NYC Construction Accident Lawyer

Our experienced New York construction accident lawyers can help you maximize your recovery. At The Platta Law Firm, we’re nationally recognized New York trial attorneys who have dedicated our careers to fighting for injured construction workers and grieving families across the city.

As leaders in construction accident litigation with 150+ years of collective experience, we’ve helped our clients recover hundreds of millions of dollars in life-changing benefits packages, settlements, and jury verdicts. Don’t settle for less than you deserve after your construction accident in New York City. Put our considerable experience, in-depth knowledge of New York construction law, and passion for justice to work for you. Call our NYC, NY law office at 212-514-5100 now to schedule a free case evaluation.

A Message from the Founder of The Platta Law Firm

The Platta Law Firm Difference in Your NYC Construction Accident Case

Here are just a few of the reasons why injured construction workers in New York City regularly seek out our top-rated legal team after on-the-job accidents:

• Our attorneys have more than 150 years of combined experience handling complex legal disputes like yours.
• We’re award-winning New York litigators who have been recognized by Super Lawyers, the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, and Lawyers of Distinction.
• We’ve forced insurance companies, employers, and other powerful adversaries to pay our clients hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation.
• Through tireless advocacy for the rights of construction workers, our verdicts have literally helped to shape construction law in the state of New York.
• Clients benefit from the approachable, transparent, personalized legal representation they need and deserve.
• There’s absolutely no cost to hire our construction accident lawyers in NYC unless we win your case.
• We will assemble a team of expert witnesses and contact any potential witnesses at the scene of the accident, including co-workers and other crew members.

Choosing our New York City personal injury lawyers can have a huge positive impact on your construction accident case. You don’t have to take our word for it – scores of reviews on Facebook, Google, and other social media platforms highlight the benefits of having our law firm in your corner. We provide a free consultation to all new clients, so do not hesitate to call our NYC law office at 212-514-5100 to speak with a member of our team today.

We’ve Won Millions for Injured Construction Workers in New York City

Our award-winning trial attorneys regularly help injured construction laborers achieve meaningful results, including several individual million-dollar results.

Notable Case Results for NYC Laborers

Notable construction accident case results for NYC laborers include:

• $48,000,000 Million for a construction worker who fell on a set of temporary wooden stairs on a Brooklyn project site and became permanently impaired.
• $17,405,700 Million for a construction worker who suffered a life-altering 14-foot fall, resulting in a concussion, orthopedic tears, and spinal injuries requiring surgery.
• $8,500,000 Million for a 41-year-old mason tender injured in a scaffolding accident after his superiors failed to provide him with adequate lighting.
• $7,500,000 Million for a young sub-contractor who was struck by a construction metal bar during his coffee break and sustained a traumatic brain injury.
• $7,000,000 Million for a 33-year-old construction worker who fell after a scaffold collapsed and withstood additional impact from several cinderblocks falling atop of him.
• $5,000,000 Million for a worker injured while working on the 17th floor of the Chrysler Building.
• $4,495,000 Million for a 34-year-old construction worker injured in a demolition accident at a Long Island warehouse.
• $4,400,000 Million for a 34-year-old construction worker injured in a demolition accident in Nassau County.
• $4,220,000 Million for a 62-year-old man who fell from a scaffold while performing renovation work at a commercial property.
• $4,000,000 Million for a 55-year-old roofer who fell off a ladder while working on a school renovation project.
• $3,600,000 Million for a 53-year-old electrician who was working on the renovation of a commercial building when falling planks from a scaffold struck him.

Ready to Fight for Your Compensation

You’ll have one opportunity to fight for compensation after a construction accident in New York City. At The Platta Law Firm, we’re prepared to do everything in our power to help you make the most of your legal claim.

How Common Are Construction Accidents in NYC?

