New York Construction Crane Worker Commemorated
The website ny1.com reported in an article on October 30, that relatives of Ramadan Kurtaj from New York and beyond gathered to pay homage at the scene of the crane accident in New York that ended his life. Family members laid flowers and a wreath in his memory. Located on 91st and First Avenue, a construction crane came crashing down on Kurtaj killing him along with crane operator Donald Leo.
Kurtaj family attorney Susan Karten said, “This crane shouldn't have been on the street because it was 24 years old. There are signs and different reports saying that there was fatigue. And this is not the kind of equipment that should be used in a city that’s state of the art in every other respect but not with respect to the lives of construction workers.”
Karten indicated that the family would be filing suit seeking damages from the crane company as well as the general contractor. Furthermore they are requesting that the District Attorney and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration make public their findings into this dreadful work related accident.
Every year many crane operators are killed or seriously injured on the job in NY. No matter how stringent the safety standards are regarding construction, all construction laborers are at risk every day while on the job. New York State law prohibits employees from suing their employers for on the job accidents. Contractors, architects, manufacturers and property owners may be held liable for injuries or wrongful deaths that take place at the construction site.
Statistics point to crane instability, lack of communication and lack of training as the three most common reasons for crane related accident injuries and deaths. If you or a loved one has been involved in a crane accident in New York, the New York job injury attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, L.L.P., can help you. Please call 212-222-4336 for a free consultation.
