What Are The Effects of Structural Failure in a Building?
Structural failures can cause a building to partially or totally collapse, resulting in catastrophic injuries and deaths. A structurally defective building can collapse while it is under construction or while it is being used – depending on the severity of the defects. In New York, structural failure accidents and injuries are not uncommon, and the victims and their families should have strong legal representation to pursue financial damages from the at-fault parties.
Most Common Causes of Structural Failures
There are a number of factors that can lead to structural defects in a building. These include:
- Weak or defective foundation
- Defective design
- Improper weight distribution
- Failure to perform strength tests
- Using low quality construction materials
- Faulty or defective construction methods
- Making unauthorized and unapproved changes in design during construction
- Failure to adhere to building codes and construction safety standards
Who Can Be Held Liable if a Structurally Defective Building Collapses Causing Injuries in New York?
Structural defects are often caused as the result of the negligence of multiple parties. Depending on the circumstances, one or more of the following parties can be held responsible for a building collapse and resulting injuries and/or fatalities.
- The architect or the engineer (if the building collapsed due to defective design and planning)
- General contractors
- Subcontractors
- Construction site supervisors
- Construction material suppliers
- The company that manufactured the defective materials
Types of Injuries That Can Result from a Building Collapse
Building collapses almost always result in catastrophic and fatal injuries. These include:
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries
- Traumatic amputation resulting in the loss of limbs
- Internal organ damage
- Injuries to the neck and back
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries
What Kind of Damages Can Be Recovered if You are Injured in a Building Collapse in New York?
If you are a construction worker in New York, you are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits – including medical expenses, a portion of your average earnings, and disability benefits.
Taking all this into account, if you are not a construction worker, or there are third parties (other than your employers) who may be liable for your injuries, you can file a personal injury lawsuit to seek maximum financial compensation for your injuries, losses and pain and suffering. It’s why you need to consult with a top-rated construction accident lawyer in New York and find out if you can recover damages from any other party that might have been responsible for the accident.
A dedicated and proven lawyer can launch a detailed investigation into your accident and find out who can be held liable for your injuries. For instance, if the accident happened as a result of the violation of section 200, section 240, or section 241 of New York Labor Law, you might be able to sue the general contractor, subcontractors, the owner of the construction site, and other negligent parties.
The damages you can recover in a building collapse claim include:
- Accident-related medical expenses
- Estimated cost of future medical care
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Lost earnings
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
Injured in a Building Collapse? Choose the Most Results-Driven Structural Defect Injury Lawyer with a Track Record of Large Settlements and Verdicts
Building collapses caused by structural defects can lead to life-threatening injuries that might require extensive treatment and care. Unless you have an experienced construction accident lawyer on your side, you might not be able to recover the damages you are owed because the defendants are usually large corporations and powerful insurers.
Leading construction injury attorney “The Bull” Michael S. Lamonsoff has extensive experience in representing construction workers and other victims in structural building collapse injury cases. Mr. Lamonsoff has received some of the highest honors in the industry for his outstanding accomplishments and legal victories on behalf of his clients over the years.
Thanks to this dynamic leadership, the Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff has recovered more than $500 million in compensation for our clients. We are prepared to fight aggressively and tirelessly until we recover the compensation you are entitled to. Call us today at 212-962-1020 or use our online contact form and schedule a free consultation with a construction accident attorney from our firm.