Roof Fall Accident Lawyer in Rochester, NY

How Construction Accident Lawyers Can Help After an Injury

Construction accidents tend to result in severe injuries such as paralysis that can affect your lifelong earning power. When you have suffered such a serious injury, you need an experienced attorney who can prepare a legal claim that accounts for the full extent of your injuries and demand fair compensation for them. 

When you hire the personal injury attorneys at Powers & Santola, LLP, you can count on us to:

• Investigate the accident and identify all responsible parties
• Review New York’s Labor Laws and explain how they pertain to your case
• Gather evidence to establish responsible parties  
• Work with your medical providers to understand how your injuries will affect your future
• Handle communications and negotiations with insurance companies
• Fight for you to recover maximum compensation

We can discuss your legal rights when you contact us today for a free consultation. 

Why You Should Choose Powers & Santola, LLP

The personal injury attorneys at Powers & Santola, LLP are seasoned litigators. We have a track record of success representing personal injury victims injured on construction sites and other locations. Some of the factors you should consider when hiring a personal injury lawyer include:

• Experience – Our roof fall and ceiling collapse accident injury attorneys have decades of experience. We leverage our experience to demand the compensation our clients deserve, fighting insurance companies and spearheading your legal rights. We have extensive experience in the courtroom, too, and prepare all cases for trial.

• Knowledge – We are highly knowledgeable of New York construction laws. In fact, one of our founding attorneys, Daniel R. Santola, authored New York’s leading treatise on construction accident claims. You can trust that we know how to prepare your claim for the best outcome.

• Results – Our attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation in personal injury verdicts and settlements. This has resulted in life-changing money for our clients, money they desperately needed for medical bills and to make up for lost income.

• Reputation – The most trusted and relied upon guide to legal excellence, Best Lawyers in America, has included us in their highly selective group of Best Lawyers in America and as a recipient of the Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year award. U.S. News and World Report has also named us as one of the Best Law Firms in the country. This sterling reputation gives us an upper hand in the courtroom and at the negotiating table.
• Resources – When you’re dealing with a complex legal claim and going up against powerful companies, you need a trial firm that can take your case to the end. Powers & Santola, LLP has the resources necessary to thoroughly prepare your case. We also regularly hire nationally recognized expert witnesses to support our cases further. 

Our extensive experience handling roof and construction accident cases makes us a trusted resource. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury due to negligence on a construction site, we can help. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. 

What Makes Roof Work Dangerous?

The construction industry is ripe with dangers. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly one in five workplace deaths in the United States in 2022 occurred in the construction industry, with 38.4% of these deaths caused by slips, falls, and trips. 

Roofing work can be particularly dangerous. Construction workers may be exposed to the elements and work on unstable surfaces. Rain, snow, and ice can make surfaces slippery, and workers may also trip over tools, shingles, and other building supplies.

Roofers can fall off the roof during one of these accidents. Falls from substantial heights can result in catastrophic injuries, including paralysis and traumatic brain injuries, as well as death. Construction workers in New York have special protections under the law for gravity-related accidents. An experienced construction accident attorney can explain your rights following an accident.

Why Do Roof Falls Happen?

Construction projects are busy and involve various parties. This contributes to the possibility of roof falls caused by:

Unmarked Openings

On many construction sites openings are cut into the roof for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning units, chimneys, skylights, stairways and for a variety of other reasons. These openings are required to be properly marked and protected from unsuspecting worker who may fall into one of them. 

Lack of Proper Training 

Construction work is a hard job. Companies may hire new or temporary workers who are not skilled. Without the proper training, these workers may be more susceptible to falls. 

Lack of Proper Safety Equipment

Roof work often involves unstable environments that warrant the use of safety equipment. Construction workers can be injured if not supplied with hard hats, fall harness systems, or other personal protective equipment. 

Ceiling Collapses

When ceilings are not properly built, they can collapse under the weight of workers and equipment. A lack of structural integrity can contribute to these accidents.

Ceiling and roof collapses can occur due to:

• Not following building codes
• Structural problems
• Damage to ceiling supports
• A lack of maintenance 
• Water leaks
• Insufficient weight-bearing measures
• The installation of low-quality building materials

If these issues contributed to your accident, an experienced premises liability lawyer can guide you through the legal process of seeking compensation for your injuries. The ceiling collapse accident lawyers with Powers & Santola, LLP can thoroughly investigate the accident and hold the at-fault parties responsible for your injuries. 

Who Is Responsible for Roof Falls?

Most roof falls are preventable and due to the negligence of parties such as:

Building Owners

Property owners may ignore leaking roofs or delay necessary repairs, causing the property to fall into disrepair and allowing workers to be injured while completing work. Some even paint over signs of water damage, leaving construction workers vulnerable to potential collapses. 

