New York Construction Accident Lawyers

Over $1 Billion Recovered. Insight From Both Sides of the Courtroom.

Construction is consistently ranked among the most dangerous industries in the United States. OSHA data shows one in five worker fatalities nationwide occurs in construction, and New York sites carry added complexity: dense urban job sites, multi-party contractor chains, and strict deadlines that affect every claim. If you were hurt on a construction site, you likely have more than one legal path available, and choosing the right combination matters.

At Sultzer & Lipari, we represent workers injured on New York construction sites, including carpenters, roofers, electricians, laborers, ironworkers, supervisors, masons, pipefitters, and plumbers. Our firm has secured over $1 billion in recoveries across our practice, and our attorneys represent both plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil litigation, giving us direct insight into how contractors, property owners, and insurers build their defenses. We bring that perspective to every construction accident case we handle.

Depending on the circumstances, an injured worker may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, a personal injury lawsuit under New York’s Labor Laws, a wrongful death claim, or a combination of these. We offer a free, private consultation to walk through what happened and identify which claims apply.

Common Hazards at New York Construction Sites

Construction sites are dangerous by nature, even when negligence isn’t a factor. Workers operate heavy equipment, work at heights, handle high-voltage systems, and share space with vehicles and overhead loads, often simultaneously.

OSHA identifies four leading causes of construction worker fatalities, collectively known as the Fatal Four:

• Falls: Incidents from ladders, scaffolding, wall openings, and floor holes account for the largest share of construction fatalities.
• Struck by object: Workers struck by construction vehicles, flying debris, or falling materials.
• Electrocution: Contact with power lines or improperly used electrical equipment.
• Caught-in/between: Trench collapses, structure collapses, and entrapment in machinery.

A single overlooked safety regulation can lead to a catastrophic injury or a fatality. New York law provides specific protections for workers in these situations that go beyond what the workers’ compensation system covers.

New York Labor Law Protections for Construction Workers

New York’s Labor Laws create significant rights for injured construction workers and operate separately from the workers’ compensation system. Filing a Labor Law claim doesn’t eliminate eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits. The three key statutes are:

Section 240(1): The Scaffold Law
New York Labor Law Section 240(1) imposes strict liability on property owners and general contractors for gravity-related injuries, including falls from heights and falling object strikes. The injured worker doesn’t need to prove negligence. The worker needs to show only that a safety violation contributed to the injury. Property owners and general contractors can be held liable even without direct involvement in the specific work that caused the harm.

Section 241(6): Industrial Code Violations
New York Labor Law Section 241(6) requires construction site owners and contractors to comply with specific safety regulations in the New York State Industrial Code. A violation of those regulations provides grounds for a lawsuit regardless of whether the owner or contractor directly supervised the work.

Section 200: General Duty to Maintain a Safe Worksite
New York Labor Law Section 200 establishes a general duty for employers, contractors, and property owners to maintain a safe work environment. It applies to all construction sites and supports claims where a hazardous condition was caused or permitted by someone with authority over the site.

Third-Party Claims & What Workers’ Compensation Doesn’t Cover

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that provides medical benefits and partial wage replacement regardless of who caused the accident. But it doesn’t compensate for pain and suffering, and it covers only a portion of lost wages. When a third party shares responsibility for the accident, a personal injury lawsuit can recover the full range of damages that workers’ compensation leaves out.

Potentially liable third parties in a New York construction accident include vendors, equipment manufacturers, property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and others with a presence on the site. Under New York’s Labor Laws, property owners and general contractors may be held liable even without direct involvement in the specific work that caused the injury. Injured workers can pursue a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party lawsuit simultaneously.

Our attorneys have extensive trial experience handling these claims. Because we represent both plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil matters, we know how insurers and contractors approach these disputes from the inside, and we use that knowledge to anticipate and address the defenses our clients may face. We take on a focused number of cases at a time so each one receives the attention it requires.

Damages & Deadlines in a New York Construction Accident Case

A construction accident lawsuit in New York can seek compensation for a range of economic and non-economic losses.

Recoverable Damages

Compensable damages in a New York construction accident case may include:

• Medical expenses, past and future
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Disability and disfigurement
• Emotional distress

Filing Deadlines

Deadlines vary by claim type. As general timeframes: personal injury lawsuits must typically be filed within three years of the accident date; workers’ compensation claims within two years; wrongful death claims within two years of the date of death. Claims against a government entity require a Notice of Claim served within 90 days of the accident. These timelines can shift based on the specific facts of a case, which is why prompt consultation matters.

Evidence on construction sites changes quickly. Incident reports get filed, equipment gets moved, and witnesses become harder to locate. Early legal involvement helps preserve the record and keeps all available options open.

Talk to a Construction Accident Lawyer in New York

If you were injured on a New York construction site, the sooner you act, the more options you preserve. Call (800) 552-0265 or contact us online to schedule a free, private consultation with Sultzer & Lipari. There’s no cost to speak with us, and we can help you understand which legal paths apply to your situation.