawyer initiates a lawsuit on your behalf, before a trial, a “discovery” period occurs during which lawyers from each side exchange documentary evidence regarding the case. This includes medical records, incident/accident reports, photographs, witness information and insurance information. A document known as a “Bill of Particulars” provides details about how the case happened and describes the extent of your harm and injuries.

  • What are depositions?

After discovery is exchanged, all parties to the case and any relevant witnesses, may be required to give testimony under oath. Depositions are usually done at one of the lawyers’ offices, before a stenographer who makes a record of everything that is said and provides a written transcript in Question and Answer form. Sometimes these depositions are recorded by video as well. There is no judge at a deposition and all lawyers are present with their clients. Your lawyer will meet with you before your testimony so you can feel well prepared before testifying. While it may seem easy to simply answer questions, it’s important to take preparation with your attorney seriously as there may be many types of questions lawyers are trained to ask that you are not used to answering.

If I bring a lawsuit, does my case have to go to trial?2020-07-08T16:55:06+00:00

No. In fact most cases do not go to trial and can be settled at some stage of the case prior to trial. In some instances, cases can even be settled prior to bringing a formal lawsuit.

Is there a “scaffold law” or “safe workplace statute” in New York?2020-07-08T16:54:48+00:00

Yes. These are the common names for the labor law statute that protects workers who are performing certain types of construction work, such as demolition, repair work or painting, and who fall from an elevated height, such as a scaffold or a ladder.

If I am on a worksite, who is responsible for providing necessary safety equipment so I am not injured?2020-07-08T16:54:29+00:00

If you are involved in the erection, demolition, or repairing of a building or structure you must be provided safety equipment by all contractors and owners of the building. This protective safety equipment includes scaffolding, hoists, stays, ladders, slings, hangers, blocks, pulleys, braces, irons, ropes or any other devices to provide proper protection for the work you are performing. The failure of the owner or contractors to provide this, or other reasonably required safety equipment depending on the job, makes them strictly liable for your injuries.

If I pursue a claim against a building owner or a contractor do I have to pay back my workers compensation benefits?2020-07-08T16:54:11+00:00

In New York if a worker is injured on the job, he/she has a right to workers compensation benefits. If, in addition to workers compensation benefits, a personal injury lawyer pursues a successful claim on behalf of the injured worker, the workers’ compensation carrier has a lien against the “third party recovery”. The repayment of this lien will come directly from the “third party recovery” and the injured worker will not have to pay anything back out of his/her own pocket.  However, any money provided and paid for by workers compensation will ultimately reduce the amount of money that the injured party will receive.

 

  • What is a “third-party recovery”?

In the context of a worksite injury in New York, a “third-party recovery” results when a claim or lawsuit is successfully pursued against another party that is not your employer. In other words, if a personal injury lawyer sues the owner or contractor or subcontractor who caused your injuries on a worksite, the money you receive is called a “third party recovery”. If there is a worker’s compensation lien, your lawyer will repay that lien from the “third party recovery”.

If I am injured while working at residential home, can I sue the homeowner?2020-07-08T16:37:09+00:00

Under the Labor Law, owners of one- and two-family dwellings who do not direct or control the work on the dwelling are not liable if you are injured. However, if you are injured working on such a dwelling, it is still important to contact an attorney in case there are extenuating factors in your case which may affect liability determinations.

Timeline of a Personal Injury Case

Recent Verdicts & Settlements

Automobile Accident
Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle which went off the road and rolled over, causing him to suffer significant permanent injuries, including skull fracture; fractured mandible requiring surgical placement of plates and screws; facial fractures and lacerations; sternal fracture; spinal fractures; lacerations to spleen, liver and lung; multiple rib and toe fractures; tinnitus and hearing loss; post-traumatic stress disorder; facial scarring and numbness.

$1,300,000.00

Bicycle Accident
Plaintiff suffered two dislocated shoulders and a dislocated elbow after he was struck by a vehicle, which negligently swerved onto the shoulder and into the bike lane.

$250,000.00

Negligent Assault
Plaintiff was assaulted outside of a bar in Saratoga and as a result suffered a traumatic brain injury, a fractured skull, brain swelling and brain bleeding, facial contusions and bleeding, as well as lacerations and bruises on his body.  He also suffered from short and long term memory deficits and other cognitive deficits.

