New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently approved legislation that will require tens of thousands of construction workers to complete a minimum of 40 hours of training. Officials say the law is in response to an increase in construction site accidents of more than 18 percent in 2017 – from 526 to 622.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently approved legislation that will require tens of thousands of construction workers to complete a minimum of 40 hours of training. Officials say the law is in response to an increase in construction site accidents of more than 18 percent in 2017 – from 526 to 622.

At a bill-signing ceremony at City Hall, de Blasio said poor management of construction sites is a key culprit for the increase in injuries. The New York Times reports that construction site accidents have been climbing for more than a year. The Times report says many of those injured have been undocumented immigrants who are poorly trained. It reported on Sept. 1 that five construction workers had been killed in accidents in 2017, according to the New York City Buildings Department.

Defective Equipment Is More Common Than You’d Think

Some of the most serious injuries on construction sites result from falls from heights. In some of these incidents, the fall is a result of defective scaffolding or faulty ladders.

It is possible for an injured construction worker to pursue a personal injury claim when negligence by a third party is the primary cause of the accident. Liability may lie with a construction site owner, a general contractor, a subcontractor, the manufacturer of defective equipment or another third party. In a personal injury lawsuit stemming from a construction site accident, it is necessary to show the third party was responsible for your safety and your injury directly resulted from their negligence or gross misconduct.

In many cases, it is possible for an injured construction worker to recover significantly more money from a third-party personal injury lawsuit than they would receive in workers’ compensation benefits. It may also be possible to recover workers’ comp benefits and pursue a personal injury claim.

Also, it is important for undocumented workers to know they have the right to file a personal injury claim after a construction site accident. It is always wise to consult with an experienced personal injury law firm in these situations or anytime you are seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence.