According to research completed by the Center for Construction Research, more than 7,600 construction workers lost their lives between 1992 and 2010 as a result of “mobile heavy equipment” accidents. Those extreme dangers remain present today, including here in the New York City area. Whether you are working in or around an excavator, forklift, bulldozer, or other pieces of heavy equipment, you are entitled to a safe workplace. If you got hurt in or by a piece of heavy equipment because of a lack of proper safety protections, then you may be entitled to recover a significant amount of compensation. You should reach out to an experienced New York City construction accident attorney promptly to find out more about the case you may have.
A news report from WABC is a stark reminder of the severe dangers these construction workers face. The WABC report covered a fatal excavator accident in North Jersey. The worker was inside his excavator when the machine reached a point too close to the nearby river and flipped over. When it did, it trapped the man in about six feet of water for more than one hour. The water was estimated to be about 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) at the time.
At the time of the WABC report, the investigation was ongoing, and investigators had yet to rule out windy conditions as a possible factor in the fatal accident. This accident happened in New Jersey but, certainly, many New York City construction workers who operate excavators might potentially face similar risks in working job sites located near rivers or other bodies of water.