Long Island Construction Accident Lawyer

Representing Injured Construction Workers Across Nassau and Suffolk Counties

Construction work helps build the homes, businesses, and infrastructure that make up Long Island, but it is also one of the most dangerous jobs in New York. A construction accident occurs when a worker is injured because of dangerous conditions on a job site. These incidents can involve falls from heights, falling materials, equipment failures, electrical hazards, or other dangerous conditions that should have been prevented with proper safety measures.

Construction activity is constant all around Long Island. New homes, mixed use developments, retail centers, and infrastructure projects continue to reshape communities throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties, including areas such as Elmont, Huntington, Patchogue, and the towns across the East End of Long Island. While these projects help support growth and development, they also create job sites where workers usually face serious risks if proper safety protections are not provided.

Because of these dangers, New York law provides strong legal protections for construction workers. Under Labor Law 240, 241(6), and 200, property owners and contractors can be held responsible when required safety protections are not provided. These laws recognize that construction workers often perform physically demanding and hazardous work and place responsibility on those who control construction projects to maintain safe working conditions.

At Palermo Law, we have represented injured workers and accident victims as Long Island personal injury attorneys for more than 25 years. Our firm has recovered over $75 million for our clients, earned more than 400 five star Google reviews, and has been recognized as Best Law Firm on Long Island five times. With 9 office locations across Nassau and Suffolk Counties, experienced legal help is always close to home when it is needed most.

Construction accidents occur on many types of projects. Some involve residential construction, such as when a new home is being built by a contractor or developer rather than by the homeowner. Others occur on commercial construction sites, including retail stores, office buildings, restaurants, and other business properties.

Our Long Island construction accident lawyers represent workers injured in incidents such as scaffold and ladder falls, falling objects, equipment failures, and other hazardous job site conditions. When a serious injury happens, figuring out all of responsible parties and applying the appropriate New York labor laws is very important to securing full compensation.

If you were injured on a construction site on Long Island, you may be facing medical treatment, lost income, and uncertainty about what comes next. Our role is to investigate what happened, explain your legal options clearly, and pursue the compensation you deserve and need to move forward with your life.

New York Laws That Protect Construction Workers

Construction work presents serious risks. Workers regularly perform tasks at heights, handle heavy materials, and operate around dangerous equipment. Because of these various dangers, New York has created a specific set of laws that require construction sites to follow strict safety standards.

Several sections of the New York Labor Law play an important role in protecting construction workers and determining who may be responsible when an accident occurs.

New York Labor Law 240 (Scaffold Law)

New York Labor Law 240, often called the Scaffold Law, applies to accidents involving height related hazards. These cases frequently involve falls from ladders, scaffolds, roofs, or other elevated work areas. The law requires owners and contractors to provide proper safety devices such as scaffolds, ladders, hoists, harnesses, and other protective equipment.

When those protections are not provided or fail to function properly, the law can hold the responsible parties liable for the worker’s injuries.

New York Labor Law 241(6)

New York Labor Law 241(6) requires construction sites to follow detailed safety regulations contained in the New York Industrial Code. These regulations address a wide range of construction site conditions, including safe walkways, protection from falling objects, proper equipment use, and safe operation of machinery.

If a specific Industrial Code regulation is violated and that violation contributes to an injury, the injured worker may have a claim under this section of the law.

New York Labor Law 200

New York Labor Law 200 is a broader safety statute that requires construction sites to maintain reasonably safe working conditions. It often applies when an accident results from unsafe equipment, dangerous job site conditions, or negligent supervision of the work.

Construction sites are also subject to federal safety standards enforced by OSHA’s construction safety standards, which set requirements for fall protection, scaffolding, and hazard communication that apply alongside New York’s Labor Law protections.

Who Is Protected by New York Construction Labor Laws

New York Labor Laws that protect construction workers apply to a wide range of individuals involved in construction related work. These protections are not limited to traditional employees of large construction companies. In many cases, workers employed by subcontractors, smaller contractors, or temporary labor providers may also be covered.

Workers commonly protected under these laws include:

• Construction laborers
• Carpenters
• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Ironworkers
• Roofers
• Painters
• Demolition workers
• Masonry workers
• HVAC and mechanical workers

The protections of Labor Law 240 and Labor Law 241 generally apply when a worker is performing construction, demolition, repair, alteration, painting, cleaning, or pointing work on a building or structure.

These laws typically place responsibility on property owners and general contractors to provide safe working conditions and proper safety equipment.

The Homeowner Exception

New York law contains a limited exception that applies to certain owners of one or two family homes. When a homeowner hires a contractor to perform work on a private residence and does not direct or control the work, that homeowner may be exempt from liability under Labor Law 240 and 241.

However, this exception does not apply in many common situations. For example, it may not apply when the work is performed for commercial purposes, when a residence is being built or renovated as part of a development project, or when the owner actively supervises or directs the work.

Because construction projects often involve multiple contractors, subcontractors, and property owners, determining who may be legally responsible after an accident requires a careful review of the job site and the work being performed.

Common Types of Construction Accidents on Long Island

Construction sites involve many moving parts, heavy materials, and work performed at heights. When proper safety precautions are not followed, serious accidents can occur. Many of the construction injury cases we handle involve hazards that should have been prevented through proper planning, supervision, and safety equipment.

