New York City construction workers face a staggering array of on-the-job dangers. Stories of workers falling and being hit by objects are far too common. But metropolitan area roads can be hazardous for workers, too.
A frightening accident on the Gowanus Expressway in Brooklyn left a worker in the hospital at the hands of a drunk driver, as reported by ABC-7.
A late-night incident
According to the ABC-7 report, the 64-year-old worker, who wasn’t identified in the original article, was placing cones on the Gowanus around 3:00 a.m. when he was struck by a driver who was later charged with DUI and other crimes. Of course, motorists are given ample warning to avoid workers in work zones, and everyone knows not to drink and drive. Apparently, that wasn’t enough to keep one man from suffering a serious head injury while simply doing his job.
Workers who do their jobs on New York highways, roads and streets are particularly vulnerable to serious injury and death, as another recent incident showed. That fatal accident occurred on East 74th Street in Manhattan’s when another worker was struck by a colleague who was operating a road saw, according to a Patch story.
While the city experiences a profound construction boom, construction workers seem to be more unsafe than ever. The New York City Department of Buildings injury reports present a sobering reminder of the frequency of serious worker injuries.
If your family is affected by a construction injury
Injured workers and their families have certain legal rights, including the right to pursue money damages when they are hurt by the negligence of third parties. If you or someone you love was hurt while working construction, you should talk to an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
