A construction crew was working on a Long Island house when the entire home collapsed backward. Six workers were present at the time of the incident, and one of them was seriously injured when his leg was crushed by a girder.
The property in Babylon, New York, which had been damaged by superstorm Sandy, was being lowered onto its new foundation when a hydraulic jack failed, according to a report from Newsday.
Why do these types of incidents continue to occur frequently in New York even as advanced engineering and construction technologies become available to builders and contractors?
Worker safety isn’t a priority
As the area’s construction boom continues, greed drives too many contractors and project owners. To them, profits take precedence over people.
Corner cutting and compromise are common as construction workers lose their lives on a regular basis. In New York City alone, an average of 20 construction workers died each year between 2007 and 2014, according to the city’s Department of Health.
If your family has been affected by an injury, get the advice you need
If you or a loved one was hurt on a construction site because of another party’s negligence, legal advice and representation are available. You may be entitled to money damages through a third-party claim, a lawsuit brought with the help of an experienced attorney.
