In Brooklyn, NY, and across the New York City area, hundreds of workers put their personal safety on the line in order to provide us all with buildings and other structures that we all enjoy and sometimes take for granted. Construction workers understand that their work is inherently dangerous, but these dangerous conditions can be mitigated with effective safety regulations and safe construction machines and tools. Construction accidents due to defective equipment can be minimized in theory, but if you or a loved one has been injured on the job site, the attorneys at Zucker & Regev, P.C., can help. Our team offers a free consultation and work on a contingency basis, which means you owe nothing unless and until your case has a successful result.

Common Construction Accidents

Naturally, construction accidents come in a wide variety of types and severity. Some of the most common include:

• Becoming trapped in construction material
• Explosions and other types of burns
• Falls due to the collapse of ground or various types of construction materials
• Being struck by falling equipment or debris
• Being struck by vehicles
• Overexertion caused by long hours and/or hot and/or humid weather
• Accidents caused by dangerous materials
• Slips and tripping
• Electrocutions
• Respiratory diseases
• Exposure to lead, asbestos, or other dangerous materials
• Machinery failures

Types of Defective Equipment

Defective equipment is one of the leading causes of construction accidents we see at our Brooklyn, NY, firm, and are generally categorized in several ways:

• Manufacturing defects, including lack of quality control and/or inferior materials
• Design defects, such as poor or lack of safety features
• Defective warnings

These types of defects can be further compounded by:

• Lack of proper training
• Lack of proper upkeep and repairs
• Poor documentation and/or maintenance procedures

On a construction site, these defects can seriously affect critical machinery, such as:

• Scaffolding
• Forklifts
• Cranes
• Tools
• Other machinery

Resulting Injuries from Defective Equipment

The inherent dangers of construction work can be manifested by a wide variety of injuries, including:

• Spinal cord injuries, typically from falls and sometimes resulting in paralysis
• Head or traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Loss of hearing
• Loss of sight or various eye injuries
• Burns
• Sprains or various other joint injuries
• Cuts, abrasions, and contusions
• Amputations
• Chronic lung disease
• Other health issues related to toxic exposure
• Post-Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD)

How to Protect Yourself on the Job

Construction accidents are dangerous enough to take precautions beyond what workers may normally take. These types of employees should consider:

• Wearing bright and protective clothing and gear, including headgear
• Using scaffolding, ladders, forklifts, and other common construction equipment with extreme caution
• Avoiding positioning yourself underneath or between heavy machinery
• Making sure to follow all warning labels and policies
• Avoiding power lines whenever possible
• Being sure that first aid stations are plentiful and well-maintained
• Making sure you and all workers are well-versed in CPR and other first-aid techniques
• Conducting regular mandatory safety training
• Developing serious consequences for non-compliance

Contact Us to Learn More

If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident or as a result of defective equipment, contact Zucker & Regev, P.C., in Brooklyn, NY, online or call us at (718) 624-1211. We offer a free consultation and operate on a contingency basis. We will sit down with you to review your various options and suggest appropriate action.