In this modern world, we depend upon electricity to power our devices, turn on our lights, and run our transportation systems. But while electricity is essential to so many aspects of life, it can also be very dangerous and result in serious bodily harm. A negligent party could also be to blame for an electric shock injury in the workplace when safety precautions are not taken.

Here is some information about what an electrocution accident lawyer does and when it is time to call an electrical shock lawyer if you have been hurt by a hazardous current.

How Electric Shock Injuries Happen

Electrocutions can happen in the home and in the workplace when a person is handling wiring and electricity. Any place with exposed wires and other electrical hazards can result in an electric shock injury. Construction workers may encounter these types of injuries while working with overhead and buried power lines. Professionals who work with roofing, siding, tree trimming, and water and sewer installation are commonly exposed to electrical wiring. Injuries may result due to improper grounding, damaged wiring, and poorly installed equipment.

Fortunately, most electrical shock accidents are preventable by taking extra care while handling wires, turning off power sources before working in dangerous areas, and by following safety protocols in the workplace.

Typical Electrocution Injuries

When the human body comes into contact with electricity through wires, machinery, metal, or power lines, a shock runs through the body. This type of pulse is very damaging to the body and can cause long-term damage to the nervous system, organs, and skin.

High voltage electric currents are more dangerous than low voltage ones and can even result in death. Common injuries include burns on the skin, malfunctioning of the internal organs, reduced cognitive abilities, and ventricular fibrillation. If the heart muscles contract too much due to an electric shock, the heart may actually stop beating.

What an Electrical Shock Lawyer Does

Electrical accidents are usually very serious and cause significant harm to a person’s body. This results in costly medical bills, lost wages from missed time off work, and other damages.

If you or someone you love has been involved in one of these accidents, it is best to call an electrical shock lawyer before talking to insurance companies or allowing anyone to record your statement about the accident. An electrocution accident lawyer will review all of the details of your case and can file a personal injury lawsuit and/or premises liability claim on your behalf to seek maximum compensation for your injuries if someone else’s negligence caused your accident to happen.

Why Choose Us for Your Electrocution Accident Lawyer

Electrocution accidents are just one of the many types of construction accident cases that we help clients with at the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum. We understand how dangerous construction sites can be if they aren’t properly maintained and safety protocols followed. And we stand up for the rights of construction workers and also non-workers who simply happen to be passing through construction areas and become victims of work site injuries. We are the law firm that New Yorkers trust because we know how to work with experts to evaluate the value of your case and protect you if anyone tries to blame you for your injuries.

To discuss your electrocution accident case and for a free case review, contact our office 24/7 at 718-237-5586.

Because of all the dangers and hazards involved in construction work, construction accidents can be absolutely devastating. In New York, construction workers are injured regularly due to heavy machinery, equipment malfunctions, falls, collapses, and environmental conditions.

If you or someone you know works in the construction industry, here’s why you might need a construction site accident lawyer in NYC either now or in the future.

Causes of Construction Site Accidents

These are some of the most common situations that lead injured construction workers and their families to contact the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum for legal advice and representation:

• Collapsing structures
• Falls off scaffolding
• Malfunctioning equipment
• Tripping hazards at construction sites
• Lack of personal protective equipment
• Being crushed between equipment
• Repetitive motions
• Respiratory disease due to toxic exposure

Who Can Be at Fault for Construction Accidents?

One of the biggest challenges of these cases is determining who is at fault, especially when multiple parties could be to blame for a worker’s injuries. This is why you need a skilled construction site accident lawyer in NYC on your side.

It is typically the responsibility of a general contractor to ensure that safety regulations are met. However, a construction company can be held liable for a worker’s injuries if the company didn’t properly prepare the building area or provide warnings where hazards exist. If an injury resulted from defective equipment, an architect, engineer, contractor, or subcontractor could be at fault. Meanwhile, a property owner could be at fault for a construction site injury if that person made poor decisions about safety issues and didn’t provide safe barriers to protect the public. City and government agencies, as well as machine manufacturers, could also be to blame for a worker’s injuries. Construction workers may be at fault for their own injuries if they were acting carelessly or not following safety protocols.

Proving Liability After a Construction Accident

To be successful with a personal injury claim based on negligence at a construction site, you will need to prove that the defendant owed you a duty of care, breached that duty of care by being negligent, and that this negligence caused you harm. If you file a premises liability personal injury claim, you’ll need to show that the defendant had control over the property where the injury happened, was negligent in the use of that property, and that you were harmed due to this negligence. There are other legal standards that must be met if you wish to pursue a case based on a product defect or an employee’s negligence.

