Nassau County Falling Objects Lawyer

Construction sites are areas prone to safety issues, and injuries that occur as a result of construction accidents can have life-altering effects. Many of these accidents involve falling objects and detritus from upper levels of tall buildings. The effects of gravity can mean that even smaller objects can create serious injuries when they fall from great heights.

If you were injured on a construction site due to a falling object, you may be entitled to compensation for your resultant injuries. A Nassau County falling objects lawyer could assess your case and determine if you are eligible to recover damages from a negligent party.

The Liability of Employers

New York Labor Law, specifically §240 of Article 10, makes clear guidelines for the construction and usage of scaffolding on building sites. For example, openings for materials are supposed to be kept to a minimum and should be as small as possible. The scaffolding is also required to be kept strapped down to the building to prevent it from swaying and causing workers or items to fall.

When these regulations are not met, and injuries from falling objects occur, workers may be entitled to pursue recovery from a number of different defendants. Entities who can be sued for compensation include the scaffold designer or owner, the architect, and the property owner. To determine who is responsible for a falling object injury, victims should consult with a skilled local attorney.

Pure Comparative Negligence in Nassau County

One of the most important aspects of any personal injury case, such as a falling object injury on a construction site, is determining how negligence affects the injured person’s ability to recover. When trying to understand the complexities of an individual’s case, the best option may be to contact an experienced nearby falling objects lawyer.

New York operates with a purely comparative negligence standard. This means that being partially at fault for a person’s own injury will not be bar compensation recovery. If an injured worker is found to be partially responsible for the falling object that caused their injury, like if the tool that falls was placed in a precarious spot by the worker, they are still able to recover damages from a party that is found to be more responsible than them.

Comparative negligence means that the amount of fault attributed to the injured person will be subtracted from their overall compensation. For example, if they suffer $100,000 in damages from an injury for which they are 25 percent responsible, their overall compensation will be reduced by 25 percent. Instead of the full $100,000, they will be entitled to a maximum of $75,000.

Types of Damages in Falling Object Cases

Many different kinds of objects can result in serious injury in falling object cases on construction sites. Accidents can happen when any of the following items falls from a significant distance:

• Parts of scaffolding
• Construction detritus
• Tools
• Equipment
• Ladders
• Other workers

When such accidents occur, workers can attempt to recover a wide range of damages. The state separates damages into two categories.

Economic Damages

Economic damages directly affect the victim’s finances. Examples include medical bills, lost wages, and the cost of repairing or replacing damaged property.

Non-economic Damages

Non-economic damages are less concrete and include all harms endured by the injured person that cannot be easily quantified. Examples of these kinds of harm include the victim’s pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment in life, psychological effects of being maimed or paralyzed, loss of consortium with a spouse, and other more subjective harms.

Get in Touch with a Nassau County Falling Objects Attorney Today

If you or a loved one have been injured on a construction site, let a Nassau County falling objects lawyer could take on your case. Their legal knowledge and experience could go a long way toward maximizing your potential recovery and helping your family get your lives back on track. You should not have to pay for injuries that were not your fault. Call today to schedule a consultation and learn more.