New york Building Collapse Accident attorneys
Construction & Building Collapse Accident Attorneys
New York Building Collapse Accident Attorneys
In the event of a construction accident or when a building collapses, a gas line explodes, or a fire causes serious injury or damages here in New York City or the greater Metropolitan area, it is often due to negligence. As far as building collapses go, with proper planning, design, and execution of construction, buildings obviously should not collapse, floors and walls should remain intact and buildings are required to be designed to last rather than crumble to the ground.
Suppose you or someone you know has been injured in a https://www.osha.gov/construction/engineering building collapse, a construction accident, fire, a fall from an unsafe area, or from any object or debris falling from a building. In that case, you should immediately contact New York City construction accident lawyers who can respond in any emergency and have the knowledge and experience to help you in your time of need. Giordano Law Offices Personal Injury & Employment Lawyers have been working in this area of law for over 30 years now and are on your side. It is our business to help private individuals, construction workers, and all victims who may have been injured or suffered damages when a building collapses, there is a gas explosion, an object falls, the person falls, has been injured in a fire or otherwise injured in a building or premises.
There are not too many things more traumatic than when a building collapses, a fire occurs or a gas line explodes, causing damages and injuries. If someone you know has the misfortune to be injured in a building collapse or similar circumstances, those injuries and emotional distress are often debilitating and can be fatal. In order to protect your rights and not be taken advantage of by aggressive insurance companies or unscrupulous “runners” for lawyers illegally chasing cases, it is important that you yourself seek competent and ethical counsel. A good NYC personal injury lawyer is someone who understands the full situation and will be on your side in all circumstances, whether the building was already in use, under construction, or even awaiting demolition. Again, building collapses are not supposed to happen; liability in such cases is usually “strict liability,” and buildings are required to be sound. If you or someone you know is injured in a building collapse, gas explosion, ceiling or wall collapse, or other similar situation, and injuries were suffered, you have every right to hold those responsible accountable.
Holding those responsible for a building collapse or similar accident requires dedicated, knowledgeable, and experienced building collapse attorneys. Holding the parties responsible obviously means obtaining for you the monetary compensation that you deserve. Whether you are a construction worker, a private individual, or a third party you are entitled to fair compensation. Whether you were involved in the building’s construction or partially contributed to causing the building to collapse, you may still be entitled to monetary damages for your injuries. Giordano Law Offices Personal Injury & Employment Lawyers has been working in the field for decades, we pride ourselves on making our clients whole and fighting as required as your advocates in your time of need when you are most vulnerable and need help.
Our award-winning law firm specializes in handling these types of personal injury cases. For decades, we have helped recover millions of dollars for our clients to get them the compensation they deserve for their traumas, injuries, and other damages.
If you were hurt in a building collapse, gas explosion, fire, or other similar circumstance, please contact Giordano Law Offices Personal Injury & Employment Lawyers today for a free consultation to learn how we can help you move forward. Remember, you should move quickly to secure competent and ethical attorneys. Attorneys who send runners or otherwise reach out to you right after a building collapse or other accident are violating the ethical guidelines for attorneys. It is up to you to reach out to and find a lawyer. Once you contact us, we can represent you and secure your rights.
How Could a New York City Building Collapse?
Buildings should be designed to last for a very long time and of course, should never collapse. Under normal conditions, a building won’t collapse without some sort of negligence, misconduct, shoddy design, errors in construction, and other mistakes.
Many factors could affect the integrity of a building, which is why proper safety precautions should always be in place for design, construction, and ongoing maintenance and upkeep.
Again, negligence is typically the cause of a building collapse. Buildings require many different companies, entities, and individuals for the initial construction (as well as for demolitions). There could be a number of causes for the collapse of a NYC building, such as the following:
- Poor architectural design
- Engineering mistakes
- Foundation defects or damages
- Sub-par or defective construction materials
- Damage by fire, water, rust, or mold
- Construction or demolition errors
- Too much weight inside the structure
- Excess snow buildup
- Ceiling collapse
- Lack of proper safety precautions during construction, remodeling, or demolition
- Failure to conduct a strength test during the construction process
- Construction worker error
- Lack of structural integrity
- Failure to properly underpin
- Lack of maintenance
- Water damage and flooding
- Gas leaks and explosions
- Defective construction materials
Building codes were created for a reason, and they set a strict standard to prevent injuries and death by keeping buildings in NYC safe. When these codes are disregarded, it puts the health and safety of everyone in the vicinity at tremendous risk.
During a construction project, everyone involved is required to do their part to ensure the structure can properly support its intended load. Errors during the construction process can compromise the building’s structural integrity, leading to a deadly collapse.
Who is Liable For My Injuries after a Building Collapse Accident?
After a catastrophic building collapse in New York, anyone and everyone involved in that building collapse can be held financially accountable for the injuries or damages that you or your loved one suffered.
If you were hurt when a structure collapsed, you can seek compensation from different involved parties, including the following:
Architects and Engineers
The architects and engineers are the ones responsible for designing a building. Part of their job involves ensuring the design is structurally sound and safe.
They must consider the materials, the foundation, the load, and the height, among many other things. When a building fully collapses, or there is a partial building collapse, and the design was negligent, the architects or engineers may be held responsible for your injuries, damages, and medical bills. Architects and engineers usually have a continuing role beyond the design phase, monitoring and approving of the construction as it occurs.
