06/07/2011 // New York City, New York, USA // New York City Accident Lawyer // Jonathan C. Reiter
According to reports received by Manhattan injury attorney Jonathan C Reiter, 22 people were injured after a freight elevator that was carrying workers plummeted from the fourth floor of a Manhattan building on Wednesday, May 18, 2011. New York City injury attorney Jonathan C Reiter received reports from MY Fox New York and NY1 News. The accident occurred around 7 a.m., Wednesday morning, according to information received by Manhattan injury attorney Jonathan C Reiter.
The 5-story building is located at 620 6th Avenue, in the Flatiron section of Manhattan, Chelsea, according to Manhattan injury attorney Jonathan C Reiter. The building hosts large retailers such as Bed Bath & Beyond and Marshall’s, states the New York City injury attorney. According to reports received by Manhattan injury attorney Jonathan C Reiter, 24 carpenters were inside the elevator when it fell to the ground.
Workers who were inside the elevator when it dropped from the fourth floor reported to news reporters that the accident occurred without warning, stated Manhattan injury lawyer Jonathan C Reiter. Electrician Paul Giampiaccolo explained to the press and the New York City injury attorney, “We go up to the fourth floor, wait for those doors to open, door didn’t open. It just fell down.”
Rescue workers were able to quickly free all passengers from the elevator, according to Manhattan injury attorney Jonathan C. Reiter. Fire officials reported that 22 workers in all suffered injuries, 10 of which were labeled minor, mainly to their necks and backs. Manhattan injury attorney Jonathan C Reiter explains that several of the workers who suffered neck and back injuries from the fall were transported to Beth Israel and Bellevue Hospitals on medical boards as a precaution.
The Department of Buildings issued a violation to the owner because the freight elevator was not supposed to carry passengers, according to Jonathan C Reiter, Manhattan injury attorney. City inspectors were investigating what caused the elevator to drop as of Wednesday, May 18, 2011, according to New York City injury attorney Jonathan C Reiter.
The New York City injury attorney also explains the building is a historic structure, built in the late 1890s as the Siegel Cooper Dry Goods Store. In the 1990s, the building was turned into a commercial venue, after serving as a warehouse for decades prior. The current building owner denied comment, as reported by members of the press and Manhattan injury attorney Jonathan C Reiter.
New York City injury attorney Jonathan C Reiter explains the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that more fatal, on-the-job injuries were suffered by construction workers than any other industry in 2009. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) reported that falls are the leading cause of fatalities in the industry. The organization’s website also states “It is important that safety and health programs contain provisions to protect workers from falls on the job.”
*Leading Manhattan injury attorney Jonathan C. Reiter states if you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a construction accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. Located in the Empire State Building, with more than thirty years of experience litigating the multifaceted claims of construction accident victims and their families, contacting Manhattan injury attorney Jonathan C Reiter with regard to your particular personal injury or wrongful death case may help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
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