Construction Site Trip and Fall Accident Attorneys in Albany, NY

Our experienced attorneys can investigate why the construction site accident occurred and who is responsible. Some of the causes our construction accident lawyers may investigate include the following:

Surface Conditions 

Construction workers may work on dangerous surfaces, including roofs and floors in disrepair. Planks can slip, or supports can collapse. Other workplace hazards at construction sites could include uneven surfaces, spills, changing elevations, and cracks. Workers may not be aware of these dangerous conditions until they fall and suffer serious injuries.

Damaged Ladders and Scaffolding

Construction workers rely on ladders and scaffolding to reach heights and complete their work. However, if workers do not have the right equipment or the scaffolding is not properly constructed, these devices can collapse and injure them. 

Weather

Construction workers may have to work in dangerous weather conditions, including high winds, rain, ice, and hail. These conditions can make work difficult and surfaces slippery, leading to slips and falls.

Lack of Fall Protection 

Construction site managers are responsible for providing proper protective equipment, which might include:

• Fall arrest systems
• Safety lines
• Safety apparatuses
• Guardrails

The most commonly violated OSHA standard is the failure to provide proper fall protection equipment to workers. 

Trip Hazards

Accidents can also occur on construction sites when workers trip over items such as tools, building materials, hoses, cables, electrical cords, and wires, as well as falling materials and debris. 

Lack of Training

Construction companies may be so eager to finish a project that they hire unqualified workers or do not provide proper training. Workers may not know how to use fall protection systems or perform their jobs safely, which can lead to injuries. 

Obstructions 

Construction workers may carry objects in a way that obstructs others’ view of potential dangers, creating hazards that can lead to slips and falls.

Lack of Warning Signs

Construction jobs can have many hazardous conditions. Failing to put up signs to warn workers of these potential hazards can lead to preventable slips and falls. Common construction site hazards include:

• Open trenches
• Holes in floors and roofs
• Live wires
• Missing steps or stairs
• Loose or missing guardrails or handrails
• Inadequate lighting

When workers are unaware of these dangers, they may suffer serious injuries. 

Poor Communication 

Active construction sites can be busy. They may involve workers in various trades who may not communicate with each other about potential hazards. 

Who Is Responsible for Construction Slips and Falls?

Based on New York’s labor laws and common law principles of negligence, various parties can be held liable for accidents on construction sites, including:

• Property owners 
• Contractors and subcontractors
• Property managers
• Engineers and architects
• Product manufacturers

Our construction accident lawyers can thoroughly investigate your claim to determine all liable parties.

What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Compensation for a Slip and Fall on a Construction Site?

What you have to prove depends on the type of legal claim you are pursuing. 

When you pursue a workers’ compensation claim, you do not have to prove your employer was negligent. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, so meeting this threshold is not necessary. In fact, you can recover compensation even if your own negligence contributed to the accident. 

For certain slip and fall injury claims on construction sites, you only have to prove your employer violated an applicable rule without showing they were negligent. This is known as strict liability. 

For other types of claims, you have to prove negligence, which occurs when the defendant owed you a legal duty, breached it, and caused damages because of the breach. 

An experienced personal injury lawyer can explain what you must prove based on your particular type of case.

Trips and falls can lead to a variety of injuries. When construction workers slip and fall it can result in a severe head injury, they may suffer concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. These injuries can lead to memory loss, cognitive impairment and loss of muscle control. 

When workers fall from heights, such as falls from ladders, scaffolds, roofs or any other elevated platform, they may suffer catastrophic injuries including spinal cord injuries and paralysis. 

Other slips and falls can result in neck and back injuries, internal organ damage, soft tissue damage, and other serious injuries.