Long Island Building Collapse Lawyer

If You Are a Victim of a Long Island Building Collapse, Contact Rosenberg & Gluck LLP

A building collapse’s overwhelming destruction and loss can leave victims in dire situations. If you have suffered injuries and lost your residence, the path forward can feel hopeless.

At Rosenberg & Gluck LLP, we work to fight for victims like you that have lost everything because of the negligence and carelessness of another party. Building collapses often involve not only widespread property devastation but also result in mass casualties. Depending on the size of the building involved and the number of people present, there could be many injuries and deaths.

When a building collapses, the wheels are in motion for the property owners and involved insurance companies to go on the defensive. When many individuals and families suffer harm, the monetary losses and compensation are likely to be extensive.

At Rosenberg & Gluck, we will represent our clients amongst the vast number of interests and claimants to represent and prioritize your rights and interests however possible. When we take on a case, we will work to try and get our client’s the maximum compensation possible under the law.

We are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week for a free case review with a member of our team. We can discuss the details of your case, review your information and discuss what legal options may be available.

How Can a Building Collapse Happen?

It may seem unimaginable that building collapses can occur seemingly without notice or out of nowhere. In most building collapse events, there is documentation of neglect, oversight, or blatant misconduct that eventually leads to the deterioration and collapse of a building which causes harm to those in or around the building at the time. The cause of building collapses can vary and depend on factors related to the upkeep and maintenance of a building.

In some cases,  the cause of a building collapse can trace back to the original construction of a building. However, in other instances, there may be an event or further work that later compromises the structure’s integrity, making it susceptible to catastrophic failure. Building collapses may entail the entirety of a structure or only partial areas of the structure, such as the roof, balcony, parking garage, common areas, etc.

Common causes of a building collapse could include:

• Structural damage
• Erosion or damage due to exposure to elements
• Gas leaks
• Nearby demolition
• Lack of inspections
• Faulty or improper maintenance or repair
• Defects in the design or construction of the building

What Area of the Law Does a Building Collapse Involve?

In most cases, building collapses fall into the premises liability area of the law. In Long Island, those that live, work, and visit a building are under the expectation that they are safe. Building owners, property owners, and managers have a duty of care to ensure that all those in and around their property are free from suffering unexpected harm due to dangerous conditions.

The case falls under premises liability if anyone suffers an injury while on the property of another. An analysis of how the accident occurred and what was behind the failure leading to a collapse will reveal who was responsible for the failure or, in some way, contributed to the conditions leading up to the incident.

Liability for Building Collapse Accidents on Long Island

Getting to the bottom of who you can hold liable for a building collapse can require complex, time-consuming investigations. It is unlikely you will get answers to the cause of a building collapse in the following hours and days. When a building collapses, particularly when people suffer injuries or lose their lives, an independent investigation is likely to take a close look at the history of the building,

maintenance, inspections, repairs, and any conditions that may have led to the sudden and unexpected collapse. The investigation may reveal that the cause of the collapse was a breach of duty of care. Depending on who is responsible for the breach will give insight into who, in turn, is liable to the victims for their injuries and additional damages and losses.

Parties that you could hold liable for a Long Island building collapse include:

• Owners of the premises
• Engineers
• Contractors
• Architects
• Property management
• Maintenance company
• Suppliers of equipment
• Companies conducting demolition on-site or at a nearby property

Can You Hold Multiple Parties to Blame in a Building Collapse Case?

It may so happen that an investigation does not reveal or pinpoint just one failure leading up to the collapse. It is much more common that a sequence of events involving neglect, failure, and ignorance by multiple parties ultimately led to the destruction of the building. More than one party can share liability towards the victims of a Long Island building collapse.

When more than one party is to blame, the fault apportionments follow the attributed responsibility in either an insurance claim or by the court in a lawsuit. Each party may need to pay the portion of losses according to their percentage of responsibility under the law. 

Can You Recover Compensation if a Building Collapse Injures You?

Yes, you likely have a right to pursue compensation if you are a building collapse victim. In most cases, victims of a building collapse suffer injuries and possibly death due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time and through no fault of their own. Suppose you sustain injuries and damages because of the actions of another entity or person. In that case, you are, in turn, eligible to seek damages for the losses and detrimental impacts you incur due to the accident.

