Ladders are invaluable tools on construction sites, but they can also be the cause of serious accidents. Each year, many New York construction workers are injured or killed in ladder accidents.
Because the construction industry can be so dangerous for employees, New York lawmakers enacted legal protections. New York Labor Law 240 protects workers who are on elevated surfaces.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also regulates the use of ladders on worksites. An elevation of 19 inches or more that does not have a ramp or other means of accessing the height requires the use of a ladder. OSHA requires employers to regularly inspect ladders to ensure they are safe for use.
Compensation for Ladder Injuries
If you were injured in a ladder accident in NYC, you may be eligible for several types of compensation. A construction accident attorney can review your accident details and determine which of these forms of compensation are available:
- Workers’ compensation,
- Labor lawsuit against your employer, or
- Lawsuit against the ladder manufacturer or another third party.
Your employer should have workers’ compensation insurance, since New York law requires it. Workers’ compensation is the most accessible form of injury payment because it doesn’t require you to prove that someone else was at fault for your accident. However, workers’ compensation law usually prevents you from suing your employer for a workplace accident.
Under certain circumstances, such as if your employer violated a New York labor law, you may be able to sue. Additionally, workers’ compensation does not prevent you from suing a third party who was responsible for your accident, such as the manufacturer of a malfunctioning ladder.
How Much Money Can You Get for Ladder Injuries?
Ladder accidents can cause serious injuries that require extensive medical care and time off work. Workers’ compensation claims and lawsuits are intended to get you the payment you need to cover accident expenses.
You can receive compensation for these financial harms through a workers’ comp claim:
- Medical bills, and
- Percentage of lost wages.
A personal injury lawsuit allows you to recover a greater array of damages. In a lawsuit, you can recover both financial and emotional damages, including the following:
- Lost wages,
- Medical bills,
- Rehabilitation expenses,
- Pain and suffering,
- Loss of future earnings, and
- Loss of companionship.
It can seem challenging to sort through the various laws that may apply to construction injuries in NY and find the best path for compensation. An experienced construction accident attorney can assist you in determining how to pursue maximum compensation.
Contact a Construction Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in a NYC ladder accident at work, you need an experienced attorney. At Ferrante & Koenig, our construction accident attorneys offer a free consultation. In that meeting, we can discuss your case, answer any questions, and advise you of your best options for obtaining compensation.
If you decide to hire us, we work on contingency, meaning that you don’t owe us anything until we win your case. Then you pay us from a portion of your settlement. We offer this flexible payment structure because we don’t want finances to prevent anyone from pursuing the accident compensation they deserve.
We want to help you get the money you need to provide for you and your family while you recover. Contact us today to get started on your ladder accident case.
