$2.01 Million Premises Liability Settlement in New York

Raphaelson & Levine secured a $2.01 million settlement for a worker who fell through an unguarded rooftop opening in New York, plunging to the floor below after stepping on unsecured plywood.

An Unguarded Rooftop in New York

Our client had been called to a building rooftop to assess how a water tower would be removed. With no barriers, guardrails, or warning signs in place, an opening in the roof had been covered only by a loose, unfixed piece of plywood. When our client stepped onto it, the plywood shifted and he fell through the gap, dropping to the fifth floor below.

The fall left him with severe injuries that required extensive medical treatment and a prolonged recovery. He faced mounting hospital bills, an inability to work, and the physical toll of rehabilitating from a multi-story fall.

Exposing Critical Safety Failures

The property owner and contractors responsible for the site attempted to downplay the hazardous conditions. Our construction accident lawyers conducted a detailed investigation of the rooftop, documenting the lack of guardrails, the absence of any posted warnings, and the fact that the plywood had never been properly secured. Expert testimony confirmed that basic fall-protection measures — required under New York building codes — had been entirely neglected.

Armed with photographic evidence and safety violation records, our premises liability team demonstrated that the dangerous condition was entirely preventable and that the defendants had failed in their duty to protect anyone accessing the roof.

A $2.01 Million Recovery

The $2.01 million settlement provides compensation intended to address our client's medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term rehabilitation needs.

"A rooftop opening covered by loose plywood and no guardrails is a trap waiting to happen. Our client had every right to expect basic safety measures on that roof, and the people responsible for maintaining the site failed him completely."

— Steven Gershowitz, Attorney at Raphaelson & Levine

If you've been injured due to unsafe building conditions or a fall at a work site in New York, our premises liability attorneys have decades of experience holding negligent property owners accountable. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.