New York City Falling Brick Pedestrian Accident

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer and American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, is Committed to Defending the Rights of Struck-By Injury Survivors and Falling Brick Accident Victims Across New York City. If You, or a Loved One, Have Been Injured by Falling Debris in An Accident That Was Not Your Fault, You Deserve Effective, Aggressive Representation and a Premises Liability Lawyer Willing to Fight for Your Rights.

New York City is, by no small margin, the largest and most densely populated big city in the United States.

Over the past century, skyscrapers and high-rise apartment buildings have been built in every borough, many of which are now decades old and in dire need of repair, renovation, or replacement. If anything, expansive construction projects, for new structures, and those beginning to show signs of wear and tear, are so common that few New Yorkers second-guess their safety while traveling the sidewalk sheds and streetside scaffolding found throughout the city.

It is no secret that old buildings and poorly-managed construction sites pose a real risk to pedestrians. Most people who have spent long enough in the city have at least heard stories of passersby injured by falling debris and crumbling facades. These accidents are typically written off as isolated incidents that, while tragic, are too rare to trigger fear and outrage.

However, even if accidents caused by tumbling bricks and dropped tools occur less frequently than car crashes and other kinds of collisions, they nonetheless present a vastly understated threat. On average, somebody in New York is injured by a falling brick or hammer, broken glass, or a collapsed fence almost every month.

For victims, the consequences of being struck by debris can be long-lasting and life-altering. If recovery is possible, it often requires repeated sacrifices that can easily take a toll on anyone's physical health and mental well-being, let alone their bank accounts.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. believes that nobody, no matter who they are or where they come from, should have to bear the burden of another person’s negligence. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to build the type of compelling, evidence-based case needed to overcome a strong defense and secure the compensation our clients deserve, and we have the results to prove it. Please send us a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a personal injury lawyer near New York City and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

New York has a blind spot when it comes to falling objects and accidents related to construction debris. The city regularly releases statistics on injuries that occur in the workplace, but these figures neither account for nor acknowledge the risk to pedestrians and passersby.

However, where official reports fall short, media- and lawyer-led investigations have tried to fill in the gaps. A well-known Wall Street Journal report, for instance, found the following:

1. Throughout six years, a total of 155 pedestrians and passersby were injured in construction-related accidents;
2. Most reported falling object-type accidents result in injuries; and
3. On average, at least one person is injured every month by falling bricks or other construction debris.

In a city of nearly 10 million people, these numbers may sound trivial.

But the unfortunate fact of the matter is that New York City has a widespread problem with ageing and unsafe infrastructure.

A more recent report released by the New York Times notes that many of the sidewalk sheds lining Manhattan’s streets have nothing to do with ongoing construction but were instead built to minimize the risk posed by corroded masonry, fractured terra cotta, and other longstanding structural problems. In many cases, the landlords responsible for these properties have outright ignored orders to fix pedestrian safety enclosures, sometimes with deadly results. Enforcement is so poor that the Department of Buildings has failed to collect upward of $31 million in unpaid fines and fees, with some uncorrected violations dating back decades.

Big builders and city officials may not prioritize safety as much as they should, but this does not mean you cannot assert your right to a fair recovery. If you, or a loved one, has been injured by falling debris in or around New York City, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you obtain the compensation you need and the justice you deserve. Please contact us today at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to an attorney and schedule your free consultation.

In a perfect world, real estate companies and construction contractors would take responsibility when things go wrong and work quickly to make things right for those injured. While that is rarely the case, even when individuals acknowledge their mistakes, the claims process can become complicated. The insurance companies will often push back against accident victims’ claims, doing everything in their power to prolong negotiations and drive down the cost of your settlement.

You do not have to accept silence and uncertainty as the price of somebody else’s mistake.

Under state law and varied legal principles, accident victims typically have a right to obtain compensation for injuries they suffered through no fault of their own. In the legal field, this type of compensation is termed “damages.”

Damages in most personal injury claims fall into the following categories:

1. Economic damages. Economic damages, or special damages, cover clear financial losses as the direct result of an accident. This includes your outstanding medical bills, the costs of future care, and lost income from work.
2. Non-economic damages. Non-economic damages, or general damages, cover personal loss and hardship. General damages could include financial relief for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and injuries.
3. Punitive damages. Punitive damages, unlike economic and non-economic damages, do not cover any form of loss. Instead, they are imposed on particularly negligent defendants as punishment for reckless or malicious conduct. Most personal injury awards do not qualify for punitive damages. Still, they could be applied if the defendant knew that a property feature was defective or unsafe yet failed to take corrective action.

Many states have different caps and limitations on various kinds of damages.

In New York, though, accident victims are usually entitled to receive as much money as they need to restore what could be termed their “pre-accident condition.” Of course, no settlement, no matter how generous, can provide adequate compensation for a life-altering injury, but a successful claim could provide the financial resources needed to retain your financial independence, both now and for the foreseeable future. 

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades filing, fighting, and winning cases like yours. Since our founding in 2005, we have helped our clients secure more than $250 million in damages. We could help you, too, but only if you act now. New York may not cap personal injury settlements, but it does enforce a strict statute of limitations that could see a late lawsuit dismissed long before it ever goes to trial.

Do not take chances with your rights: call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a falling brick accident and construction zone accident lawyer and schedule your no-cost consultation as soon as possible.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in New York City, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!