Section 240 of the New York Labor Law, known as the “Scaffold Law,” protects construction workers who are working at elevated heights and fall or who are hit by falling objects. Under Section 240, project owners and managers, building managers, and contractors can be held liable for a worker’s injuries. Meanwhile, Section 241 of this labor law protects construction workers at the ground level from slips, trips, falls, air contamination, and chemical hazards.

At the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum, we know how to apply New York laws to your case to get you the settlement you deserve. Our law firm can help you pursue a personal injury case against one or more at-fault parties. We can also help you determine the best legal course of action for your specific situation, whether that is moving forward with a personal injury lawsuit, construction defect case, workers’ compensation claim, or civil lawsuit for product liability.

If you need a construction site accident lawyer in NYC, call us today at 718-237-5586 or contact us online.

Because of the challenging and potentially dangerous work required to create buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure, construction accidents happen every day. Unfortunately, New York construction workers often suffer from falls, burns, fractures, and even life-threatening injuries while just trying to do their jobs and earn a living.

But when accidents happen, the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum is here to help construction workers take care of themselves and their families.

Expert Help Proving Your Case

Whether your accident involved a piece of heavy machinery, scaffolding, a falling object, or electrical wiring, a construction accident lawyer is a valuable resource to have on your side. This specialized type of personal injury attorney will investigate the details of your case, file a claim with the appropriate court, negotiate with the defendant’s lawyers, and take your case to trial if necessary. The most challenging part of the legal process is often proving liability, which is why construction workers benefit from hiring a law firm that regularly works with the construction industry.

Successfully Navigate Complex Cases

Construction cases are notoriously difficult to prove because of the various risk factors of the job and multiple parties who may all be partially to blame. For example, a construction company may try to shift blame onto individual workers at a job site, but employees may point to management if they haven’t been properly trained in safety protocols. This is another good reason to consult with a construction accident lawyer NYC, even if your injuries appear to be minor at first.

Questions to Ask Your Construction Accident Lawyer

If you have made the smart decision to contact a New York City attorney about your construction accident, it’s a good idea to have list of questions available to get the most out of your initial consultation. Here are a few questions to keep handy for your phone call or online chat with the attorney’s office:

• How have you handled cases like mine in the past?
• How successful have you been in pursuing construction accident cases?
• How long have you been practicing construction accident law?
• What is a typical settlement amount range for cases like mine?
• Do cases like mine usually settle out of court or go to trial?
• What will you charge me to pursue my case?
• How long do you expect it will take for my case to resolve?

Hire Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum as Your Construction Accident Lawyer NYC

Our law firm regularly works with construction professionals like you who have been injured on the job as a result of someone else’s negligence. We fight hard for the construction workers in our community and offer personalized and aggressive representation to make our clients’ cases successful.

To learn more or to have our team start looking into your potential construction accident case, contact us at 718-237-5586 or send us a message online.

How Slips, Trips, Falls, and Fatalities Happen on NYC Construction Sites

Work in the construction industry is inherently risky, no matter where the job site is. But in New York City, construction workers face towering skyscrapers, heavy traffic, and harsh weather year-round.  

Many construction site hazards exist in New York, leading to slips, trips, and falls that result in catastrophic injuries and even fatalities. At the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum, we’re here to help you understand why these incidents occur and how you can legally protect yourself or a loved one after a construction accident.  

The Dangers of Construction Sites in NYC 

Slips, trips, and falls are the most common causes of construction site injuries and deaths in New York City. The leading causes of fatal construction accidents often involve scaffolding, ladders, and roofs.  

However, construction site hazards don’t just occur at high elevations. Even ground-level slips and trips can result in severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, fractures, internal injuries, and death.   

Types of Hazards in Construction Sites  

NYC construction accidents often involve familiar physical hazards, such as wet or slippery walking surfaces from rain, ice, concrete slurry, spills, or debris. Construction materials scattered in walkways can cause even the most experienced construction worker to lose their footing.  

Falls from heights are particularly deadly for workers, especially when there are construction site hazards like platforms without proper guardrails or safety nets. Federal OSHA standards also require protections such as harnesses and fall-arrest systems to keep workers safe on elevated surfaces.  

Construction site safety hazards also arise from cluttered, obstructed work areas filled with loose cords, tools, hoses, and leftover materials. Poor lighting and visibility in interior areas and during nighttime shifts can increase the risk of trips and falls.  

