Content Reviewed By:
John Richmond, Co-Founding Member
- October 23, 2024
Construction sites are a constant presence in Buffalo and around the state. While necessary for economic growth, these areas are filled with hazards that can cause serious injuries. Whenever a person is injured on a construction site, they have the right to seek compensation. However, the legal route these individuals must take depends upon their status as visitors to the site or employees. Employees must seek compensation for their injuries through workers’ compensation claims. This can provide payments for medical treatment as well as benefits to cover lost wages. However, an employee injured on a construction site may also have a viable claim against a third party other than their employer. This may include, but is not limited to the site owner, general contractor, or certain sub-contractors. These claims typically must be pursued through the filing of a lawsuit.
All visitors to construction sites may file traditional personal injury lawsuits to demand compensation. In either scenario, a Buffalo scaffolding accident lawyer may be able to help. Our attorneys are ready to investigate the role of scaffolding in an injury and fight to help all injured individuals obtain the compensation they deserve.
Scaffolding Injuries and Labor Laws
Construction sites are notoriously dangerous workplaces. Unfortunately, accidents often occur in work zones that cause catastrophic injury or death to workers through no fault of their own. Thankfully, New York Labor Law protects workers under sections 200, 240, and 241 when specific criteria are established.
Under New York Labor Law 200, owners and contractors have a duty to provide a safe working environment. This means they must ensure the work site is equipped and operated in a manner that gives workers reasonable and adequate protection from injuries.
To hold owners liable for not providing a safe place to work, the injured party must establish that the owner had actual or constructive “notice” of the dangerous condition that caused the accident and injuries, but did not warn them of the hazard. For example, if an owner or contractor knew that scaffolding had rusted or loose connections and did not warn the worker who fell from the structure due to its unsafe condition, that owner or contractor could be held legally liable for the resulting damages. A skilled Buffalo attorney can help individuals who sustain harm in scaffolding accidents establish who is at fault for their incident and gather and present evidence to support this.
Scaffolding Injuries Involving Visitors on or Near Construction Sites
Anyone who suffers an injury while on or near a construction site while not working there must pursue a claim through traditional personal injury laws. Specifically, they must file a lawsuit using premises liability law. These laws examine the reasons for the visitor being on the land, whether the landowner permitted them to be there, and the owner’s actions that led to the injury.
Property owners are generally responsible for keeping their land reasonably safe for all lawful visitors. As a result, an invited visitor to a construction site who suffers an injury because of collapsing scaffolding must show that they had a right to be on the property and that the construction company was negligent in allowing the event to occur.
A scaffolding accident attorney in Buffalo can help individuals injured while visiting construction sites understand their rights and file claims when appropriate. We also work to help people who endure injuries as passersby on sidewalks or in neighboring buildings. It is critical to get started on a case immediately. New York Civil Practice Law & Rules § 214 sets a statute of limitations of two years on claims seeking compensation for personal injuries due to accidents. In some circumstances, this time limit could be even shorter, as is the case when a municipality owns the property where the event took place.
Speak with a Buffalo Scaffolding Accident Attorney Today
Construction sites are dangerous places even when a person acts with the highest level of caution. Accidents can cause long-lasting injuries, emotional trauma, and financial hardship. Depending on an injured individual’s status as a visitor or an employee, their legal options to collect compensation for these damages vary.
A Buffalo scaffolding accident lawyer can help determine the best course of action for a particular situation and will offer support and guidance through every step of the process. Call Richmond Vona, LLC, to get started.
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Words cannot describe how grateful my wife and I are of John Richmond. His friendliness, knowledge, loyalty and professionalism are of the highest level. Being this was the first time we’ve had to obtain legal assistance, John made this process very easy for my wife and I. We both would highly recommend Richmond Vona.
What a phenomenal experience to come from a terrifying accident. From day 1 Richmond/Vona provided me with nothing but comfort and professionalism. Communication is paramount in my needs and they performed that with nothing short of exceptional. Mr. Richmond made me feel like this was the only case he was working on. Thank you to all of your staff for looking out for my best interests and taking a stressful situation and making it so very easy for me and my family.
My experience with Keith Vona was exceptional. To this day, I am grateful for the dedication and compassion he displayed throughout my case. The outcome of my case was successful as a result of his drive and commitment. I would highly recommend Keith Vona to anyone in need of legal representation.
