Undocumented residents in New York and New Jersey have always had the right to file a claim for injuries caused as the result of someone else’s fault, but some do not because of lack of identification and other reasons. The NYC Mayor’s Office has announced that NYC residents are able to obtain City Identification Cards to assist them in doing things like signing a lease, filling a prescription, visiting a child’s school, or even bringing a claim for personal injuries. Currently many have to rely upon friends or even pay others to help them.
In New York City, thousands of undocumented workers are injured every year in the construction industry where they are asked to do the most dangerous jobs and take the most serious physical risks and often times are not given the safety equipment that they are entitled to under the law. For example, when workers are on a scaffold, at certain heights, they must be given safety harnesses to protect them against falls. Falls from high scaffolding often result in serious brain injuries, crushing bone injuries, and death. This step by the Mayor’s office will help these undocumented workers feel more comfortable taking legal action against those responsible for failing to provide them with the required safety equipment. Construction and Scaffolding Accidents.
Justice demands that if these real estate developers and construction companies are taking advantage of the labor of undocumented workers that they should be held fully accountable for violations of the law that cause these workers to sustain catastrophic injuries and death. The new City Resident ID Cards will allow these workers to exercise the rights they have always had under the law.
In addition to height-related accidents involving scaffolds and ladders, construction site accidents often involve being caught between or in objects, being struck by falling objects and being electrocuted at construction sites.
The NYC Resident ID Program is expected to start in January. The New York Times reported: “The new card, which will include the bearer’s photograph, will be accepted at all city agencies as proof of identity and residency. This would enable those who have no other form of local government identification to access city services as basic as checking out books at the library. City officials also said on Thursday that they were talking with banks and other private institutions about expanding the benefits associated with the card, such as being able to use it to open a savings account.” Available Soon For People Needing ID: City Issued Cards
Some of the groups which supported the New York City program are also supporting a more ambitious effort to pass a state law under which undocumented residents could be declared citizens of New York State.
Construction sites present some of the most dangerous working conditions and accident Lawyer Philip Monier will aggressively fight to hold the responsible owners and contractors liable for all negligent acts that caused your construction site and scaffolding accident injuries. Contact us for a free consultation. Contact Us.