The construction industry is incredibly dangerous. In fact, half of the nation’s most dangerous jobs are in construction. In New York City, construction workers make up about 5 percent of the workforce, but account for 27 percent of all workplace-related fatalities. Statistically speaking, the most dangerous jobs in construction include crane operators, mining machine operators, cement masons, ironworkers, roofers, and derrick workers.

NYC’s Booming Construction Industry

In a busy city like New York, contractors always have tons of construction projects underway. New York City currently has the fourth-largest construction industry in the nation, with more than 35,000 active projects across the five boroughs.

That means that, on any given day, thousands of NYC construction workers put their health, safety, and lives on the line. Unfortunately, despite strict regulations and protocols that limit accidents, workers suffer injuries and die on New York City construction sites every day. Given the severity of these injuries, construction accidents in New York generate some of the highest verdicts and settlements seen around the country.

Construction Accident Statistics in New York City

According to the New York City Construction Safety Report, citywide totals show 751 construction accidents in 2022. This figure represented a 5.4 percent increase over the year prior. In 2022, construction accidents injured 554 construction workers on the job, while at least 11 lost their lives in construction accidents across the city. Based on this data, New York City sees roughly two construction accidents a day. As a result of these accidents, one to two workers suffer injury or death on the job daily.

Decades of Experience Representing Workers in All Types of Construction Accident Cases

Construction is a vast industry, with multiple sub-specialties. When you’re injured on a construction site in New York, it’s important to work with an attorney who has experience handling a variety of construction accident claims. Insight into how each type of accident is different and an understanding of which specific New York labor and construction laws will apply in a given situation can be instrumental to success.

Types of Construction Accident Cases We Handle

At The Platta Law Firm, our New York Construction Accident Lawyers have decades of combined experience advocating for workers in cases involving:

• Electric Shock Accidents: Electrocutions account for about 8 percent of all fatal construction accidents and countless serious injuries, including burns, internal organ damage, and nerve damage. Often, electric shock accidents are caused by exposed wiring, contact with overhead powerlines, and exposure to live wires on poorly maintained job sites.
• Traffic Collisions: Road construction can pose a serious threat to worker safety. Nationwide, about 500 construction workers are killed in road construction accidents annually. More construction workers are injured and killed in traffic collisions involving trucks transporting materials, waste, and machinery to and from city job sites.
• Hazardous Material Exposure: Workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals, materials, and substances on construction sites every day. Depending on the hazard, they can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or consumed. If workers aren’t provided with necessary training or protective equipment, an employer could be liable for resulting injuries, illnesses, or occupational diseases.
• Slip and Fall Accidents: Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death on New York City construction sites. Workers are more likely to slip and fall when jobsites aren’t maintained properly, employers neglect to plan for adverse weather conditions, or New York labor laws related to ladders and scaffolds aren’t followed.

More Construction Accident Cases We Handle

• Crane Accidents: Cranes are a prominent feature on many NYC construction sites, and they can pose a serious threat to injury or death if they’re not operated or maintained properly. Erecting a crane on unstable ground, overloading, or operating a crane in high wind conditions are common causes of injury.
• Scaffolding Accidents: New York has specific laws regarding scaffolding and elevated work platforms on construction sites. When scaffolding isn’t erected or secured properly, or when workers lack critical knowledge about working on an elevated platform, employers can potentially be held accountable for resulting harm.
• Ladder Accidents: Ladders are used by just about every specialty in construction, including roofing, painting, and carpentry. Most ladder accidents happen when ladders aren’t secured properly, workers aren’t properly trained in proper ladder use, or ladder weight limits are surpassed.
• Roofing Accidents: Roofing is considered the third most dangerous civil occupation in the United States, accounting for a significant number of construction accident fatalities every year. Many roofing accidents on NYC job sites are caused by avoidable slips, trips, and falls attributed to poor training, inadequate safety protocols, and violations of state and federal safety regulations.