Type of Damages Available to Building Collapse Victims

How much compensation is available to you and what type of damages you can pursue will depend on your case. The first obstacle in any personal injury matter is for a victim to prove that a party acted negligently and is consequently liable to pay for their losses.

Once you prove the elements of negligence, the next step is to prove the losses. While proving damages can seem straightforward, it is, in fact, an intricate and tedious process that involves gathering evidence and support for each element of damages sought in the case.

Damages available to a victim of a Long Island building collapse may include:

• Cost of medical care, present, and future expenses
• Loss of income in the immediate aftermath and any future impacts on your income due to injuries
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage if you lost your belongings or residence during the collapse

Can You Seek Wrongful Death Action Due to a Collapsing Building?

Sadly, building collapses often result in fatalities. If it is a building under construction, it is possible the victim is a worker or if it occurs at a residential or commercial building could cause harm to the inhabitants or visitors at the time of the collapse.

If your loved one died because of a building collapse in Long Island, you may initiate a wrongful death action against the parties responsible.

Damages commonly available in wrongful death cases include:

• Medical expenses before the victim’s death
• Burial or funeral costs
• Victim’s wage earnings lost
• Contribution to the family by the victim
• Loss of support and guidance to the family
• Possible inheritance or benefits lost due to early death

When Should You Contact a Lawyer for Help After a Building Collapse?

The reality is that when a building collapses, the only thing on your mind in the coming hours and days is your health and the extent of the losses you have sustained. It would be best if you took the time to get the medical attention and assistance you need to ensure you begin your recovery in the best way possible.

Once you are stable and think about how you will move forward, it is time to contact a building collapse attorney in Long Island. It is best to contact a lawyer as soon as possible in the aftermath of the collapse. If there are multiple casualties and injuries, you will likely have many competing interests vying for coverage by the insurer and settlement from the parties responsible.

The sooner you can begin the process, the better position it will put you in as you head toward negotiating your losses. As soon as you hire an attorney, they can step in on the case on your behalf. They can take the reigns on managing your case, investigating the cause of your injuries, and gathering the evidence necessary.

How Can Rosenberg & Gluck LLP Help You in the Aftermath of a Building Collapse?

If you hire our Rosenberg & Gluck LLP team for your bridge collapse case in Long Island, you can rest easy knowing that your rights and recovery are our priority. We will work diligently to represent you against the insurance company and other liable parties in your case.

While we hope to reach a favorable and quick settlement for your case, we will not allow the insurers or other parties responsible for taking advantage of your situation. We will fight against unreasonable lowball offers and work with you to pursue the best outcome possible.

Discover and Determine Liability

One of the first steps we will take if we accept your building collapse case is to review the facts leading up to the collapse to discover all parties that could be responsible. This is a crucial step in the case as it allows us to narrow down who we will be going after for the compensation of your damages.

Calculate Your Damages

As for damages in your case, we will help you figure out just how much your maximum losses entail. We will go over each detail to ensure that you seek all compensation for your current and future losses due to the bridge collapse accident.

Aggressively Fight on Your Behalf

When we commit to the representation of our client, we will make you the priority in the building collapse case. The interests of the insurer and the other liable parties are of no concern to us. We want only to fight for your rights under the law and the compensation the law entitles you to pursue from the parties responsible for your devastating losses.

Negotiate or Litigate

As we fight for your interest in the building collapse matter, we will first attempt every effort to reach a successful settlement for you through negotiations. We will go through the process to fight for the reasonable compensation you may be eligible for. If we cannot reach a settlement that satisfies your needs and fairly compensates your losses, we may suggest litigation against the insurer and parties responsible in court.

Communicate with You and For You

The moment we take on your case, you do not need to worry about the day-to-day management of your case. Our team will communicate on your behalf to all parties involved and relay important information, developments, and settlement offers back to you by keeping an open line of communication between our office and you.

Call Rosenberg & Gluck LLP for a Free Long Island Bridge Collapse Case Consultation Today

There is no need to delay calling us any longer. Contact us for your free case review at any time at (631) 451-7900. At Rosenberg & Gluck, we are ready to answer your call and discuss your building collapse case 24/7. We can assist you in English and Spanish. Reach out to a Long Island personal injury lawyer

Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP

1176 Portion Road
Holtsville, NY 11742