Other issues to be mindful of at construction sites include defective and improperly used equipment. Due to NYC’s varied climate, rain, ice, snow, and wind can make construction surfaces slick and treacherous, increasing the likelihood of incidents.  

When Construction Site Hazards Lead to Fatalities  

When unsafe job site conditions aren’t corrected, the consequences can be tragic. Unfortunately, many construction workers die due to falls from height, being struck by falling objects, and serious trip and slip accidents.  

At times, one or more individuals, a company, or another entity is responsible for failing to follow safety protocols, not ensuring required protections, or disregarding regulations. If a construction worker’s death is a result of this negligence, the family of the deceased may pursue a wrongful death claim for financial and emotional hardship.  

Taking Action After a Construction Site Accident  

Fortunately, numerous legal protections are in place to protect injured construction workers and their families in New York. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or been killed because of these types of hazards in construction sites, you may be entitled to compensation beyond workers’ compensation benefits.  

It is essential to seek immediate medical attention for construction site injuries and to document all injuries and treatments to protect your legal rights. Reporting the incident to a site supervisor and documenting the hazard conditions with photos and witness accounts is also crucial.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum is here to help you navigate the legal process, identify all liable parties, and pursue maximum compensation. We represent people injured and killed in construction accidents in Brooklyn and throughout NYC.  

We recognize that construction work builds and maintains our incredible city – and that no one should have to suffer a devastating injury or death because of preventable construction site hazards.  

To learn more about your rights and to tell us your story, please contact us today at 718-237-5586 for a free consultation.  

Scaffolding is necessary at many construction sites to enable workers to reach high locations, provide a working platform, and offer a place to store materials. However, scaffolding is also a major source of accidents at construction sites and often results in devastating injuries to workers who were just trying to do their jobs.

Here is some information about scaffolding accidents and how to know if you should pursue a wrongful death case on behalf of a loved one who was involved in this type of tragedy.

Causes of Scaffolding Accidents

Scaffold accidents, injuries, and deaths are often caused when the scaffolding supports break because they are defective or assembled improperly. Construction workers and even other people just walking by can trip over scaffolding. Ordinary citizens may have an accident claim due to scaffolding due to a landlord’s negligence, for example.

Slips and trips often occur when the scaffolding is slippery due to weather, where it lacks guardrails, or when workers have not properly been trained for the job they are doing. Winter weather makes scaffolding even more dangerous than it usually is for workers and pedestrians. If a person or company places scaffolding too close to a power line, electrocution can occur. Workers who are careless, overloaded scaffolds, falling objects, and using damaged scaffolding for a project can all lead to serious injuries and even death.

Common Injuries and Scaffolding Accidents

Because scaffolding is placed at high levels and often around dangerous materials and wiring, very serious injuries can occur. Unfortunately, death scaffold cases are far too common here in New York. Some of the most common injuries due to scaffolding accidents include spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Many people break bones due to scaffolding accidents, suffer from severe cuts and scrapes, and paralysis is possible in severe situations.

Many of these injuries can be prevented with the proper training of construction workers and ensuring that workers have the appropriate safety gear. Businesses that use scaffolding must inspect it regularly for defects, replace worn-out materials, and take the time to construct it properly according to OSHA standards.

Wrongful Death Cases for Scaffolding Accidents

Dozens of people die each year because of scaffolding-related accidents, which prompts the question of whether a wrongful death case can and should be pursued. A wrongful death case may be appropriate if a person dies in a scaffolding accident due to the fault of another person. If you believe that someone’s negligence was to blame for such a death, it is important to speak to a knowledgeable wrongful death attorney right away.

Various parties may be entitled to make a wrongful death claim, such as a surviving spouse, children, separated spouse in some situations, life partners, financial dependents, putative spouses and even distant family members. Compensation from a wrongful death case can help with the many expenses associated with the passing of a loved one, including lost wages and benefits, medical expenses, pain and suffering, funeral expenses, and household services.

Get Help with Your Injury or Death Scaffold Case

In addition to pursuing a wrongful death case because of a scaffolding incident, you may also be able to pursue a personal injury claim and a workers’ compensation claim. The Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum can help you with your scaffolding-related case, regardless of whether you were the victim, a loved one was the victim, or if the accident resulted in injuries or death. Based on the circumstances of your case, it may be possible to bring a civil claim against one or more parties for failing to prevent a scaffolding injury or causing it through negligent actions.

Call us anytime 24/7 at 718-237-5586 to speak with an attorney about your scaffolding matter. You can also contact us online to learn more about how we can help you be successful in recovering the maximum monetary award and settlement for an injured person.