$950K Knee Injury Settlement, Manhattan

A Manhattan worker pushing a cart up a ramp suffered a serious knee injury when the Masonite paneling covering the ramp surface shifted beneath his feet. The Masonite had been laid over the ramp but never secured, and the unsupported material bowed under the combined weight of the worker and the loaded cart, causing his knee to buckle and give way.

Unsecured Masonite on a Manhattan Ramp Created a Hidden Hazard

Our premises liability attorneys examined the ramp and the Masonite installation. The paneling had been placed over the ramp surface as a temporary covering but was not fastened, adhered, or otherwise secured to the underlying structure. Under weight and foot traffic, the unsecured sheets would bow, shift, and create an unstable walking surface — a hazard invisible to workers who had no reason to suspect the floor beneath them would move.

Our client was performing his normal job duties — pushing a loaded cart up the ramp — when the Masonite flexed and shifted. The sudden loss of stable footing caused his knee to buckle under the strain, resulting in ligament damage that required surgical intervention. The property owner had a duty to ensure the ramp surface was stable and safe for the workers who used it daily, and the unsecured Masonite failed that basic standard.

$950K for a Knee Injury Caused by Unsecured Flooring in Manhattan

The $950,000 settlement compensates our client for surgical knee repair, physical therapy, lost wages, and the lasting effects of a knee injury caused by a temporary floor covering that should never have been left unsecured on a ramp used by workers pushing heavy loads.

"Masonite is meant to protect floors during construction — not to become a hazard itself. When you lay sheet material over a ramp and don't secure it, you're creating a surface that bows and shifts under weight. For a worker pushing a cart uphill, that instability goes straight to the knees. This was a completely preventable injury."

— Andrew Levine, Founding Partner at Raphaelson & Levine

If you've been injured by unsafe flooring, unsecured surfaces, or any premises hazard in Manhattan or New York City, our attorneys handle complex property owner negligence claims and are ready to evaluate your case. Contact us for a free consultation.