$1.2 Million Scaffold Collapse Settlement in Queens

Raphaelson & Levine secured a $1.2 million settlement for a Queens construction worker who was injured when an improperly assembled baker scaffold collapsed at a job site.

An Unsecured Scaffold Collapse in Queens

Baker scaffolds are standard equipment on construction sites, but only when properly assembled and secured. At this Queens job site, the scaffold had not been screwed to the ground, was not correctly constructed according to manufacturer specifications, and was not affixed to any stable structure. Our client was using an electric hoist attached to the scaffold to haul heavy materials upward when the weight created a downward force the unsecured scaffold could not withstand. The entire structure tipped over, dragging our client down with it.

The injuries from the fall required medical treatment and left our client unable to return to work on construction sites.

Proving Contractor Negligence on a Queens Construction Site

The general contractor argued that our client should have recognized the scaffold was unstable and refused to use it. Our scaffold accident attorneys rejected this defense by demonstrating that workers rely on their employers to provide safe equipment — and that the contractor had a legal obligation to inspect the scaffold before anyone set foot on it.

We obtained the scaffold manufacturer's assembly instructions and compared them against photographs of the actual setup, documenting every deviation. An OSHA-certified safety expert confirmed that the scaffold violated multiple safety standards, including the failure to secure it to the ground and the lack of adequate base plates.

$1.2 Million for a Queens Scaffold Collapse Victim

The $1.2 million settlement provides compensation for our client's medical treatment, lost construction wages, and the lasting impact of an injury caused by a contractor who cut corners on scaffold assembly.

"A baker scaffold that isn't bolted to the ground and isn't built to spec is a collapse waiting to happen. The contractor knew the scaffold would bear heavy loads from the hoist — and still didn't bother to secure it. That's not an accident. That's negligence."

— Steven Gershowitz, Attorney at Raphaelson & Levine

If you've been hurt in a scaffold collapse or construction accident in Queens or anywhere in New York, our scaffold accident attorneys have deep experience with Labor Law claims and contractor negligence, and are ready to review your case. Contact us today for a free consultation.