Managing Partner
Objects falling from above can cause serious injuries. These falling hazards pose a particular risk to those in New York City, where construction projects are common. While this may seem like a remote risk, falling object injuries are far more common than most people believe. In fact, more than 50,000 falling object accident injuries occur each year in the United States. And many of these injuries, which tend to be serious, occur in large cities, such as New York City. In this article, we discuss the steps to take after being struck by an object.
Types of Falling Objects
Common types of falling object hazards include:
- Icicles falling from buildings during the winter months
- Construction materials, tools, and debris dropped from buildings or scaffolding during construction or renovation projects
- Flower pots or items falling from fire escapes
- Improperly secured external air conditioning units falling from the windows of apartments
- Tools or debris falling from elevated subway tracks
- Falling branches or trees
- Objects deliberately thrown or dropped from the windows of roofs of buildings
Steps to Take After Falling Object Injury
Seek Medical Attention
The first thing to do after being hit by a falling object is to seek medical attention. Objects that fall from above can cause serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, shoulder injuries, and back injuries. Therefore, it is imperative to see a medical professional immediately after a falling object accident. In addition, you should consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional even if you don’t believe you’ve been injured. This is because some injuries take time to present symptoms, including some types of head injuries. So, seeing a medical professional, regardless of your symptoms, will help ensure that any conditions are identified. In addition, doing so will result in the creation of medical records, which can be useful should you decide to file a legal claim for your injuries.
Take Photos and Videos
Next, you should take photos and videos of the scene of the accident, including images of the object that struck you and the area from which it fell. In addition, you should take pictures and videos of any visible injuries you sustained in the incident.
Identify Witnesses
After being struck by an object, you should also identify any witnesses who observed the incident. After doing so, you should collect their contact information.
Gather Surveillance Footage
In addition to taking your own footage of the scene of the accident, you should see if any surveillance cameras were in the area where the accident occurred. In addition to private businesses, the city where the accident occurred may have surveillance cameras. If you see any cameras in the vicinity of the accident scene, you should contact the owners and request the footage.
Contact a New York & Long Island Personal Injury Attorney
Finally, if you’ve been struck by an object in New York, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. At Dell & Dean, PLLC, our experienced New York personal injury lawyers will work diligently to obtain financial compensation on your behalf. Please contact us to schedule a consultation with a New York personal injury attorney.