$400,000.00

Nursing Home Negligence
An 87-year-old man was discharged from a local hospital on the afternoon of his death and returned to his assisted living facility. His health began to deteriorate throughout that evening; a nurse was told to check on him but never did. Facility staff found him unconscious on the floor in his room later that evening; paramedics were unable to revive him. It was claimed that the facility failed to obtain appropriate medical advice, assistance and treatment.

$250,000.00

Wrongful Death
Plaintiff, a 49-year-old man, was discharged from the hospital with critically low levels of potassium, which precipitated a fatal arrhythmia at home and subsequently caused his death. His family brought a claim against the hospital for medical negligence and wrongful death.

$650,000.00

Farm/Tractor Accident
The infant plaintiff fell from a tractor being operated by a farm employee and was run over by the tractor. The 10-year-old boy suffered a femur fracture requiring surgery, multiple facial fractures requiring surgery, foot and toe fractures and loss of consciousness.

$400,000.00

Medical Negligence
Plaintiff suffered injuries as a result of negligent monitoring of prescription medication.

$500,000.00

Worksite Injury
Plaintiff was injured when a fork from a forklift truck fell on top of his left leg, severely fracturing the tibia and fibula, requiring numerous surgeries and resulting in a permanent, partial loss of use of his leg.

$1,016,000.00

Worksite Injury
Plaintiff was an ironworker who was injured when he fell from a ladder, suffering fractures to both elbows resulting in permanent loss of strength and loss of range of motion in both arms. His impairment limited the number and types of employment opportunities and limited his future earning potential.

$750,000.00

Worksite Injury
Plaintiff, a roofing contractor, suffered a fractured skull, cervical spine fracture and fractured ribs after falling from a roof. The injuries left him with chronic pain and fatigue, limited tolerance for walking, lifting, or carrying and limitations in his hearing and vision.

$900,000.00

Federal Employers Liability Act/FELA
Plaintiff suffered a significant back injury while working for CSX.

$1,100,000.00

* Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.

LaMarche Safranko Law Testimonials

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Vicki Testimonial Transcript
Well, I met George in 2014. My son was arrested for a criminal offense, and George—he has this ability, it’s just who he is. He’s genuinely empathetic and he’s very compassionate and he has the ability to just make you feel safe. You know? I just always felt I was in great hands and my son was in good hands and that we would have a good outcome of our situation and we always have. And he’s brilliant. He’s a brilliant lawyer. He’s very skilled and very creative. He has excellent rapport with all the judges and DAs and officials, and he’s always found a rehabilitative outcome for my son which I genuinely appreciate.

Laurie Testimonial Transcript
George was referred to me by my estate attorney. They go way back and it was a great referral, I don’t think I could have done any better, it was a very good match for me. Something that was really really instrumental in the whole thing was George keeping us up-to-date on what was going on and very much included. I was invited to be at all the depositions if I wanted to be and he gave me all the written depositions to read through, so I was always up-to-date on what was going on and I felt like a part of the process. I would definitely recommend George to other people. In fact, about 2 weeks ago I did. A friend of mine was in a pedestrian car accident, she was the pedestrian and is in pretty rough shape, and he was the first person I thought of so I actually asked him if it would be in his purview and he said yes. And I know that she’s very happy with him so far.

Jules Testimonial Transcript
What brought me to the firm was a personal incident where Andrew was recommended to me very highly by a family friend who’s also an attorney, and Andrew represented me to great satisfaction in that case. What impressed me the most about Andrew was his direct straightforward approach, and he has this incredible way of setting you at ease and yet telling you the good and the bad of a situation. I felt that he was very much a straight shooter and lived up to the reputation that preceded him. I would recommend them and Andrew Safranko to anybody in the world. They’re just that class of a group of people.

Chuck Testimonial Transcript
Well, I came to LaMarche Safranko Law because I knew Andy was here and he’s helped me in the past and I just feel so comfortable coming to him because you know you’re going to get the best outcome that you can get in a criminal law field. He’s done such a fabulous job for me and I’ve seen what he does for me, so I’m sure he’ll do the same—put out the same effort and energy and zeal it takes to win their case like he has mine. I would feel very comfortable recommending him.