How We Help After a Fatal Accident

Our compassionate attorneys also represent families who have suffered the tragic loss of loved ones in fatal NY construction accidents. Do not hesitate to reach out to our experienced team for help if you or a loved one has been injured. We’re here to help whenever you need us most, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Paths to Recovering Compensation After a New York City Construction Accident

Generally speaking, there are two ways to potentially recover compensation if you’ve been hurt in a New York construction accident.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that provides injured construction workers with an accelerated path to monetary benefits. Under the system, you can file a claim with your employer’s insurance company and request benefits for:

• Medical expenses for all reasonable and necessary treatment
• Temporary Total Disability (TTD)
• Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)
• Permanent Disability
• Death Benefits

Many limitations restrict the amount of benefits you can receive, and for how long. For example, lost wage benefits generally equal two-thirds of the average wage you earned before getting hurt, subject to statutory limits. You can typically receive benefits until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) or for a limited period of time the law establishes, whichever is shorter.

Damages in a Construction Accident Lawsuit

Thanks to New York law, workers’ compensation benefits might not limit you when you’re injured on a NYC construction site.

In fact, you may also have the right to file a civil lawsuit for damages against a liable third party, such as an engineer, architect, property owner, general contractor, or co-worker. Additionally, you have the potential to sue your employer if unsafe work conditions, violations of OSHA safety regulations, or dangerous work equipment caused your injury. When you file a lawsuit, you can seek both economic and non-economic damages for:

• Current and future medical bills
• Temporary and/or permanent lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Disfigurement and physical scarring

Punitive Damages and Fighting for Maximum Compensation

Furthermore, a construction accident lawsuit can also open the door to punitive damages. Specifically, in New York, a jury can award punitive damages if clear and convincing evidence shows grossly negligent conduct or intentional harm.

Regardless, expect pushback when you pursue benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation policy and/or damages in a lawsuit. Either way, trust that our NYC construction accident attorneys will fight for you and work to recover the maximum amount(s) payable to you under New York state law.

Understanding Immigration Status and Your Construction Accident Claim

Your right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits and/or damages in a construction accident lawsuit doesn’t depend on your immigration status. New York Labor Law protects you, regardless of your citizenship. If you get hurt in a construction accident in New York City, you can pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and in some cases, other damages.

Your employer, their insurance company, or a liable third party can’t use your immigration status against you, either. Neither can the government. Construction accident lawsuits and workers’ compensation claims are civil matters, so they won’t involve ICE, USCIS, or deportation proceedings. This means you shouldn’t be afraid to pursue compensation if you hold a green card, a visa, or are an undocumented worker. If you have any concerns or doubts, don’t hesitate to contact our experienced construction accident attorneys in New York for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

What Are the Top Causes of Fatal Construction Accidents in New York?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there are four primary causes of construction accident fatalities. Known as the “Fatal Four,” these include:

Falls

Falls are the leading cause of construction worker deaths nationwide. They account for 36.5 percent of all fatalities. Fall-related accidents often happen when employers fail to provide proper fall-prevention devices and guardrails. They also occur when crews improperly construct scaffolding, or when employers don’t adequately train workers to work at great heights.

Electrocution

Electrocution causes roughly 8.6 percent of construction accident deaths. Unsafe and defective tools, inadequate training, improperly grounded wires, and unmarked wires are leading causes of these injuries on job sites.

Struck-By Objects

Unsafe working conditions, failure to adequately secure equipment, and defective equipment can cause debris to strike workers on NYC construction sites. OSHA data reveals that objects strike and kill workers in 10.1 percent of construction accident fatalities.

Caught In/Between Objects

Laborers can become entangled in objects or machinery, especially if they wear loose clothing or if equipment malfunctions. Getting caught in or between objects causes approximately 2.5 percent of construction worker deaths.

