Construction sites are among the most dangerous work environments a New Yorker can be exposed to. Those who work on construction sites are at constant risk of being involved in a devastating accident. Falls from scaffolding, electrocution, machinery malfunctions and other construction accidents can prove to be life-altering for victims. Victims may no longer be able to enjoy the same quality of life following a construction accident, and they may find it difficult to continue earning a wage.
A Manhattan jury recently awarded a construction worker $7.6 million after the man suffered devastating injuries following a construction site accident. The man was working on a scaffold at a shopping mall in New York when the accident occurred. While removing asbestos from a J.C. Penney, he lost his balance and fell 10 feet. Reportedly, the man did not have a safety harness attached to him because there was nowhere he could connect it to.
As a result of the fall, the man suffered brain and spinal injuries. He filed suit, and the lawsuit claimed that the scaffold was significantly tilted so that the metal frame was not functioning. Instead, it was being held in place by sandbags. His lawsuit was successful, and the jury awarded the man $6.1 million for past and future pain and suffering, as well as lost earnings. His wife received $1.49 million for loss of services.
Construction injuries can rob a victim of his or her ability to earn a living. A debilitating construction accident can result in a high amount of lost wages. Because of this, victims may choose to pursue legal action. A successful lawsuit may allow victims to obtain monetary compensation that can help to alleviate the financial burden from the accident.
Source: New York Daily News, “Worker injured in fall from scaffold at J.C. Penney is awarded $7.6 million,” Barbara Ross and Dareh Gregorian, July 25, 2014
