Being injured due to someone else’s carelessness can derail your life in an instant. Turn to the seasoned attorneys who know how to hold contractors and property owners accountable for your losses. With over $500 million recovered for workers like you, we at Oresky & Associates, PLLC, know how to get results.
Window washing crews keep Manhattan’s iconic skyline clean and bright. They work many feet above the ground while dealing with unpredictable conditions. If you’re one of these workers, your life can change dramatically when an accident occurs.
You may have a valid personal injury claim, but successfully pursuing it requires a knowledgeable and experienced Manhattan window washer accident lawyer. The team at Oresky & Associates, PLLC, understands how these accidents can happen in buildings of all types, whether it’s at a three-story apartment building or a 50-floor high commercial property. We proudly fight for the rights of the hardworking New Yorkers like you who dedicate themselves to these dangerous but important jobs.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your case with an experienced window washer accident attorney in Manhattan. Your case evaluation is fully confidential, and you pay nothing unless we successfully resolve your matter. Hablamos español.
Why Should I Hire a Manhattan Window Washer Accident Attorney?
Working with an experienced Manhattan window washer accident attorney can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. Your lawyer can lead you through the legal process, help you avoid critical errors, and utilize a team of dedicated professionals to gather the evidence needed to hold the negligent party accountable for your window washer injury.
When you work with the team at Oresky & Associates, PLLC, we can provide the following:
- Extensive Experience – We’ve proudly represented the people of New York City for over 30 years. We understand your job, the laws that protect you, and the courts that will impact your case.
- Strong Results – Our team has recovered over $500 million in settlements and verdicts for workers just like you. We know how to determine the full value of your claim and what it takes to recover maximum compensation.
- Strong Reputation – Our firm is regarded as honest, hardworking, and professional by peers, colleagues, and opposing counsel throughout the Five Boroughs. That reputation is backed by hundreds of positive reviews from satisfied former clients.
- Compassionate Support – Your case is more than a legal matter, and you need more than legal services to get through it. Our team will listen carefully to your needs, offer sound guidance, and communicate openly throughout the entire process.
- Aggressive Advocacy – We treat clients and their loved ones like family, and we always advocate for their best interests. We’ll fight for the recovery you deserve, whether at the negotiating table or in the courtroom.
- No Fees Unless We Win – Our firm works on a contingency basis. That means you pay no upfront costs for us to begin working on your behalf, and you won’t owe us anything unless we successfully resolve your case.
Reach out to us today to discover how our law firm can make a big difference for your case.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Window Washer Accident Injuries?
Window washer injury cases can prove complicated due to the large number of potentially liable parties. These jobs often involve complicated contracts and overlapping responsibilities that can lead to liability for one or more of the following parties:
- Property/Building Owners
- Contractors
- Subcontractors
- Agents of the Owner
- Equipment Manufacturers
How Do New York Labor Laws Apply in Window Washing Accident Claims?
New York’s labor laws provide powerful protections to workers performing tasks at elevated heights. Some of the most significant of those laws include the following:
Labor Law Section 202 (Window Cleaning Safety)
This law requires owners, contractors, and their agents to provide safe working conditions, equipment, and devices for cleaning windows or exterior surfaces of public buildings to protect workers and the public.
Labor Law Section 200
Section 200 requires property owners and contractors to provide a safe workplace. Window washers are legally entitled to proper lighting, well-maintained equipment, and a generally hazard-free work environment.
Labor Law Section 240 (the Scaffold Law)
Section 240 protects workers who perform work at elevations. It requires owners and contractors to provide window washers with appropriate safety devices such as harnesses, lifelines, bosun’s chairs, and suspended scaffolding. Failure to provide proper protection can result in absolute liability.
Labor Law Section 241
Section 241 imposes a non-delegable duty and requires adherence to specific industrial code safety rules for construction, demolition, and repair work. It allows injured workers to sue for damages even where the owner or contractor did not directly supervise their work.
What Types of Compensation Are Available to Window Washing Accident Victims?
Window washer injury compensation can come from two sources: workers’ compensation and third-party claims.
Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ comp provides limited but essential financial support to injured workers. Benefits include the following:
- Coverage for all necessary medical treatment
- A percentage of your lost wages when you must miss work
- Coverage for vocational rehabilitation services
These benefits only cover your medical bills and part of your lost income, which is typically a fraction of the real damage the accident caused. In many instances, an injured worker may pursue a personal injury claim against liable third parties, which can provide more comprehensive compensation.