Weather-Related Accidents & Construction Workers in New York City

Your employer has a responsibility to provide a safe work environment – and that includes taking precautions against weather conditions that could potentially cause a threat of injury or death. In New York City, employers should be prepared to manage ice, snow, hail, strong winds, and other weather that increase the risk of slips and falls, falling objects, electrocution, or building collapses. Depending on the season and the weather, employers should:

• Regularly inspect job sites, equipment, and materials to protect them from the elements, or clean them promptly after a weather event.
• Provide workers with safety equipment and gear to protect from the elements, including strong winds, heavy rain, cold weather, and heat.
• Use fans, heaters, salt, and other materials and tools to prevent or reduce weather-related accidents and illnesses.
• Set up construction sites to drain properly and reduce the chances of flooding or pooling water that could obscure tripping hazards, create an increased risk of electrocution, or destabilize heavy machinery and equipment.
• Secure scaffolds, ladders, and other elevated work platforms, and set them up in compliance with New York Labor Law.

If you get hurt because of ice on your construction site, slippery scaffolding after a heavy downpour, or materials or debris blown by hurricane-force winds, your employer could be liable for your injuries if they knew or should have known about the hazard and didn’t take steps to mitigate it.

NYC Construction Workers Can Suffer Debilitating Injuries in Job Site Accidents

All construction workers – regardless of trade – can suffer catastrophic injuries when things go wrong on the job site. At The Platta Law Firm, our construction accident lawyers in NYC are here to help you pursue compensation for all of your job-related injuries, including:

• Cuts and lacerations
• Burn injury
• Concussion
• Spinal cord injury
• Back injury
• Broken bones and fractures
• Soft tissue injury
• Electrocution injury
• Catastrophic injury
• Wrongful death of a family member

If you get hurt while working on a New York City construction site, report the injury to your employer immediately. You must report your injury within a certain amount of time – typically 30 days – to preserve the right to collect workers’ compensation. Seek prompt medical attention, as well. Get checked out even if you don’t think that your injuries are severe. Many times, the adrenaline rush of an accident can mask symptoms of trauma. If you let an injury linger, it can get worse and subject you to serious complications.

Once your condition is stable, reach out to our New York Construction Accident Lawyers to discuss your legal options. We can review your situation, explain your rights, and help you pursue a monetary award to cover your accident-related costs and suffering.

Navigating a Wrongful Death Claim in a Construction Accident Case

Not everyone who gets hurt in a construction accident in New York City survives. According to the New York Committee for Occupational Safety & Health, 30 NYC construction workers died on the job in 2023, and another 19 construction workers died the following year. To put this in perspective, New York City accounted for 40.5 percent of all construction worker fatalities in 2023. It also accounted for 30.4 percent of the state’s total construction accident deaths in 2024.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim

Just because a construction worker dies in a fatal NYC workplace accident doesn’t mean the right to take legal action disappears. Pursuant to New York state law, it just shifts to someone else. Specifically, the personal representative of the deceased worker’s estate has the right to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. If the construction worker survived their fatal injuries before passing away, the estate can also file a related survival action. This can help recover additional damages.

Recoverable Damages in a Wrongful Death Case

Damages can help the family deal with hardships from a sudden loss of financial support. This includes medical bills, funeral expenses, and harder-to-value pain and suffering. The family can receive any damages recovered in the wrongful death claim directly, including the spouse, children, and/or parents. In a survival action, the estate receives the damages instead. It then distributes them according to the construction worker’s will, or in compliance with New York intestacy laws.

Workers’ Compensation and Moving Forward

The family can also potentially receive additional compensation in a workers’ compensation claim. This can pay death benefits to mitigate the worker’s lost income and help cover funeral costs. It’s hard to know what to do or who to trust when someone you love has died in a construction accident in New York City. The Platta Law Firm is here to offer the experienced, compassionate, resourceful legal representation you need. We’re here for you during this time of incredible grief.

What’s the Statute of Limitations on Construction Accident Claims in New York?

The amount of time you’ll have to pursue compensation ultimately depends on the type of legal claim(s) you pursue.

• Workers’ comp claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations.
• Construction accident lawsuits are subject to a three-year statute of limitations.
• You must initiate a wrongful death lawsuit within two years of a NYC construction worker’s death.

