Construction Accident Lawyer New York — NYC Construction Injury Attorney Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan & Beyond
New York gives injured construction workers some of the strongest legal protections in the country. But those protections have deadlines. And they only work if you know how to use them.
We have been fighting for injured construction workers across New York City since 1994. Adam spent years defending the contractors and insurers on the other side. Now that knowledge works for you. Free consultation. English and Spanish. No fee unless we win.
Holding Property Owners & General Contractors Accountable
Construction remains the single most hazardous industry in New York City. From high-rise developments in Manhattan to transit renovations in Brooklyn and Queens, a split-second equipment failure or absent safety harness causes life-altering trauma.
General contractors and site owners frequently attempt to hide behind workers' compensation to block injured workers from full recovery. We cut through that defense immediately. By deploying New York's strict Labor Laws, we hold third parties accountable for pain, suffering, and full lifetime earning losses.
We dispatch investigators to the job site immediately to photograph safety violations, interview co-workers, and subpoena OSHA inspection records before equipment is altered.
New York Labor Law 240 & 241 Rights
New York provides unique, powerful statutory protections that hold site owners strictly accountable.
Construction Accident Types We Handle
Not every construction accident fits neatly into a category. We fight across all of them:
Scaffold & Ladder Falls
Falls from scaffolding, extension ladders, temporary staging, and roofs covered under Labor Law 240 absolute liability.
Crane & Heavy Machinery
Crane collapses, rigging failures, hoisting accidents, and heavy equipment tipping or mechanical malfunctions.
Caught-In & Caught-Between
Workers pulled into machinery, trapped between equipment, or pinned against temporary structures and walls.
Trench Collapses & Cave-Ins
Unshored trench collapses, suffocating excavation cave-ins, and inadequate soil protection systems.
Electrocution & Power Lines
Contact with overhead power lines, faulty temporary site wiring, and improper lockout/tagout procedures.
Falling Tools & Debris
Dropped hand tools, falling cinder blocks, structural beams, and unsecured building materials striking workers below.
Construction Wrongful Death
Catastrophic fatalities demanding full lifetime wage recovery and survival action damages for surviving families.
Municipal & Government Sites
Accidents on MTA transit sites, School Construction Authority (SCA) jobs, NYCHA projects, and city agencies.
Falls from Heights — Scaffolding, Ladders and Roofs
Falls from height are the leading cause of serious injury and death on New York construction sites. They are also the category most directly protected under Labor Law 240. When scaffolding collapses, a ladder shifts, or a guardrail fails, the property owner and general contractor bear absolute liability provided the required safety equipment was absent or inadequate.
Construction sites get cleaned up fast after accidents. We move faster. We secure OSHA records, site inspection logs, witness statements, and photographic evidence before they disappear. That evidence is the case. We protect it from day one.
Caught-In and Between Accidents — Machinery and Trenching Injuries
Caught-in and caught-between accidents involve workers pulled into machinery, trapped between equipment, or buried in trench collapses. Amputations, crush injuries, and fatalities are common outcomes.
Liability frequently extends to equipment manufacturers, general contractors, and property owners simultaneously. We investigate every layer rather than stopping at the most obvious defendant. Every responsible party answers.
Electrocution and Electrical Injuries on NYC Job Sites
Electrocution is the third leading cause of construction worker deaths nationally. In New York City, aging electrical infrastructure further raises that risk. Overhead power lines, faulty wiring, and improper lockout/tagout procedures cause severe burns, nerve damage, cardiac arrest, and death.
Liability can extend to utility companies, equipment manufacturers, and property owners who failed to disclose known electrical hazards on the job site. We work with electrical engineering experts to establish exactly what went wrong and who is responsible.
Workers' Compensation vs. Third-Party Lawsuit
Workers’ compensation covers medical bills and a portion of lost wages. It does not compensate for pain and suffering. And it prevents you from suing your direct employer.
It does not prevent you from suing the general contractor, a subcontractor, a property owner, or an equipment manufacturer whose negligence contributed to your accident.
A third-party personal injury lawsuit runs parallel to your workers’ comp claim and recovers damages workers’ comp will never pay. We pursue both paths simultaneously from the first consultation. You should not have to choose between them.
Municipal Site 90-Day Deadline
One critical deadline: if your accident happened on a government-owned construction site, a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days. Miss it and your right to sue the government entity is gone entirely. Call us immediately if a municipal site was involved.
Check Your Site's DeadlineFrequently Asked Questions
Essential legal answers for New York construction accident victims.
Yes, especially if parties beyond your direct employer contributed to the accident. Workers’ comp caps your recovery and excludes pain and suffering entirely. A third-party lawsuit can recover significantly more. We evaluate both from the first call.
Three years for most construction accident claims. If a government entity owns the site, a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days of the accident. Do not wait.
Based on injury severity, lost income, future medical needs, and impact on quality of life. We work with medical and economic experts to build a damage picture that reflects the full long-term cost, not just the immediate bills.
Under Labor Law 240, your own conduct is generally not a defense the property owner can use against you. Under Labor Law 241, your recovery is reduced proportionally but not eliminated. Either way, you have a case worth fighting.
Yes. We charge nothing unless we recover money for you. No upfront fees. No hourly charges. The consultation is free.
Talk to Adam Before Anyone Else Does
The contractor’s insurance company starts building their defense the same day your accident happens. Before you give a recorded statement, sign anything, or accept any offer, call us first.
The consultation is free. Adam is reachable directly from the first call to evaluate your third-party claims and rights.
Get Your Free Case Evaluation
No fee unless we win. Fill out this form for an immediate callback from Adam L. Shapiro.
We Fight Across All Five Boroughs & Long Island
From our headquarters in Forest Hills, Queens, Attorney Adam L. Shapiro relentlessly advocates for injured victims across the entire New York metropolitan area. Wherever your accident occurred, we come for the people responsible.
Queens
Firm HeadquartersForest Hills • Flushing • Astoria • Jamaica • Bayside
Brooklyn
Kings CountyDowntown • Crown Heights • Flatbush • Bay Ridge • Bushwick
Manhattan
New York CountyMidtown • Lower Manhattan • Harlem • Washington Heights
The Bronx
Bronx CountyGrand Concourse • Riverdale • South Bronx • Pelham Bay
Staten Island
Richmond CountySt. George • Todt Hill • New Dorp • Great Kills
Long Island
Nassau & SuffolkHempstead • Mineola • Garden City • Suffolk County
Cases We Handle
As a full-service personal injury law firm, we represent clients across all major injury categories in New York:
Vehicle Accidents
Comprehensive representation for car, truck, and motorcycle collisions, bicycle and pedestrian injury claims, and rideshare accidents involving Uber and Lyft.
Workplace & Construction Injuries
Aggressive advocacy for workers' compensation claims, job site and construction accidents, and injuries caused by repetitive stress or unsafe working conditions.
Premises Liability
Relentless pursuit of justice for slip, trip, and fall injuries, hazardous staircases, broken sidewalks, defective buildings, and elevator or escalator accidents.
Catastrophic & Specialized Cases
Compassionate, determined representation for medical malpractice, wrongful death claims, animal attacks, and severe injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and burns.