Third-Party Claims
Other parties that owed you a duty of care apart from your employer can be sued in a separate window washer injury claim. These lawsuits allow you to recover compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- All out-of-pocket expenses
- Full lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
At Oresky & Associates, PLLC, our attorneys can investigate the accident to identify every possible source of compensation, then build a compelling case to hold all negligent parties accountable.
What Could My Window Washing Accident Case Be Worth?
Window washing accidents often involve falls from great heights and significant injuries, so compensation is often substantial. However, no two cases are the same; each requires careful, individualized evaluation to determine its value.
Factors that influence the value of a claim include the following:
- The severity of your injuries and pain
- The length of your recovery
- The medical costs incurred
- Whether you need surgeries or long-term therapy
- Your ability to return to work
- The degree of permanent disability
- The emotional and psychological effects of the accident
Our law firm works with medical professionals and financial experts to determine the full extent of your injuries and their impact on your life. We use our findings to calculate your maximum compensation.
Who’s Liable for a Scaffolding Accident?
State law provides strong protection for window-washing workers. One of the most important is Labor Law § 202. It requires contractors and building owners to ensure that window washers are provided a safe means for doing their job. This includes contractors and building owners providing personal protective devices, safety lines, scaffolds, harnesses, and other appropriate equipment for worker safety.
Another important legal statute is New York Labor Law § 240(1). It states that for work involving gravity-related risks, the parties responsible for providing the worker with safety equipment are fully liable for the accident. Such parties include contractors, certain building owners, and their agents.
What does that mean for you if you’re a construction worker who was injured on the job? Let’s say you suffered injuries due to “gravity-related risks” — such as a fall from a scaffold, ladder, or a hoist, or being struck by a falling object — and you were using safety equipment at the time of the accident. If it failed to provide proper protection, you have the right to sue the at-fault parties for injury compensation. Even if your own actions contributed to the accident, you still have the right to sue.
To be eligible for compensation, you must meet the following criteria:
- You Must Have Suffered Injuries While Involved in Certain Activities – These include erecting a building, building demolition, window cleaning, building repairs, making alterations to a structure, or painting a structure.
- There Must Have Been a Height Differential or Other Gravity Related Risk for Labor Law 240(1) to Apply – The strict liability aspects of 240(1) only apply in those instances. You or the object that hit you must have fallen from one level to another.
When you meet with the reputable construction law attorneys at Oresky & Associates, PLLC, we can review your situation to determine what happened and who may be liable. Reach out to us today for your free, no-obligation consultation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Window Washing Accident in New York?
New York imposes strict deadlines for filing a lawsuit or workers’ comp claim. If you plan to pursue a third-party claim, you typically have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. When seeking workers’ comp benefits, you have 30 days to report the accident to your employer, and two years from the date of the injury to file your claim.
Missing any of these deadlines can mean losing your right to recover the compensation you deserve, no matter how severe the injury or how clear the negligence. If you want to protect your rights, you should act swiftly and contact a skilled personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
What Are Common Causes of Window Washing Accidents?
Window washing involves high-risk conditions even on a well-run jobsite. However, an unfortunate number of accidents result from preventable errors or oversights. Some of the most common causes of window washer accidents include the following:
- Faulty or poorly maintained harnesses
- Defective anchor points
- Weak or damaged scaffolding
- Improper or missing safety lines
- Sudden equipment failure
- Poorly secured rigging systems
- Strong winds and unsafe weather conditions
- Electrical hazards near metal equipment
- Slippery building surfaces
- Inadequate training or supervision
At Oresky & Associates, PLLC, we are prepared to examine every detail of the accident to uncover the exact cause and identify every responsible party, then fight for the accountability you deserve.
What Are Common Injuries Sustained in Window Washing Accidents?
Window washing accidents often result in catastrophic, life-altering injuries. Some of the most common injuries include the following:
- Traumatic brain and head injuries
- Fractures in the arms, legs, ribs, or pelvis
- Crush injuries
- Chronic pain conditions
- Severe lacerations
- Shoulder and knee tears
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Psychological trauma
- Death
These injuries often require extensive medical care and long recovery periods. Our team documents the full impact your injuries have on your daily life and finances, and we fight for a full recovery.
Contact a Window Washing Accident Attorney in Manhattan Today
If you’ve suffered injuries in a window washing accident, you need a skilled personal injury attorney to protect your rights. The team at Oresky & Associates, PLLC, will review your case, inform you of your legal options, and then help you to recover the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for your free, no-obligation consultation. Your case review is fully confidential, and we charge nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Se habla español.