You must file your claim and/or lawsuit before the applicable statute of limitations expires. You will lose the ability to assert your rights and recover compensation if the deadline expires before you take action.

What Should I Do if I’m Involved in a Construction Accident in NYC?

The steps you take after an accident on a NYC construction site are incredibly important. Your decisions can have a huge impact on your health and ability to recover compensation down the line.

Report the Accident and Seek Medical Care

Report the accident to your supervisor or employer as soon as you can. You’ll lose the right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits if you don’t report your accident within 30 days. Seek prompt medical attention. The sooner you get help, the better. Many times, the rush of adrenaline you experience in an accident can mask signs and symptoms of serious trauma. Getting to the closest emergency room can ensure doctors correctly diagnose your injuries.

Gather Evidence and Consult an Attorney

Gather evidence available to you. Whether you’re filing for workers’ compensation or pursuing damages with a lawsuit, you’ll need evidence to substantiate your claims. You can help your attorney by taking pictures of the scene of the accident, recording video footage of defective or unsafe work equipment, and getting the names of eyewitnesses to your accident.

Consult an experienced accident attorney near you in New York. Hiring an experienced attorney to handle your construction accident case increases your odds of winning and maximizing your recovery. Once you’ve hired an attorney, direct all communication to them.

Contact The Platta Law Firm

Don’t hesitate to contact the award-winning New York Construction Accident Lawyers at The Platta Law Firm. We can help you obtain medical treatment, negotiate costs of care, handle administrative aspects of your case, and support you every step of the way during your recovery.

What’s the Legal Process for a Construction Accident Case in New York City?

Construction accidents are stressful. The claim you file to recover compensation to pay for medical treatment, offset lost paychecks, and help you cope with the trauma of the accident can be stressful, too. Knowing what to expect during a construction accident case can make the legal process easier and give you realistic expectations about how long it might take, the hurdles you could face, and when you might get a settlement check.

Initial Consultation

Hiring an experienced construction accident attorney near you in NYC can make the legal process a lot easier. It puts specialized legal knowledge, hands-on experience, and an in-depth understanding of the claims process in your corner, which immediately levels the playing field.

The Hiring Process Begins with a Free Consultation

During the consultation, you explain your side of the story, get feedback about your case, and learn about our personal injury law firm’s experience and track record handling cases like yours. When you find an attorney that you feel good about, you can sign a contract, and we’ll get to work on your construction accident case.

Investigation

Before we can file a construction accident claim, we need to understand why and how your construction accident happened. So, we begin with a prompt, thorough investigation. This involves speaking with witnesses, gathering evidence, and reviewing documentation you already have, including medical records and wage statements. Evidence that’s valuable in construction accident claims often includes:

• Employer incident reports
• Accident reports
• Photographs and video footage of the accident and/or related hazards
• Co-worker statements
• Safety gear and work equipment
• Damaged physical property, including heavy machinery, tools, and vehicles
• Building materials
• Employer hiring and training policies
• Equipment maintenance and inspection records
• Citations for local, state, or federal safety violations
• Daily work reports
• Safety meeting records
• Employee work schedules
• Warning signs
• Debris
• Photographs of unsafe work conditions

 

Filing the Claim

Often, we bring in experts. They help us understand nuanced or specialized aspects of construction operations. They also help us identify deviations from expected standards of care. And they pinpoint the exact mechanisms that led to a client’s injury or wrongful death. The evidence we gather forms the backbone of a strong construction accident claim.

We start by conducting a thorough investigation. We gather and review pertinent evidence and consult experts. Once the claim is built, we file it with the appropriate New York City court. Filing the claim kicks off the litigation process. We also serve a copy on the defendants named in the lawsuit. This lets them know you’re taking legal action. It also gives them a chance to respond.

Once your claim is filed, the discovery phase begins. This lets both sides gather more evidence and information. Our team files subpoenas for helpful documents. We conduct depositions of involved parties. We also issue interrogatories to get answers to key questions about your case.

