{"id":31132,"date":"2020-10-15T00:27:42","date_gmt":"2020-10-15T00:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dtla.peaceofcode.net\/?page_id=31132"},"modified":"2026-06-14T12:05:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T12:05:30","slug":"scaffolding-accident-woman-dies-after-being-struck-by-plywood-that-fell-from-scaffolding-in-queens","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/downtownlalaw.com\/es\/practice-areas\/premises-liability\/scaffolding-accident-woman-dies-after-being-struck-by-plywood-that-fell-from-scaffolding-in-queens\/","title":{"rendered":"UNA MUJER MUERE TRAS SER GOLPEADA POR UN CONTRACHAPADO QUE CAY\u00d3 DE UN ANDAMIO EN QUEENS"},"content":{"rendered":"

WOMAN DIES AFTER BEING STRUCK BY PLYWOOD THAT FELL FROM SCAFFOLDING IN QUEENS\n<\/h1>\n
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A piece of plywood that had fallen from scaffolding struck and killed a woman in Queens on Thursday morning. The victim, who was 67 years old and a resident of Westbury, was walking on Main Street near 41st Road (in Flushing) at approximately 9:45 a.m. She was struck by a piece of plywood that had been blown loose by the wind from a scaffolding; wind gusts were forecasted to reach up to 50 mph, winds strong enough to blow any unsecured objects.<\/p>\n

The victim was taken to New York-Presbyterian Queens, where she was to be treated for the critical injuries that she sustained. Although she was rushed into surgery, she succumbed to her injuries. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.<\/p>\n

City Councilman Peter Koo released the following statement regarding the incident:<\/p>\n

“Such a horrific tragedy should never happen to anyone who is simply walking down the sidewalk, and it is a clear example of why building owners and city agencies need to ensure building facades are safe, especially during periods of high winds. Currently, a Stop Work Order exists on the property due to several outstanding violations, and I have called for the city to shut down the building until there is a greater understanding of this building’s safety and scaffolding is in place.”<\/blockquote>\n

According to the latest reports, the sidewalk near where the incident occurred is taped off, and crews were securing any dangerous debris on the building that could blow loose because of the wind.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, construction site accidents are common. Innocent people can be involved in these accidents even if they never enter construction sites; even walking near them can be dangerous. In most cases, the hazards that ultimately contribute to these accidents could have been identified or addressed earlier \u2013<\/a> completely preventing the incident.<\/p>\n

Depending on the details surrounding construction site incidents, victims and their families might have grounds to pursue claims. If you would like to learn more about the possibility of filing a claim for the harm that you or a member of your family suffered, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at Downtown L.A. Law Group as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

At Downtown L.A. Law Group, our lawyers have many years of experience handling all sorts of claims \u2013 always representing and fighting for the rights of victims and their families. If you would like to discuss your claim with the experts at our firm, do not hesitate to contact us at your earliest convenience. Our lawyers are ready to handle your claim and help you recover the compensation that you deserve.<\/p>\n

Understanding Liability in Construction Site Accidents<\/h2>\n

Who is liable for construction site accidents? In many instances, constructions sites and the areas immediately surrounding sites are accessible to the public. For example, pedestrians often have to walk under or near building construction sites \u2013 especially in major cities. So, who is responsible for making sure that sites are safe?<\/p>\n

Typically, general contractors \u2013 those in charge of construction sites \u2013 owe the public a duty of care. The have a duty to act reasonably to keep the public safe. This can be translated into the duty to warn the public of hazardous conditions. Because of this, it is common to see construction sites warning signs everywhere; it is also common for entire sites to be fenced in. Even if sites are not open to the public, they must ensure that they are reasonably safe \u2013 just in case.<\/p>\n

As described in the incident above, the drywall was blown off scaffolding by strong winds. Strong winds are a known hazard in construction; therefore, general contractors have the duty to respond reasonably in hazardous situation to prevent any incidents. Some examples of ways that general contractors could address the danger associated high winds and potential hazards that could be blown away include the following:<\/p>\n