In Jan. 2020, a 60-year-old woman from Manhattan was killed when falling debris hit her while she was walking next to a building. Reports of the accident concluded that the pedestrian lost her life at the scene due to blunt force trauma to the skull. The debris came off a W. 49th Street building and was a part of the building’s façade that suddenly broke off.
In Jan. 2020, a 60-year-old woman from Manhattan was killed when falling debris hit her while she was walking next to a building. Reports of the accident concluded that the pedestrian lost her life at the scene due to blunt force trauma to the skull. The debris came off a W. 49th Street building and was a part of the building’s façade that suddenly broke off.
The property and building are owned and maintained by Himmel + Meringoff Properties. Following the tragic incident, the NYC Department of Buildings, in cooperation with the real estate investment company, conducted an investigation of the event and a ‘full structural stability inspection’ of the building to determine the cause behind the accident.
Accidental Injuries and Construction Standards
According to the Wall Street Journal, 155 pedestrian injuries happened due to 96 construction accidents between 2008 and 2014, and more than 75% of these were from Manhattan alone.
Falling debris from buildings is a common cause of injuries and deaths in NYC and a severe safety hazard for pedestrians and vehicle passengers. The buildings’ conditions depend on their designs, material quality, stability, and maintenance, all of which are the owners’ responsibility.
Although the parties generally sued for such building debris hazards include the owners, contractors, architects, and construction workers; the relevant government agencies can also be held accountable. All building projects are regulated and inspected in compliance with the state laws by government agencies. Defects in the buildings that go unchecked can lead to accidents that pose a threat to the public.
The Legal Perspective
If you or a loved one has been injured in such an accident, you reserve the right to file a lawsuit against the owner of the hazardous property, the construction company, engineers, architects, and the government buildings compliance agency.
In case a loved one or family member of yours has been killed in a similar event, you can act as a legal representative for the victim and their legal heirs and hire a wrongful death attorney to sue the liable parties.
Compensation for the wrongful death of a loved one includes coverage for financial loss, such as loss of inheritance, loss of the victim’s income, loss of the victim’s work benefits, and costs for the funeral and burials. However, in NYC, the victim’s loved ones cannot claim coverage for emotional losses.
It’s difficult to verify the liable parties in such cases or even find the way to secure compensation without the professional help of a personal injury attorney. You must consult with a personal injury lawyer or a pedestrian injury lawyer to discuss your case, and if feasible, file a lawsuit.
Consult for Legal Help
Accident lawyers and wrongful death attorneys can expedite the entire process of pursuing legal action against those responsible for injury or wrongful death. These legal professionals can help you gather and present the essential evidence, file a solid lawsuit, provide you with legal guidance and strategic advice, and use their contacts to support your case.
Contact an experienced and competent personal injury lawyer NY or wrongful death attorney to increase your chance of winning your lawsuit. Or if your case is slightly different, you can consult with our burn injury lawyer, car accident attorney, and more specialist attorneys.