Negotiations

You might be suing a construction company, a product manufacturer, an insurance company, or a property owner in NYC. None of them want your case to go to trial. Trials are expensive, time consuming, and stressful. Many juries are sympathetic to injured workers. They don’t tend to side with powerful corporations or property owners. So most construction accident lawsuits settle before they reach a jury.

You’ve asked for specific damages in your lawsuit. The defense can agree to pay what you’ve asked. They can offer a reduced settlement in exchange for you dropping the suit. Or they can refuse to pay at all. Most often, the defense returns with a low offer. They may cite disputes over liability. They may point to insufficient evidence of fault, contributory fault, or a different valuation of your damages.

These negotiations can go back and forth as the case moves toward trial. Our attorneys work hard to negotiate the best terms for you. We help you weigh the pros and cons of any offer. You’ll always have the final say on whether to accept a settlement or push for more.

Litigation

If you and the other party can’t settle before your trial date, the case goes to court. At trial, each side tells their story, presents evidence, and calls witnesses. Each side argues why they should win. You can still reach a settlement at any point before the jury returns a verdict. Once the jury decides, that decision is final. The only exception is if one of the parties appeals.

What Labor Laws Protect NY Construction Workers?

Federal law – enacted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – and New York state law protect construction workers. New York has passed several laws that specifically enhance construction worker safety.

Labor Law 200, 240, and 241(6)

• Labor Law 200: This law ensures general safety at work sites. It requires that all areas where people work remain safe and that workers use equipment properly. For example, imagine a construction site has a faulty piece of machinery. The owner knew about it but didn’t fix it. If a worker gets injured as a result, the owner could bear responsibility. This law applies when the owner or contractor controls the work and knows about the unsafe condition.
• Labor Law 240(1): Known as the “Scaffolding Law,” this law sets strict standards for work done at heights. For instance, if a worker is on a scaffold that collapses because crews didn’t properly secure it, the owner or contractor automatically bears liability for any injuries. This law requires them to provide safety equipment like harnesses and guardrails. Even if the worker made a mistake, the owner or contractor still bears responsibility if they didn’t provide the right safety measures.
• Labor Law 241(6): This law requires construction crews to follow specific safety regulations during construction, excavation, or demolition. For example, imagine a site lacks proper barriers around a deep excavation and someone falls in. In that case, the owner or contractor can bear liability.The law mandates compliance with detailed safety rules, such as wearing hard hats and using proper lighting, to prevent accidents.

How These Laws Protect Workers

Overall, these laws protect workers. They ensure construction sites stay as safe as possible and hold those in charge accountable for maintaining safety standards. Each statute serves a distinct purpose. However, their collective goal is the same. They require employers to consider worker health and safety at every stage of a construction project.

Specifically, this involves providing appropriate training and ensuring workers have reasonable and adequate safety gear. It also means regularly inspecting premises and equipment, and taking particular care of workers on elevated platforms. As a result, employers who violate sections of New York’s labor laws can bear liability if a worker suffers injury or death on the job.

Construction Accidents FAQ

Call Our Experienced New York Construction Accident Lawyers for Help Today

Getting into an accident on a New York City construction site can have immediate and long-lasting consequences. Injuries can be incredibly painful. They can also hurt your ability to work and earn a living. Fortunately, you can take legal action and fight to recover compensation. This can make your road to recovery less challenging.

The Platta Law Firm can help you make the most of your pursuit of workers’ compensation benefits. Our New York construction accident lawyers have over 150 years of combined experience. We have a proven ability to help injured laborers recover life-changing monetary awards. We’ve successfully recovered hundreds of millions in damages for our clients. Today, we’re prepared to fight to get you every cent you deserve, too.

Contact our New York City, NY law office at 212-514-5100. Then set up a free consultation with a New York Construction Accident Lawyer. We represent injured construction workers across Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and surrounding areas.