Unsafe Construction Equipment
Construction is the most dangerous industry. It comes with inherent health and safety risks for workers, such as working from heights and with heavy machinery. A construction site can be made even more dangerous by unsafe construction equipment. If you’ve been injured by unsafe or defective construction equipment in New York City, contact Torgan Cooper + Aaron for legal assistance with an injury claim. We offer free case evaluations and accept clients in all five boroughs of NYC. We can help you create a better future.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer in NYC Help With an Unsafe Construction Equipment Accident?
You have enough to worry about as the victim of a construction site accident. You should not also take on the responsibility of filing an injury claim and negotiating with an insurance company alone. You have the right to hire an experienced attorney to represent you during claim negotiations.
Trusting an attorney with your case can lead to better results, as well as give you the peace of mind to focus on healing from your injuries. Your lawyer will argue for maximum financial compensation for your serious injuries using proven legal strategies, and can even take your case to trial, if necessary.
What Is the Most Dangerous Construction Equipment?
Construction projects in New York City require large equipment, heavy machinery and dangerous power tools. Even when properly used, construction equipment can present hazards. When equipment is faulty or experiences a breakdown, this can increase the risk of injuries even more. Some of the most dangerous pieces of construction equipment are:
- Forklifts
- Scaffolding
- Cranes
- Elevators
- Extractors
- Backhoes
- Pallet jacks
- Ladders
- Table saws
- Sanders
- Nail guns
Working around a wide range of potentially dangerous equipment and machinery requires a great deal of safety precautions. Your employer should properly prepare you for working with construction equipment, such as through adequate training and protective gear. Your employer should also ensure the safety of the equipment itself through proper care and maintenance. Even if a construction company does everything correctly, however, construction equipment may still be unsafe due to design or manufacturing defects.
Who Is Liable?
Identifying the cause of your accident and injury is necessary if you wish to bring an injury claim against one or more parties for unsafe construction equipment in New York. Our attorneys at Torgan Cooper + Aaron can thoroughly investigate your construction site accident to determine causation. Three main causes of injuries associated with construction equipment are:
- Poor maintenance. It is the construction company’s legal responsibility to properly maintain equipment, machinery and tools used by workers. Inadequate maintenance can lead to malfunctions and breakdowns while in use, as well as hazards such as missing machine guards. In this instance, the construction company would be liable for related injuries or deaths.
- Lack of worker training. A construction company must also properly train its workers to operate and use construction equipment. Lack of proper worker training can lead to unsafe practices while using the equipment, along with accidents such as vehicle rollovers and scaffold collapses.
- Defective construction equipment. In many cases, construction equipment is unsafe due to defects at the design or manufacturing level. A defective piece of equipment may not work the way that it should, leading to tragic construction site injuries and deaths. Common examples are broken elevators and crane collapses.
Liability, or financial responsibility, for a construction equipment accident will depend on the person or party responsible. This could be the construction company, the manufacturer of the equipment, a contractor, a property owner or a combination of parties. Our attorneys can help you determine the defendant(s) in your particular case.
Injured by Unsafe Construction Equipment? Help Is Available
The injuries suffered in a construction accident due to unsafe equipment can be catastrophic. These accidents can lead to traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, amputations and wrongful death. If you or a loved one has been injured by unsafe construction equipment anywhere in New York City, contact Torgan Cooper + Aaron to discuss your legal rights. We can help you and your family get what you need. Schedule your free consultation by calling (212) 232-2500 or contacting us online today.