Another crane accident, another dead worker. This time, it was 34-year-old Gregory Echevarria who tragically lost his life after he was hit by a crane counterweight at a SoHo construction site, according to U.S. News.
The fatal injury occurred during a horrible week in which three construction workers were killed on the job in New York City. The U.S. News article indicated that the accident occurred in the early hours of April 13 when Echevarria and his colleagues were setting up a crane on a site near Varick and Broome streets.
Department of Buildings to investigate
U.S. News didn’t provide details on what caused the counterweight to fall. The city’s Department of Buildings (DOB) pledged an investigation into Mr. Echevarria’s death and the deaths of the two other workers earlier in the week — one who fell from a Brooklyn building and another who was struck by a stone on East 50th Street.
Will a lawsuit help you and your family?
Many New York City construction accidents are preventable; they often happen because builders and contractors compromise on safety. Although workers’ compensation benefits can be helpful, the injured workers (or their families) generally have to bring a third-party claim (a lawsuit) against negligent parties to get the money damages they deserve.
In order to find out whether you have the basis for such a lawsuit, it’s very important to talk to a construction accident attorney about your case. In general, these consultations are free and confidential.
