Construction Accidents Less Common in NYC in 2011
New York construction sites are getting safer it seems, according to Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri. There was an 18% decrease in construction accidents last year in the city. Compared with 157 construction accidents in 2010, there were only 128 in 2011. Officials are crediting new laws that have been implemented over the past several years.
Among those new laws are revised city construction codes, which took effect in 2009. Those codes had not been revised in 40 years and were understandably in need of updating.
Construction accident injuries also fell, from 165 in 2010, to 152 last year, a drop of 7.8%. Oddly enough, however, fatalities increased by one, with 5 construction-related deaths last year and only 4 in 2010.
Of all construction accidents, falling is still the most common, but even construction falls declined last year by 21%, from 66 in 2010 to 52 in 2011.
More than 25 construction safety laws have been passed since 2008, affecting construction sites within the city. According to Occupational Health & Safety, many of these laws had a role in reducing the number of construction accidents.
Those laws included mandatory training for all crane workers, a smoking ban on all sites, and new color coding and pressure testing of sprinkler systems.
There is no doubt that the city doesn’t want its workers to be hurt. To not take construction safety seriously would look bad, to say the least. But the city has also lost money over the years because of substandard safety practices.
When someone is hurt in a construction accident and it can be determined that the accident was a direct result of some level of negligence, a lawsuit can be brought against the city or whoever is in charge of the construction site. If the city fails to do an inspection, for instance, they can be held responsible for accidents that result from shortcomings that should have been caught and corrected by such an inspection.
If you are injured in a construction accident, you know that the physical pain is only half of the battle. Medical bills, missed work, and other obstacles can also change your life. Fortunately, a construction accident attorney can help.
The personal injury lawyers with Omrani & Taub are dedicated to helping people who have been hurt as a result of construction accidents. Whether you were on the job or passing by, a construction accident isn’t your fault and you shouldn’t be made to feel responsible for it. Consulting with one of our attorneys will help you understand your rights when hurt in such an accident and what can be done to get you the compensation you may deserve.
