Construction Worker Falls to his Death First Day on the Job

A 28-year-old construction worker died during his first day on the job at a SoHo construction site where workers were restoring the facade of an 11-story luxury loft apartment building. According to a preliminary investigation, the man appeared to have reached over the railing to turn over a plank when he lost his footing and fell three stories from a scaffold. He suffered head trauma and was pronounced dead at the hospital. He was not wearing a safety harness. It appears that there may have been negligence on the part of the general contractor. The Department of Buildings (DOB) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are investigating the incident, but a DOB spokesperson said that the general contractor has been cited for “failure to protect all persons and parties affected by construction operations” and “building the scaffolding contrary to approved plans.” Although the investigation is not complete, more recent information shows that the worker was not working in a protected area with railings and guardrails and the man had not taken a mandatory 30-hour Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) course as required for the work he was performing. The victim’s wife should contact an experienced wrongful death attorney who specializes in construction site accidents. An attorney can determine if the general contractor was negligent and if the family has a viable case. Tragedies like this also have a financial impact especially with the family's principal means of support gone. If the family pursues a wrongful death lawsuit, they may be interested to know that litigation funding can help pay pressing bills while waiting for a fair settlement or a jury verdict. Legal finance services have proven to be a godsend to people who need financial assistance; the lawsuit cash advance can be used for medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, and monthly bills such as mortgage and car payments. There are no credit checks and you don’t need to a job to apply. Litigation funding is based solely on the merits of the lawsuit; credit rating or job status does not matter. The application process is simple and if approved, the lawsuit cash advance can be available within 24 - 48 hours. Because it is a non-recourse cash advance, if the plaintiff loses her case, the “lawsuit loan” is excused; repayment is not required. If you have filed a wrongful death lawsuit and need financial assistance during the litigation process, contact our offices today so you can withstand the lengthy litigation process. Source: New York Times, “Construction Worker Dies in SoHo Fall”, May 17, 2012