New York City is a hotbed of construction. Just about any time of year, men and women go to work to build and repair our city and our state’s roadways and buildings. These workers shouldn’t need to worry about their safety, but the sad truth of the matter is that some of these individuals are injured on the job. Being hurt in a construction accident can have serious consequences for those who are harmed, as they may suddenly need to find a way to deal with unexpected medical expenses and lost wages. This is unfair, which is why these individuals are encouraged to seek out workers’ compensation benefits.
One New York family and a young construction worker may want to consider doing this now after a major workplace accident in Manhattan. According to reports, a large glass panel measuring eight feet by 14 feet fell from what is to be one of New York’s tallest skyscrapers. A 67-year-old security guard was killed in the accident, and a 27-year-old construction worker was taken to the hospital with injuries. Reports indicate that the panel was being moved when it fell, but the exact circumstances are unclear.
One thing is clear: the security guard’s surviving family, as well as the injured construction worker, are likely suffering a multitude of harm in the form of emotional, physical and financial damages. Workers’ compensation can help alleviate the financial strain associated with these types of incidents. Those who lose a loved one in one of these incidents may be able to recover survivor’s benefits.
Even though workers’ compensation does not require a showing of negligence or guilt before recovering benefits, successfully obtaining these benefits is not guaranteed. This is because far too often it is discovered that an injury predated the incident, or that a claimant’s own “horseplay” caused the accident in question. Therefore, these individuals need to be aware of their claims’ weaknesses and how to strengthen them.