New York Injury Lawyer Blog

A recent crane accident in Manhattan that left a man dead could have been prevented, officials say.

The long boom of a construction crane that crashed at the Manhattan work site was supposed to be checked out this week by the city's building authority. The initial inspection couldn't be completed because the crane was being used, so it was put off until later, according to the Times Union.

The crane involved in the fatal work accident was last inspected earlier this year, in the beginning of January. The January inspection concluded that the "Crane cannot be laid down to inspect boom section, safetys only checked."

Our New York construction accident lawyers understand that the cab and the station were determined to be in satisfactory conditions. The follow up to complete the initial inspection for that crane had been scheduled for two days after the accident occurred. The inspection before that, back in July of 2011, determined that there were no deficiencies with the crane at that time.

But that was then and this is now. In the most recent crane accident, a 30-year-old worker was killed when the boom broke and fell apart as it was moving rebar at a site where the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was building the extension of the No. 7 subway line past Times Square.

A number of officials and agencies are still investigating the accident to determine the exact cause. Included in these investigating teams are officials with the MTA, the Manhattan district attorneys and the local police department.

As a result of the accident, the transit company has made an announcement stating that it would be inspecting every one of its cranes at all of its sites throughout the city to help make sure that all others are being operated correctly and safely.

This is the city's third deadly crane accident in just the last four years. It also comes after a number of scandals involving corrupt or lax oversight scandals involving the industry.

Back in 2008, following two serious crane accidents that ended up killing nine people and damaging several buildings, officials in New York City completely overhauled the safety procedures and rules regarding cranes.

The particular crane in the Manhattan accident was exempt from many of the new rules because it was operating for an independent state authority.

Christine Quinn, the city's City Council speaker, says that the lack of adherence to these new rules could be the main cause of the accident.

"The MTA should follow those rules that we worked so hard to devise," said Jessica Lappin, a City Council Member.

Continue reading "Fatal Crane Accident in Manhattan Brings Up Safety Concerns -- Again" »

Workers at the World Trade Center construction site had a close call earlier this month, when steel beams plummeted 40 stories to the ground below.

The New York construction accident happened when, according to CNN, there were three steel beams, each about 60 feet long, that toppled down to the area where workers were standing. It was reportedly a crane cable that snapped, causing the beams to fall.

Thankfully, no one was hurt in the incident.

New York City construction accident attorneys know that in many instances, the term "accident" is used to imply that no one was at fault. While this situation remains under investigation, the fact is that most construction "accidents" could have been prevented if the proper procedures had been in place. Workers have an expectation that their employers will protect them from foreseeable dangers that are commonly present on construction sites, particularly in New York City, where workers are often working on sites such as this, which are dozens of stories high.

CNN is reporting that in this case, the beams - which weighed several tons each - came crashing down at one of the new towers that is being constructed at the place where the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks occurred.

A spokesman for Tishman Construction, the company that is responsible for overseeing the development at the site, reports the crane cable somehow broke. That caused the steel that was being lifted to be thrown down about 40 stories (which equals roughly about 400 feet) onto a flatbed truck. It was the same truck that had been used to haul equipment to the site.

The dangerous episode happened inside an area of the site that was closed off to the public, and luckily, no workers were in the direct path of the falling debris.

The total height of the building under construction is about 72 stories (which equals about 720 feet, perhaps a bit more). It's intended to face the site of the World Trade Center memorial park, which is being constructed to honor victims of the terrorist attacks. The plan is for the site to be opened to the public by next autumn.

Even Mayor Michael Bloomberg weighed in on the situation, saying he was grateful no one had been seriously injured by the beams.

The Tishman spokesman added that the company is looking into what happened, along with the help of authorities from the city fire department and Department of Buildings, as well as experts from the Port Authorities in New Jersey and New York.

Some work at the site has been suspended for now, until the results of the investigation are released.

It's not yet clear whether the company had the appropriate safety measures in place. If it did, it will be interesting to see whether those were followed.

There are several steps construction employers must take in order to protect their employees. One of those includes developing a formal and adequate hazards protection plan. Each plan needs to be tailored to whatever the operation or project is.

At a minimum, employers need to have a safety orientation that describes where, how and when to report injuries. It also needs to show workers how to use any protective gear that may be required, identify any dangerous gases or chemicals that workers may encounter and outline a procedure for reporting unsafe practices.

Continue reading "New York Construction Accident Reported at World Trade Center Site " »

The Press Connects reported recently on a tragic truck accident involving livestock. According to the State Police, the accident happened in Western New York when a truck transporting 31 cows ran off the road and overturned. The driver was handed a ticket for a faulty rear brake and a ticket for unsafely changing lanes.

Our New York City injury lawyers know that poorly maintained trucks can cause serious crashes. The trucking industry has many regulations in place to ensure trucks and their operators are safe to travel on our roadways.

Apparently the 35 year-old truck driver drove too close to the side of the road causing the tires to leave the roadway. When the tires sunk into the soft ground the result was the truck rolling over causing it to land on the median.

It took eight hours for crews to clean up the scene and for emergency workers to rescue the cows as 17 perished in the crash. The investigation is ongoing and will include looking into the number of hours the driver had been behind the wheel at the time of the accident. The truck had picked up its cargo in Lowville N.Y. and was heading to processing plant in Wyalusing, located in Pennsylvania, roughly a 200-mile trip. This was the trucking company's only vehicle and records from the U.S. Department of Transportation indicate that they have had no accidents in the last two years.

