Construction Accidents

New York Construction Accident Lawyer & Attorney

The skylines of New York are a testament to the hard work and courage of its construction workers. These individuals face inherent dangers every day to build our city. In recognition of these risks, New York State has enacted special labor laws that provide some of the strongest protections for construction workers in the entire country. If you have been injured on a construction site, you need more than just a personal injury lawyer; you need a dedicated Construction Accident Attorney who has a deep and practiced understanding of these specific and powerful statutes. At the Law Office of Bradley A. Sacks, we have spent decades mastering this area of law to ensure that injured workers receive every dollar of compensation they are legally entitled to.

Beyond Workers’ Compensation: The Power of Third-Party Lawsuits
After a construction accident, many workers believe their only recourse is through a Workers’ Compensation claim. While Workers’ Comp is a vital no-fault system that provides benefits for medical bills and a portion of lost wages, it is often insufficient to cover the full scope of a catastrophic injury. Crucially, Workers’ Comp provides no compensation for pain and suffering.

However, New York law allows injured workers to file a personal injury lawsuit, known as a third-party claim, against negligent parties other than their direct employer or a co-worker. These liable third parties can include:

• The property owner
• The general contractor
• Subcontractors
• Architects or engineers
• Manufacturers of defective equipment

A successful third-party lawsuit allows you to recover full compensation for all your damages, including the immense pain and suffering that so often accompanies a serious construction injury.

New York’s Special Labor Laws: Your Shield and Sword
Our firm’s strategy is built on a mastery of New York’s specific Labor Laws:

• Labor Law § 240(1) – The “Scaffold Law”: This is the most powerful tool for injured workers. It imposes “absolute liability” on property owners and general contractors for gravity-related accidents. This means if you are injured in a fall from a height (e.g., from a scaffold, ladder, or roof) or are struck by a falling object, the owner and contractor are held 100% responsible if they failed to provide adequate safety devices. The worker’s own potential negligence is not a defense in these cases.
• Labor Law § 241(6): This law requires owners and contractors to comply with specific safety rules set forth in the New York State Industrial Code. If your injury was caused by a violation of one of these specific, concrete regulations (e.g., failure to provide a safe walkway, inadequate shoring for a trench, or improper machine guarding), the responsible parties can be held liable for your injuries.
• Labor Law § 200: This is New York’s codification of the common-law duty to provide a safe workplace. It holds that all parties with the authority to supervise or control the work have a duty to protect workers from known or foreseeable dangers on the site.

Comprehensive Representation for All Construction Accidents
We have the experience and resources to handle the most complex construction accident cases, including those involving:

• Scaffolding Collapses and Ladder Falls
• Falls From Roofs, Beams, or Unprotected Openings
• Struck-by Accidents from Falling Tools, Materials, or Debris
• Crane, Forklift, and Heavy Machinery Accidents
• Trench and Excavation Collapses
• Electrocutions and Electrical Burns
• Welding Accidents, Fires, and Explosions
• Demolition and Debris Removal Accidents
• Structural Collapses
• Accidents Caused by Defective Tools or Equipment

Our investigative process is immediate and exhaustive. We dispatch engineers and safety experts to the scene to document conditions, photograph evidence, and identify safety violations before they can be altered. We depose witnesses, review safety logs and OSHA reports, and build an airtight case designed to maximize your financial recovery. You build our city; let us help you rebuild your life. Contact the Law Office of Bradley A. Sacks for a free consultation to protect your rights.