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New York Window Washing Accident Lawyer

Window washers often work at high altitudes, doing risky work. If you were hurt in a window washing accident in New York, contact The Law Offices of Michael H. Joseph PLLC in White Plains or New York City to speak with attorney Michael Joseph who is knowledgeable in this area of personal injury law.

New York Lawyer Looking Out for Your Interests

New York state laws specifically protect window washers by requiring certain safety measures. For example, window washers must be provided with a safe means of cleaning the exterior and interior windows of buildings. These safety measures include providing secure ladders, anchors to link into for fall protection, safety vests, lifelines, and harnesses.

Many window washing accidents and deaths are caused by faulty or insufficient safety devices. Building owners that employ window washers can be liable for failure to equip these workers properly.

If you were hurt in a window washing accident due to a building owner's failure to comply with state safety standards, you have a right to sue for damages. Our firm will help you determine if you have a case.

Laws that Protect Window Washers

There are two laws which protect window washers and if violated these laws provide the basis for a lawsuit. If a window washer is injured because of a violation of these laws, the owner of the building is responsible to pay for lost wages, medical bills, reduced earning capacity and provide compensation for pain, suffering and disability.

New York Labor Law 240 protects everyone who performs commercial cleaning at an elevated position. It is the obligation of the building owner to provide proper protection to the window washer who is working at an elevated position. It does not matter if the worker brings his own tools, it is the building owner's responsibility to make sure that the worker has adequate ladders and scaffolds which are properly braced and secured against movement, safety lines and a safe means to work above the ground level and protect him against falls. Even if a window washer was careless or partially at fault, this is irrelevant and not a defense to a New York labor law 240 action.

New York Labor Law § 202 requires the owner, lessee, agent and manager of every public building and every contractor involved to provide safe means for the cleaning of the widows and of exterior surfaces of such building as may be required and approved by the Industrial Board of Appeals. New York Labor Law § 202 further states that the owner, lessee, agent, manager or superintendent of any such public building and every contractor involved shall not require, permit, suffer or allow any window to be cleaned unless such means are provided to enable such work to be done in a safe manner for the prevention of accidents and for the protection of the public and of persons engaged in such work in conformity with the requirements of this chapter and the rules of the Industrial Board of Appeals. Therefore, it is the obligation of the building owner to comply with the rules of the Industrial board. The owner of every building is required to have structural features and anchors or other fixed devices for the window washer's protection prior to allowing any person to clean a window. The New York Industrial Code also requires that building have anchors affixed to the wall, which must be round, like the openings on the hooks that clip onto them to prevent the window washer from falling and being seriously injured in an accident. The New York Industrial code also requires that whenever a window washer is working 18 feet high or more there must be a helper at the bottom holding the ladder and securing it against movement. The New York Industrial Code even requires the person holding the ladder to stand at the foot of the ladder, face it and hold it with both hands to protect the window washer and prevent an accident.

Scaffold Injuries

Many window washers, as well as workers in other fields, work on scaffolds. If you were hurt through a scaffold collapse, scaffold fall or any other scaffold accident, come to a firm with experience in these cases. Contact our law offices today, and let attorney Michael Joseph evaluate your potential window-washing or scaffold-related injury claim. We offer a free initial consultation, and there is no fee unless you win.

The Law Offices of Michael H. Joseph PLLC serves New York clients in the counties of Rockland and Westchester, including New York City, Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and White Plains, New York.