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Roofing Accidents in New York City

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Roofing Accidents in New York City

New York City Roofing Accident LawyerHave you suffered a serious injury in a roofing accident in New York City, NY? Roofers have one of the highest injury rates of any occupation. You may be entitled to compensation for the lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

The Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers have represented injured workers and their families in the five boroughs of NYC for over 25 years. Call (212) 564-2800 to schedule a free case review with a New York City roofing accident lawyer to discuss how we can help.

How the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Roofing Accident in New York City

How the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel, LLC Can Help After a Roofing Accident in New York CityAfter a serious roofing accident in New York City, New York, you may be unsure where to turn. You may be facing large medical bills but can’t work. You may be misled to believe that you are ineligible for workers’ compensation, or you may face a greedy insurance company that minimizes the severity of your injuries. You deserve an experienced New York City construction accident lawyer to help you fight back.

The Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers have extensive experience handling construction accident cases, including workers’ compensation claims and third-party lawsuits. Our firm has recovered millions in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Our founding attorney, Jay S. Knispel, has earned the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating and recognition as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer for his representation of injured clients.

Our law firm will give your case personal attention, and we will:

  • Provide dependable legal advice and guidance at every stage of your case
  • Investigate all potential avenues for compensation
  • Ensure you are properly classified and seek a ruling from the Workers’ Compensation Board if you were injured as a contractor or sub-contractor
  • Work with specialists to document the extent of your injuries
  • Assist with filing a workers’ compensation claim 
  • Negotiate for a fair settlement offer on your behalf 

You do not need to take on the insurance companies alone. Call the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation with an NYC roofing accident lawyer who can help.

How Common Are Roofing Accidents in New York?

Construction generally ranks as America’s most dangerous industry. Incidentally, roofers have one of the deadliest jobs on construction sites. In 2019, roofer deaths climbed 15%, resulting in 111 out of 5,333 workplace deaths in the U.S.

Roofers have a staggering fatal injury rate of 54 for every 100,000 full-time workers. The average fatality rate in all occupations is 3.5. Only three occupations were more dangerous: flight engineers and pilots, hunting and fishing, and logging.

Between 2015 and 2019 alone, there were 3,045 injuries and 59 deaths in the construction industry in NYC.

There were 801 injuries and 28 deaths on the job in New York City due to falls alone. Scaffolding and shoring accounted for two deaths and 102 injuries. Falling objects, another common source of injuries for roofers, contributed to 429 injuries and 11 workplace deaths in the city.

In 2020, there were 140 construction accidents in NYC where a worker fell due to reasons other than equipment or machinery failure. An additional 20 fall accidents were caused by material failure like safety harness defects or roof collapse. Manhattan accounted for most construction accidents in NYC (277 out of 484), followed by Brooklyn (106), Queens (58), the Bronx (41), and Staten Island (2).

Overview of Roofing Accidents in New York City, NY

Roofers face one of America’s most hazardous jobs on a daily basis. There are many reasons a roofer’s job site can be dangerous, including trips and falls, dangerous tools, intense heat, toxic chemicals, power lines, and hot tar.

NYC construction accidents account for the largest share of workplace deaths in the state, and roofers have one of the highest risks of injury and death on the job. If you are injured as a roofer, you may be entitled to compensation for the work-related injuries you sustained.

Common Roofing Accident Injuries

Construction site accidents involving roofers often lead to fatal or catastrophic injuries

The Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers represents roofers who have suffered serious injuries such as:

Contact our law office to schedule a free consultation with an NYC construction accident lawyer who can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

What Causes Most Roofing Accidents in NYC?

Roofing accidents can happen in many ways. They may be caused by inadequate fall protection and employer negligence. They can also be the result of material or equipment failure. Many roofing accidents are the result of slips, trips, or falls. 

The following are the most common types of roofing accident cases handled by our NYC construction accident lawyers:

  • Falls from a roof, ladder, or scaffolding
  • Scaffolding failure or roof collapse
  • Falling objects
  • Tool-related accidents involving nail guns, roofing knives, and other tools
  • Heat exposure
  • Electrocution 

Slips, trips, and falls are responsible for around 75% of all roofer deaths and one-third of construction site deaths. Sadly, inadequate fall protection is one of the top OSHA violations in the industry.

What Compensation Can I Recover After a Roofing Accident in New York?

The type of compensation you can recover depends on many factors, including whether you were an employee or an independent contractor and the nature of the work you were doing.

If you were an employee, you are likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in New York. This no-fault system offers guaranteed benefits for medical bills, lost earnings, and disability.

If you were an independent contractor, you are typically not eligible for workers’ comp. However, it’s crucial to consult with experienced construction accident attorneys about your case. You may have been misclassified as an independent contractor.

Under the New York Construction Industry Fair Play Act, anyone who was injured while performing services for a contractor is presumed to be the contractor’s employee for workers’ compensation and disability purposes. The Workers’ Compensation Board commonly classifies injured roofers as employees even if they were originally designated as subcontractors. This classification allows them to file claims against the general contractor.

In some cases, you may have a personal injury claim under premises liability against a homeowner. You may also have a claim against any third party whose negligence caused your accident.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our New York Construction Accident Law Firm

After a roofing accident, you have a limited time to file a claim. You must notify your employer within 30 days and file a workers’ compensation claim within two years. If you are eligible to file a third-party lawsuit, there is a three-year deadline. Do not delay your injury claim, or you may miss the deadline or weaken your case.

Contact the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free case review with a New York City roofing accident lawyer. We will help you pursue the workers’ comp benefits you deserve and explore other legal options that may be available.

Other NYC Construction Accidents We Cover

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