Construction Accident Lawyer in Manhattan

Fifty Years Fighting for Injured Construction Workers in Manhattan

Manhattan’s construction industry moves fast, and a worksite injury can change a worker’s life in an instant. When someone is hurt because a contractor cut corners, a property owner ignored hazards, or equipment failed, New York law provides meaningful protections. At Loscalzo & Loscalzo, P.C., we’ve represented injured construction workers for more than 50 years, and our practice is devoted exclusively to personal injury law.

Construction accident cases in New York are governed by some of the most worker-protective statutes in the country, including New York Labor Law sections 200, 240(1), and 241(6). Section 240(1), commonly called the Scaffold Law, holds property owners and general contractors strictly accountable when elevation-related hazards cause injury. Section 241(6) requires compliance with specific safety codes on construction, demolition, and excavation sites. Applying these statutes to a particular accident requires focused legal knowledge and familiarity with how New York courts handle these claims.

What Causes Construction Accidents in New York

Construction sites combine heavy equipment, significant heights, high-voltage systems, and multiple contractors working simultaneously. Any breakdown in safety protocols can create conditions where serious injury becomes almost inevitable.

The most frequent causes of construction accidents in Manhattan include falls from heights, falling objects, crane malfunctions, forklift incidents, welding hazards, scaffolding failures, and contact with electrical systems.

Injuries seen in construction accident cases often include:

• Traumatic brain injuries and skull fractures from falls or falling objects
• Spinal cord damage causing partial or full paralysis
• Amputations from machinery contact
• Severe burns from electrical incidents or welding accidents
• Fractures and crush injuries from equipment failures
• Respiratory conditions from hazardous material exposure

We handle crane-related construction accidents, forklift injuries on job sites, and welding-related construction injuries as distinct practice areas. A scaffold accidents page is also available for workers injured by scaffolding failures or collapses.

New York Labor Law & Construction Worker Protections

New York’s labor laws create a legal framework that sets construction accident cases apart from standard workplace injury claims. Under Section 240(1), property owners and contractors can’t escape liability by pointing to worker error when a fall or falling object results from inadequate safety equipment. This strict liability standard is unique to New York and can significantly affect how a case is valued and resolved.

Section 241(6) extends these protections by mandating compliance with New York’s Industrial Code, which sets specific standards for construction site conditions. A violation of those standards can form the basis of a negligence claim independent of workers’ compensation. Section 200 applies the general duty to maintain a safe worksite and can reach general contractors, site owners, and third-party defendants who controlled the conditions that led to the injury.

Undocumented workers have the same legal rights as documented workers under New York law. Immigration status doesn’t limit access to workers’ compensation or a personal injury claim.

Filing a Construction Accident Claim in Manhattan

New York’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the date of injury. That window sounds wide, but construction accident cases depend on physical evidence, witness availability, and site records that can disappear quickly. Starting the process promptly can give us the opportunity to build a strong case on your behalf.

To succeed on a negligence claim, the injured worker must establish that a duty of care existed, that it was breached, and that the breach directly caused the injuries sustained. In cases governed by Section 240(1) or 241(6), the analysis is different: a statutory violation and a resulting injury are typically enough to establish liability without proving traditional negligence elements.

Compensation in a construction accident case can include:

• Medical expenses, past and future
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Rehabilitation costs
• Pain and suffering
• Damages for permanent disability or disfigurement

In most situations, workers’ compensation prevents a direct lawsuit against an employer. When a third party, such as a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner, contributed to the accident, a separate personal injury claim may be available in addition to workers’ compensation benefits.