Landlords

Landlords may fail to properly maintain properties, inspect them for possible hazards, or warn workers about known dangers. They may make shoddy repairs to save money. 

Property Managers

Independent property management groups may be too busy to monitor the dangers at a particular complex. They may negligently inspect, maintain, or repair the property. 

General Contractors

General contractors are responsible for maintaining safe working environments for all workers on site. If they fail to do so or fail to provide safety lines, required roof anchors, or netting, they could be liable for resulting injuries. 

Subcontractors

Subcontractors can act negligently, too, contributing to roof fall accidents.

New York Labor Laws and Roof Falls

New York’s labor laws provide a pathway for injured workers to recover compensation after a roof fall. New York Labor Law Section 240 allows injured workers and their families to sue a property owner or contractor for injuries they suffered due to falling from a height or having something fall on them from a height. This law imposes liability without the injured worker having to show the property owner or contractor was negligent. If the fall is due to an inadequate safety device all owners, contractors and their agents are held liable even when they do not control the work which gives rise to the accident and any negligence on the part of the worker cannot defeat or diminish the worker’s recovery.

New York Labor Law Section 241(6) also allows lawsuits and legal claims against contractors and property owners who violate certain safety regulations. When these parties fail to follow safety regulations or provide adequate protection and safety to workers on site, they can be held liable for resulting injuries. 

An experienced attorney can review how these and other Labor Laws can impact your rights after an on-the-job accident.

Financial Compensation Following a Roof Fall Accident

Roof fall victims may be able to recover workers’ compensation benefits if they were injured while working. These benefits pay for medical expenses and partial wage replacement. The injured party does not have to prove their employer was negligent to receive these benefits. 

In some situations, construction accident victims can file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for their other financial losses in addition to any workers’ compensation claim. This may be possible if the defendant violated New York’s labor laws or other parties acted negligently in causing the construction site accident. 

Financial compensation you may be able to recover from negligent parties may include:

• Emergency medical treatment 
• Hospital bills
• Rehabilitation costs
• Ongoing medical care
• Future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Replacement services
• Loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Mental anguish
• Physical impairment
• Disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Permanent disability 

If you suffered an injury in a work-related fall, our legal team can investigate your case and identify all the damages we can pursue. We can discuss whether you can file a claim or personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for your injuries. 

What Are Common Injuries Accident Victims Suffer in Roof Falls and Ceiling Collapses?

Roof falls often involve substantial heights. Accident victims may fall onto the hard ground below or upon construction equipment. Ceiling collapses can involve falling cement and steel beams. Due to these factors, these types of accidents tend to result in catastrophic injuries, including:

• Total paralysis and other spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Internal organ damage 
• Neck and back injuries
• Herniated discs
• Fractures
• Soft tissue injuries to muscles, tendons, and ligaments

If you have suffered any of these injuries, reach out to Powers & Santola, LLP for legal representation. 

What Evidence Is Used in Roof Fall Cases?

In a roof fall accident case, your lawyer will try to gather evidence of the unsafe conditions on the property and the defendant’s prior knowledge regarding those conditions. Evidence that may help prove this information might include:

• The accident report
• Maintenance records
• Personnel records
• Photos or videos of the accident scene
• Witness statements
• OSHA reports
• Police and first responders records
• Surveillance camera footage 

In some cases, architects or engineers may be retained as expert witnesses to state how the accident occurred. 

What Is the Deadline to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in New York?

It is in your best interest to take immediate legal action after a roof fall so valuable evidence can be preserved to aid your case. There are time limits you must be aware of when pursuing a personal injury claim in New York, known as the statutes of limitations. The statute of limitations for filing most personal injury lawsuits in New York is three years. In wrongful death cases, the time limit to file your claim is two years from the decedent’s death. 

However, if the case is against a city, school district or other municipal agency you may be required to file your claim within 90 days of the accident. If the case is against the State of New York or any of its agencies the Claim or at least a Notice of Intention to File a Claim must be filed within 90 days of the accident. If only a Notice of Intention to File a Claim has been submitted then the formal Claim must be filed within 2 years of the accident. 

Your claim can be barred if you do not file a lawsuit within the applicable statute of limitations. Protect your rights by contacting an experienced construction lawyer today.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

Our personal injury lawyers do not charge any upfront costs to explain whether you have a case or to pursue your case. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we receive a percentage of the recovery we obtain on your behalf. If we are unsuccessful, you do not owe fees for our legal services or the expenses incurred in the prosecution of the lawsuit. . 

Contact an Experienced Attorney for Help with Your Legal Claim

If you were injured in a roofing accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses. The Rochester roof fall accident lawyers from Powers & Santola, LLP are here to guide you through the legal process and relentlessly demand the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to get started with a free consultation.