New York Window Washer Accident Lawyer
Are you a window washer? Have you been injured in a high rise window washing accident in NYC? You may have a claim for a lawsuit.
As a result of the abundance of high rise buildings, New York City has always had a need for window washers. Unfortunately, far too often inappropriate and defective safety devices are provided to the workers, leading to severe injuries and/or death. Recognizing the need to protect window washers, the New York state legislature enacted Labor Law §202, which is known as the “Window Washer Statute”. This statute provides that:
“The owner, lessee, agent and manager of every public building and every contractor involved shall provide such safe means for the cleaning of the windows and of exterior surfaces of such building as may be required and approved by the board of standards and appeals.”
Under the statute, a building owner, lessee, agent or manager will be responsible for the harm to any window washer who was injured while working at the building and was (1) not provided any safety device; (2) was provided a device that was not approved by the board of standards and appeals; or (3) was provided an approved device that failed because the device was not properly maintained.
Along with the “Window Washer Statute”, the Labor Law of New York §240(1) also provides protections to window washers, specifically window washers who are injured as a result of a fall or as a result of a falling object. Labor Law §240(1) provides that:
“All contractors and owners and their agents, except owners of one and two-family dwellings who contract for but do not direct or control the work, in the erection, demolition, repairing, altering, painting, cleaning or pointing of a building or structure shall furnish or erect, or cause to furnished or erected for the performance of such labor, scaffolding, hoists, stays, ladders, slings, hangers, bocks, pulleys, braces, irons, ropes, and other devices, which shall be so constructed, placed and operated as to give proper protection to a person so employed.”
If either Labor Law §240(1) or §202 have been violated, a window washer will be able to bring a claim against those responsible. In addition to claims under the Labor Law, there may be additional claims, such as a common law negligence claim, that can be brought on behalf of an injured window washer. Determining each and every possible claim and determining who is at fault for a window washer accident requires a thorough understanding of the various laws of New York and New Jersey. The NYC window cleaning accident attorneys at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf have vast knowledge in these areas of laws. In fact, the firm’s attorneys have been asked to lecture time and time again to other attorneys, judges and other legal professionals on the various construction laws.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed as a result of a window washing accident, it is critical to speak with a construction accident attorney who has a firm grasp of the various construction and labor laws. The New York window washing lawyers at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf have an abundance of experience in representing injured window washers. Please contact us today.