“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your excellent representation on my recent matter. I have worked with lawyers, and in law firms much of my professional life, but I have never encountered the rare mix of skill, integrity and humanity in one individual—you….

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A client from Rensselaer, NY

“My family and I cannot thank George and his staff enough for all of the support and guidance they have given us over the past six months. Anyone who has ever suffered a personal injury knows how difficult they are to overcome, but I’m glad we had such an intelligent and hardworking attorney on our side so I could focus on my recovery rather than on the details of the case….

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A personal injury client from Waterford, NY

“The arrest of my husband in 2008 was an extremely difficult and emotional time for our family. The arrest turned our lives upside down. It was sudden and unexpected and had tragic emotional as well as financial consequences. I had no idea what to do under the circumstances….

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A client from Upstate New York

“No one likes to be in a bad situation, but if you need a lawyer George is your man. Not only does he point you in the right direction he offers good advice for your future. As much as we bring him business he does not encourage that next time anticipation….

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A client from Albany, NY

“Throughout the attorney client relationship regarding my personal injury lawsuit, George and his staff continually exhibited tremendous amounts of legal knowledge, skill, and a vast amount of expert resources that ultimately resulted in a final judgment in my favor.  George was there every step of the way to explain where we stood and what to expect next and there was never a need to question his professional judgment…

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A client from Troy, NY

“I am an attorney who found himself in the middle of a serious, personal legal matter that compromised not only my personal life but my professional life as well. I immediately contacted Andrew (Andy) Safranko, Esq. Andy worked tirelessly and extremely hard to bring my legal situation to a very favorable resolution. In so doing, Andy not only saved certain aspects of my personal and professional life

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Anonymous Attorney from Albany, NY

“Dear Mr. Safranko,

Thank You so much for answering my question, and so expediently!

The dedication, respect, and consideration with which you treat your clients, current and past, is remarkable. It is why I reached out to you when searching in my time of need, and why I would highly recommend…

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A client from Albany, NY

“Dear George, Andy and Staff,

Thank you all for your kindness and all your help in getting back to my wellbeing and life.  I could not have done it without you all.  Everything is going so well again.  I recommend you highly. Thanks Again!”

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A client from Troy, NY

“Dear Andrew and George,

I cannot thank you enough for your hard work, diligence, and selfless manner that you put towards my legal difficulties in Colonie. From the first moment I met you, you helped reassure me that things were going to turn out in a more favorable manner than I originally thought. Clearly, the final result of my court case displays the quality of time and work that you put into this….

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A client from Colonie, NY

“I wanted to express my deepest appreciation to Mr. Andrew Safranko for the exceptional job he did in regards to my legal representation. Mr. Safranko displayed the utmost in professionalism and discretion during the entire court process, and took the time to explain each and every step….

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A client from Schenectady, NY

“Dear Andy,

Thank you so much for everything you have done for our son over the last three years.  This has been a very challenging time for our family and the knowledge that our son has an attorney as capable and amazing as you are has given us peace of mind!

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Parents of a client from Cropseyville, NY

“I cannot thank George E. LaMarche lll and his team for the excellent legal work they provided for my son, and in extension, our entire family. His experience, knowledge of the law, networking ability and communication is second to none. In our case, our son was wrongly accused by a small town police officer and charged with 5 tickets…

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A client from Altamont, NY

“I can honestly say that the best decision I’ve ever made was retaining George LaMarche as my attorney. I was in a situation where everything wasat risk; my career, livelihood, and the ability to provide for my family. In desperation, I contacted over a dozen attorneys. The majority of the lawyers I spoke with promised results without seeing paperwork or knowing valuable facts….

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A client from Albany, NY

“The staff at LaMarche Safranko Law took care of  whatever I needed, it was just fabulous. It was top shelf, if I called, I got George. If he was in a meeting, they left him a message. He called me right back after the meeting. Everybody was very courteous and very nice there. If I left a voicemail, everybody got back to me quickly. The level of service  was very, very good and I would Highly recommend them.”

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A personal injury client from Cohoes, NY
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