While the last high-profile building collapse to occur in Buffalo, fortunately, ended with no reported injuries, accidents like this often result in catastrophic harm to dozens of people at once. Whether a collapse occurs in a building actively undergoing construction or renovation, or in a completed structure that suddenly fails with visitors and tenants inside, it is vital to determine exactly what happened and who is responsible for the event. It is also equally important to establish what actions are necessary to minimize the risk of another incident.
When you are injured in a building collapse while working on a construction site or in any other context, a Buffalo building collapse lawyer is available to help. At Richmond Vona, LLC, our construction accident attorneys know how traumatic and life-altering incidents like this are. We will put every bit of our experience and expertise to work to pursue a positive case result and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
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Who Is Liable for Building Collapse Injuries?
Unfortunately, establishing precisely what factors led to a partial or total building collapse can take years of investigation and require assistance from numerous state and federal government authorities. In the meantime, there is often enough evidence to proceed with civil litigation against one or more parties whose negligence likely contributed directly to the collapse or allowed it to happen through a failure to address serious problems.
Potential defendants in a claim like this may include:
The building’s owner or management
Companies responsible for the building’s construction
The original architect(s) of the building
Individual workers who may have engaged in reckless conduct during construction or failed to perform diligent inspections
Local government entities responsible for determining building safety
A Buffalo building collapse attorney can play a vital role in sorting through available information, determining who did or did not play a role in the building’s collapse, and taking proactive action against them.
Taking Legal Action Inside Filing Deadlines
A comprehensive lawsuit or settlement demand following a building collapse should account for both short-term and long-term losses stemming from the incident, including:
All past and future medical expenses, including costs of rehabilitative therapy and assistive equipment
Lost working ability or income
Lost or damaged personal property
Physical pain and suffering
Emotional and psychological trauma
Lost enjoyment of life
When a building collapse directly results in someone’s wrongful death, surviving family members can demand compensation for their ensuing losses. Restitution can be economic such as funeral and burial costs as well as non-economic emotional anguish and loss of companionship. Regardless of how extensive the losses caused by a building collapse in Buffalo are, anyone intending to file suit over one generally must do so—or have a qualified attorney do so on their behalf—within three years of the initial incident. This statute of limitations is per New York Civil Practice Law & Rules § 214.
Talk to a Buffalo Building Collapse Attorney About Your Legal Options
Building collapses are thankfully rare, but when they do happen, they are almost invariably devastating for dozens of people and their families. On top of that, getting fair financial compensation for losses sustained due to a structural failure is unfortunately far from simple, especially without guidance from seasoned legal counsel.
A Buffalo building collapse lawyer from our team can provide the custom-tailored support you need to pursue your case effectively. Call our firm today for a free consultation.
With over 25 years of combined personal injury experience, our co-founding attorneys, John E. Richmond and Keith R. Vona, have helped injury victims and their family members recover more than $150 million in financial relief.
John E. Richmond
Co-Founding Member
As one of New York’s top personal injury attorneys, John E. Richmond understands that clients come first. With over a decade of experience representing plaintiffs, he knows how to hold negligent corporations and big insurance companies liable.
In his nearly 15 years in practice, Keith has been consistently recognized for his client service and record of results. He has been selected for inclusion in the New York Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list four times (2013 to 2016), an honor reserved for the top up-and-coming attorneys.
