Injured Construction Worker Received $62 Million Judgment
A Chinese immigrant construction worker recently received what is believed to be the largest personal injury verdict for a single plaintiff in the Queens County Supreme Court. A Queens Supreme Court jury unanimously awarded a Chinese construction worker $62 million for injuries suffered while working at a construction site.
In 2008, Zeng Guang Lin, a Chinese construction worker, suffered severe injuries while working at a construction job in The Bronx for Hutch Realty Partners LLC. The 26-year-old construction worker suffered a traumatic brain injury, as well as other injuries after he fell from a roof in the Bronx area.
After the accident, the man filed a lawsuit against the construction business because the company failed to provide the man with proper safety devices while working on the roof. At trial, evidence of the worker’s CT-scans and MRIs after the accident was used to establish the severity of the man’s injuries. Furthermore, he had 20 witnesses testify on his behalf that the company failed to provide sufficient safety devices.
The jury, which consisted of 3 men and 3 women and ranged in ages from 30 to 70, unanimously found the construction company liable for the worker’s injuries. The jury found that the company violated New York Labor Law by not equipping the worker with the necessary safety equipment. In addition, the company was also charged with negligence and shrinking responsibilities.
The jury awarded the man $62 million—$20 million accounted for his past pain and suffering and $42 million accounted for his future pain and suffering. Additionally, he also received a little more than $60,000 to cover his previous medical expenses. In total, the jury actually awarded the worker $7 million more than what the man sought at trial.
Safety Measures While Working on Roofs
Working on roofs can be one of the most dangerous jobs at a construction site. Therefore, it is important that the construction company responsible for the site takes all proper precautions and provides you with the necessary safety gear to perform jobs on a roof. For example, during residential roof construction, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends employers use some of the following measures to reduce the injuries:
- Install safety net systems to prevent contact with the surface or other structures;
- Stage materials so workers have quick and safe access;
- Use scaffolding systems when possible;
- Use A-frame and platform ladders if the floor below has been established;
- When performing roof sheathing jobs, use a personal fall arrest system; and
- Develop a written plan to protect workers from falls and to educate workers on the proper use of fall protection methods.
Contact a Brooklyn Construction Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a construction accident, a Brooklyn construction accident lawyer can help you protect your rights. The Brooklyn construction accident lawyers at Peters, Berger, Koshel & Goldberg, P.C. have extensive experience helping injured construction workers recover compensation from their injuries. From residential construction to high-rise construction sites, our construction accident lawyers have experience in all types of construction accidents.
Contact the law office of the Peters, Berger, Koshel & Goldberg, P.C. at 1-800-836-7801 or 718-596-7800 to schedule a consultation today.