Injured in a NYC Construction Accident? You May Be Owed Significant Compensation

New York's Scaffold Law (Labor Law 240) gives construction workers the strongest protections in the country. If you were hurt on a job site, property owners and contractors may be strictly liable — regardless of fault.

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NYC's Scaffold Law: The Strongest Worker Protection in America

New York Labor Law Section 240, known as the Scaffold Law, is the most powerful construction worker protection in the United States. Enacted in 1885, it imposes strict liability on property owners and general contractors for gravity-related injuries — falls from heights or being struck by falling objects.

Unlike every other state, New York does not allow comparative negligence as a defense under this law. If a property owner or contractor failed to provide proper safety equipment and you were injured in a gravity-related accident, they bear 100% of the liability — even if you were partially at fault.

This means NYC construction workers have a significant legal advantage that workers in no other state enjoy. Whether you fell from scaffolding, a ladder, a roof, or were struck by a falling object, you may have a strong claim under this law.

NYC Construction Accident Settlements & Verdicts

New York construction accident cases regularly result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here are real examples:

$272.5 Million — Tribeca crane collapse (largest crane accident recovery in NY history)
$15 Million — Worker killed by 28,450-pound falling object
$15 Million — Worker crushed when crane hoist chains broke
$12 Million — Union worker injured on No. 7 subway extension project
$11 Million — Masonry foreman fell 3 stories through unsecured hole in Brooklyn
$10.5 Million — Family of union laborer killed by defective saw
$9.5 Million — Painter with traumatic brain injury from ladder fall
$8.75 Million — Electrician's helper injured in ladder fall
$8 Million — Worker fell through unprotected roof opening during demolition
$6 Million — Verdict for facade repair scaffold collapse in Brooklyn

The amount you may recover depends on the severity of your injuries, who was responsible, and which labor laws apply to your case.

Who Is Liable for Your Injuries?

Under New York law, multiple parties can be held responsible for construction accidents — and they cannot escape liability by delegating work to subcontractors:

Property Owners — Strictly liable under Labor Law 240 for gravity-related accidents, even if they were not present when the accident occurred.

General Contractors — Share the same strict liability as owners. Responsible for overall site safety.

Subcontractors — Can be named as defendants if their negligence created hazardous conditions.

Equipment Manufacturers — Liable through product liability if defective tools or machinery caused the accident.

Architects & Engineers — Liable if design negligence contributed to unsafe conditions.

You can pursue both workers' compensation AND a third-party personal injury lawsuit simultaneously.

Compensation You May Be Entitled To

Full Medical Expenses — Surgery, hospital stays, rehabilitation, future medical care
Lost Wages — Past and future income, including reduced earning capacity
Pain and Suffering — Often the largest component of construction accident settlements
Disability Compensation — For permanent injuries affecting your ability to work
Mental Anguish — Emotional distress, PTSD, anxiety, and depression
Disfigurement — Scarring and physical changes from the accident
Loss of Enjoyment of Life — When injuries prevent activities you once enjoyed
Loss of Consortium — Compensation for your spouse
Wrongful Death Damages — If a loved one was killed, families can recover funeral costs, lost financial support, and loss of parental guidance

The Numbers Tell the Story

NYC construction remains one of the most dangerous industries in America:

482 worker injuries reported in NYC in 2024 (a nine-year low, but still nearly 2 injuries per workday)
74 construction worker deaths statewide in 2023 — a 48% increase from the prior year
77% of workers who died were non-union — non-union sites consistently have worse safety records
73% of fatal accident sites had concurrent OSHA violations at the time of the incident
Falls, electrocution, struck-by, and caught-in accidents account for 65% of all construction deaths

Every injured construction worker in New York — regardless of immigration status — has the right to file a claim. Union, non-union, temporary, and undocumented workers are all protected under the law.

Frequently Asked Questions

You have **3 years** from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Wrongful death claims must be filed within **2 years** of the date of death. Claims against government entities require a Notice of Claim within just **90 days**. Do not wait — evidence disappears and witnesses forget details over time.

New York Labor Law Section 240, the Scaffold Law, imposes **strict liability** on property owners and general contractors for gravity-related injuries on construction sites. This means if you fell from a height or were struck by a falling object, the owner/contractor is automatically liable if they failed to provide proper safety equipment — even if you were partially at fault. New York is the only state with this level of protection.

Yes. New York law protects **all construction workers regardless of immigration status**. You have the same rights to workers' compensation and third-party lawsuits as any other worker. Employers and insurers cannot legally report you to immigration authorities. Courts have awarded multi-million dollar settlements to undocumented workers.

Yes. You can receive **workers' compensation** (which covers medical bills and partial lost wages) while also filing a **separate third-party lawsuit** against property owners, contractors, or equipment manufacturers. The third-party suit is how you recover pain and suffering, full lost wages, and other damages not covered by workers' comp.

Under New York's Scaffold Law (Labor Law 240), comparative fault is **not a valid defense** for gravity-related accidents. Even if you made a mistake, the property owner/contractor still bears full liability if they failed to provide adequate safety equipment. For other types of claims under Labor Law 241(6) and 200, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault but is not eliminated.

Nothing upfront. Construction accident attorneys work on a **contingency fee** basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. There are no out-of-pocket costs to you. The initial case review is completely free and confidential.

Any injury sustained on a construction site may qualify, including: broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), burns, amputations, crush injuries, nerve damage, hearing loss, respiratory conditions, and soft tissue injuries. Both temporary and permanent injuries can result in significant compensation.

Don't Wait — Your Time to File Is Limited

New York's statute of limitations means you only have **3 years** to take legal action. The sooner you act, the stronger your case. Get your free, confidential case review today.

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