Truck drivers transporting livestock need to ensure their truck and trailer are properly maintained to prevent a breakdown. They need to check brakes, lights and tires prior to any trip and make the necessary repairs. They should also obey all safety regulations and laws.

Livestock truck drivers have the responsibility for taking care of the animals they are transporting; not only to ensure their health but preventing stressed animals from causing an accident. Drivers should always begin their trip slowly and avoid sudden stops. Rounding curves quickly or making sudden stops and starts could cause the animals to be knocked over causing a load shift. Checking on your cargo frequently is a good idea to ensure that load partitions haven't moved and are secure and latches are closed on trailer doors.

Driving off the side of the road is often a sign of drowsy driving. The New York State Department of Health's brochure Wake UP! to the risks of Drowsy Driving indicates that the following drivers are at the greatest risk for having an accident caused by drowsy driving:

• Truck drivers.


• Workers who work on the night shift.


• Parents that have young children.


• People that have sleep disorders that are untreated.


• Young drivers, particularly males under the age of 26.

Contrary to popular belief, listening to a loud radio, having the air conditioning on high or having the windows open will not prevent you from falling asleep at the wheel. Drinking a caffeinated beverage will help a little but the caffeine takes roughly 30 minutes to kick in. If you start to yawn a lot, start to have head bobs, hit the rumble strip or drift out of your lane it is time to pull over and get some sleep.

Continue reading "Shifted Cargo Can Cause Rollover Trucking Accidents in New York" »

A freight elevator on Sixth Avenue between 18th and 19th streets plunged three floors and injured 22 people in a Manhattan construction accident. The New York City fire officials reportedly responded to call at 7:00 a.m. from the seven-story commercial building in Chelsea. Injuries were minor, but nine workers were taken to the hospital for precautionary measures, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Fire officials state that the elevator dropped three stories. A spokeswoman for the Police Department reports that it fell four.

Our New York personal injury attorneys understand that accidents in elevators are not an uncommon occurrence. It is the responsibility of the property owner to make sure that these facilities are in proper and safe working condition. If you have suffered an injury from a malfunctioning elevator, you're are urged to contact an experienced attorney to help you fight for your rights and to gain the deserved compensation for your injuries and suffering,

Reports indicate that the 22 passengers suffered from "whiplash-like injuries" and were taken to local hospitals. The nine who suffered the injuries were reportedly listed as serious but not life threatening. These injuries can often result in long-term medical complications involving the back, neck or spine.

According to the New York Times, the Department of Buildings inspected the elevator and issued a violation to the owner of the building. The owner is listed as CF 620 Owner One LLC and the violation was for failing to maintain the elevator and for illegal use of the elevator. The freight elevator was being used a passenger elevator.

"Its brake was defective, causing it to not work properly," said city Buildings Department spokesman Ryan Fitzgibbon.

Records indicate that the elevator has received zero violations in the past 15 years.

Villanova University offers you these safety tips for you to remember for elevator emergencies:

-Remain calm and do not leave the car unless you've been instructed to do so by trained personnel.

-If the elevator is stuck, press the emergency call button (if available) and wait for trained assistance.

-Don't try to stop a closing door with your arm or hand. Some elevators will not reopen and your arm could get stuck between the set of heavy doors.

-Do not try to climb out of the elevator. Wait for trained responders to help assist you.

Continue reading "Plunging Elevator Sends 22 to Hospital in New York Work Accident" »

Fall accidents are the leading cause of New York work injuries sustained at constructions sites.

Construction workers, as well as others who work in an industry with fall hazards, are reminded to speak to a New York personal injury lawyer or workers' compensation attorney when a New York construction accident leads to serious injury.

Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) recently announced the start of a citywide campaign in New York called "Experience is Not Enough". In an effort to reduce the number of fall accidents at constructions sites, workers are being encouraged to use netting, guardrails, and fall harnesses while working on the job. Employers have a responsibility to provide workers with the safety equipment necessary to minimize their risk of a fall accident while on the job. The launch of the multilingual campaign is in conjunction with the start of the Build Safe/Live Safe conference and the 7th Annual Construction Safety Week.

The Department of Buildings reported that 42 percent of all accidents at constructions sites were falls in 2010. Since 2008, 16 construction workers have died on the job due to employers being remiss in providing fall protection. Two ironworkers were recently killed in February after falling 65-feet during the installation of a steel beam at a work site. Later, investigators discovered safety harnesses on the site premises but employers failed to require workers to wear protection for their own safety.

"Experience alone does not make you invincible," said Building Commissioner Robert LiMandri. "A worker falling is a tragic accident that can be easily prevented, and this new campaign reminds workers and their supervisors to take steps in order to protect themselves, their colleagues, and the public. No matter how many years you have worked in construction, you can lose your life if the appropriate safety measures are not in place."

Posters and banners in multiple languages which include Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Polish and English are being posted throughout the city at different constructions sites in order to increase awareness and emphasize the use of fall protection on the job.

Employers at construction sites have a responsibility to make it company policy that fall protection devices such as guardrails, netting and harnesses should be used at all times. Failure to protect employees typically leads to senseless deaths and injuries on the job.

Continue reading "New York construction workers have a high risk of fall accidents, on-the-job injuries" »