Property Owners
Under New York Labor Laws, including Section 200, property owners must provide what is considered “reasonable and adequate protection” to protect construction workers and other individuals on the construction site and at their premises from injury. Property owners may be strictly liable for injuries occurring as a result of falls, falling objects, wall or ceiling collapses, or otherwise, even if the property owner is not physically present or monitoring the construction, repairs, or demolition, under New York law.
General Contractors
General contractors are required to follow building codes and also may be responsible for building collapses, falls, and other accidents. General contractors may be strictly liable and may be negligent in such circumstances, requiring a finding of liability.
As mentioned, general contractors must abide by New York Labor Law Section 200. The general contractor must execute the design provided by the architects and engineers properly. The general contractor must also ensure the materials acquired for the job are safe and of proper quality.
Foundations must be constructed in compliance with the specific regulations made by the state of New York, including proper underpinning. This means the soil composition must be carefully considered, adjoining structures must be properly considered and supported, and the entire project, whether construction or demolition, must be closely monitored, among many other things.
Supervision of subcontractors is also the responsibility of the general contractor. If any mistakes are made, the general contractor can be held accountable.
Subcontractors
Other potentially responsible parties would be the subcontractors. Just about all construction and demolition projects in the city and surrounding area utilize subcontractors. There are often multiple subcontractors involved in a project. Subcontractors are also required to safely execute the project and provided design. Failure on the part of any subcontractor to do so can lead to mistakes that compromise the integrity of the building.
Suppliers of Material and Equipment
A building collapse may also be caused by defective equipment or materials. Some of these items may not show any visible or obvious signs of the defect before they are used at the construction site.
The companies responsible for manufacturing and selling these materials or equipment can be held liable for damages and the injuries you suffer.
Demolition Teams
Before a new structure goes up, an old one will need to be torn down. Demolition is supposed to be a very tightly controlled process with specific safety precautions. When a demolition company fails to follow them, the results could be deadly.
When there is a building collapse in New York City, it’s mandatory to find every party that may be to blame for the injuries you sustained. With Giordano Law Offices Personal Injury & Employment Lawyers on your side, we will find out who is liable so you can get the compensation you deserve.
Obtaining Compensation for Injuries in a Building Collapse and other Building Damage Cases
If a building collapses or a similar catastrophe occurs, it will be one of the most traumatic experiences of your life. You need a team of pros on your side to help you and make sure you are not taken advantage of. You are entitled to economic and non-economic damages and compensation. In addition to lost wages, missed time from work, expenses, and medical bills, you are also entitled to pain and suffering from injuries, terror and trauma, emotional distress, and psychological injuries.
At Giordano Law Offices Personal Injury & Employment Lawyers, our experienced personal injury law firm will bring in seasoned attorneys to investigate and locate the liable parties to obtain proper compensation for you.
File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Suing the negligent parties who caused the building to collapse will enable you to seek and obtain a wide range of damages. As indicated, you can collect money for your lost income and pain and suffering, plus the emotional distress associated with the incident.
Wrongful Death Claims
The consequences of building collapses are devastating. If God forbid, someone you love may have been killed in this catastrophe, you will need attorneys who will fight for your family in every respect. Our personal injury law firm has experienced attorneys who have handled wrongful death cases. We understand the hardship, the emotional consequences and how to prepare a wrongful death case to seek the fullest measure of damages, pain, and suffering, pre-impact terror, lost income and support, and other expenses, including funeral expenses, lost financial support, and other damages caused by the loss of your loved one.
When Should I File My Injury Claim After a Building Collapse Accident?
What you have been through is difficult enough. You may not feel like yourself or have trouble living your life the way you did before the building collapse accident.
However, it is imperative that you immediately contact a construction accident attorney who can stand up for your rights and get you the compensation you need. Delays can hamper the investigation, parties and witnesses may disappear, and statutes of limitations, if expired, may bar you from suing. For instance, if the municipality, town, county, or any agency may have contributed to the negligence in any way, you only have 90 days from the date of the accident to file a Notice of Claim. While you may not feel up to it, you must move very quickly.
Again, for all personal injury lawsuits, there is a statute of limitations for bodily injury claims. In New York, the statute of limitations for negligence is three years from the date of your accident and it is shorter for wrongful death claims. In some instances, you will only have 90 days from the date of the accident to file a Notice of Claim when a governmental entity is involved. You cannot wait to reach out to competent counsel and find the right attorneys for you.
Contact Our NYC Personal Injury Law Firm Today
At Giordano Law Offices Personal Injury & Employment Lawyers, it is personal. Our experienced legal team is ready to help you recover your losses from your injury and get your life back on track.
Our free initial consultations will enable you to discover if you are entitled to compensation from those whose negligence led to a building collapse or other similar accidents.
Our award-winning team is based in New York City, Harlem, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, and are ready to devote our extensive experience to your case. Let us protect your rights, support your family in their time of need and recover every penny you deserve!
The Giordano Law Firm was founded by Attorney Jack Giordano. Mr. Jack Giordano is the managing partner and principal at the Giordano Law Firm.