On behalf of Jeff Antin of Antin, Ehrlich & Epstein, LLP, Attorneys at Law posted in Construction Accidents on Wednesday, November 20, 2013.
While all construction accidents in Manhattan are dangerous, their consequences are no respecter of persons and are not categorized to only affect construction workers. Often times, people who are in the wrong place at the wrong time fall victim to negligent behavior or improper work performed by others.
Recently, during an unseasonably heavy rainstorm over Times Square, reports indicate that a construction wall that was improperly secured to a building that was being worked on was ripped off the building by strong winds. Witnesses described the wall as being a 15-foot high piece of plywood that ended up falling on two passersby, and was said to have sounded like an explosion when it fell.
A total of three people were hurt in the initial accident, and a firefighter providing aid was also injured later on. Apart from the minor injury sustained by the service worker, sources do not indicate the extent of any of the injuries. A group of more than two dozen people were said to have rallied together to pull the boards off of two women that were trapped underneath the debris.
Although no construction workers were injured in the construction site accident, the contractor responsible for putting up the temporary construction wall was told to stop work on the project and was given violations for their role in the accident.
When misfortune hits a construction site, it can be dangerous to all who are in the vicinity. Those who are affected by a workplace injury, and those who were harmed while in the vicinity of an accident, may benefit from contacting a personal injury attorney for assistance.
Source: Daily News, “Times Square construction wall falls, injuring two women temporarily trapped underneath,” Barry Paddock, Rocco Parascandola and Corky Siemaszko, Nov. 1, 2013