In October 2019, Feldman, Kleidman, Collins & Sappe LLP’s (FKC&S) 28-year-old client from Hyde Park, NY was hired to help put on a new roof on a multi-unit rental home. He was attempting to retrieve a tool when he fell off the roof, suffering wrist fractures that required surgery.
New York State has very specific labor laws which are intended to protect workers like FKC&S’s client. The labor laws require that workers are provided with a way to tie themselves off safely to the roof to prevent such falls. Usually ropes and harnesses are used, but no such safety equipment was provided by the owner of the home or by FKC&S’s client’s employer.
Wayne M. Rubin made a motion to the court asking that the defendant homeowner be held responsible as a matter of law (without a trial). That motion was granted by the court because the required safety harnesses and ropes, which would protect those working on a roof or other elevated structure, were not provided. The case is still progressing on the issue of damages.
If you or a loved one are injured in a construction accident, you may be part of the class of people protected by the New York State labor laws and could be entitled to money damages beyond workers’ compensation payments. To speak with an experienced member of our team and receive a free consultation, call us at (845) 897-5199 or contact us here.