Some of the most common construction accidents include:

Falls From Heights

Falls are one of the leading causes of serious construction injuries. Workers frequently perform work on scaffolds, ladders, roofs, or elevated platforms. When proper fall protection is not provided or safety equipment fails, workers usually suffer devastating injuries. These cases are often related to Labor Law 240, which addresses height related hazards.

Scaffold and Ladder Accidents

Scaffolds and ladders must be properly secured and constructed to support workers safely. Accidents can occur when scaffolding collapses, ladders shift or break, or safety rails and harness systems are missing. These incidents frequently lead to serious injuries including fractures, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.

Falling Object Accidents

Construction work often involves materials and tools being used at elevated levels. If those materials are not properly secured, they can fall and strike workers below. Falling objects can cause severe head injuries, neck injuries, and other traumatic injuries.

Equipment and Machinery Accidents

Construction sites rely on heavy machinery and power equipment to move materials and perform specialized work. Cranes, forklifts, lifts, and other equipment can create dangerous conditions if they are operated improperly or maintained poorly.

Structural Failures and Unsafe Work Areas

Some accidents occur because a structure, platform, trench, or work surface is not properly constructed or maintained. Unsafe walkways, unstable surfaces, and poorly secured materials can create dangerous conditions for workers throughout the job site.

The Fatal Four — Leading Causes of Construction Deaths

These four hazards account for more than 56% of all construction worker fatalities in the United States

Workers’ Compensation and Third Party Construction Accident Claims

After a construction accident, most injured workers initially receive benefits through Long Island workers’ compensation attorney. Workers’ compensation can provide coverage for medical treatment and a portion of lost wages, regardless of who was at fault for the accident.

However, workers’ compensation benefits are limited. They generally do not provide compensation for pain and suffering or the full financial impact of a serious injury.

In many construction accident cases, an injured worker may also have the right to pursue a third party claim against parties other than their direct employer. These claims are often based on violations of New York’s construction safety laws, including Labor Law 240, Labor Law 241(6), and Labor Law 200.

Third party claims may be brought against:

• Property owners
• General contractors
• Construction managers
• Subcontractors
• Equipment manufacturers or suppliers

These claims allow injured workers to seek compensation that may not be available through workers’ compensation alone. This can include damages for pain and suffering, full lost earnings, future medical expenses, and other long term impacts of the injury.

Construction accident cases often involve complex job sites with multiple companies and layers of responsibility. Determining who may be legally responsible requires a careful investigation of the work being performed, the safety equipment provided, and the parties involved in managing the project.

How We Build Your Case

Compensation Available in Construction Accident Cases

A serious construction accident can affect nearly every part of a person’s life. Injured workers often face medical treatment, time away from work, and uncertainty about their financial future. When a construction accident is caused by unsafe conditions or violations of New York labor laws, injured workers may be entitled to recover compensation for the harm they have suffered.

Depending on the circumstances of the case, compensation may include:

Medical Expenses

Construction injuries often require extensive medical treatment. Compensation may include hospital care, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medications, and other necessary medical services related to the injury.

Lost Wages

Many construction injuries prevent workers from returning to work for extended periods of time. Compensation may include wages lost while recovering from the injury.

Future Loss of Earnings

Serious injuries can affect a person’s ability to return to their previous line of work. In these situations, compensation may include the loss of future earning capacity if the injury limits a worker’s ability to perform their job.

Pain and Suffering

New York law allows injured workers to seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional impact caused by a serious injury. These damages recognize the ways an injury can affect a person’s daily life, mobility, and overall well being.

Long Term Care and Rehabilitation

Some construction accidents result in injuries that require ongoing medical care or long term rehabilitation. Compensation may include the cost of future treatment and support needed as a result of the injury.

Construction accident cases often involve significant injuries and complex legal issues. Properly evaluating the full impact of an injury may require consultation with medical professionals, economists, and other experts who can help determine the long term consequences of the accident.

How Our Long Island Construction Accident Lawyers Help Injured Workers

Suffering a serious injury on a construction site can be overwhelming. In addition to the physical recovery, injured workers are often dealing with medical appointments, lost income, and uncertainty about what steps to take next. Our role is to guide our clients through the legal process while building a strong case designed to achieve the best possible result.

At Palermo Law, our approach to construction accident cases is built around three priorities. We work to secure the maximum compensation available under the law, reduce the stress placed on our clients, and move the case forward efficiently without sacrificing the quality of the work required to prove the claim.

From the beginning of the case, we focus on identifying every potentially responsible parties and preserving important evidence from the job site. Construction projects often involve several contractors, subcontractors, and property owners. Determining who had responsibility for safety and supervision is necessary to be successful winning a claim.

Throughout the process, we maintain communication with our clients so they understand what is happening with their case and what steps are coming next. As medical treatment progresses, we continue gathering records, consulting with experts when necessary, and preparing the evidence needed to present a complete picture of the injury and its impact.

When the time is right, we pursue settlement discussions with the responsible parties and their insurance carriers. If a fair resolution cannot be reached, we prepare the case to be presented in court. Preparing every case thoroughly helps ensure that injured workers are in the strongest position possible when seeking compensation.

Our goal is to allow injured workers to focus on their recovery while we handle the legal work required to protect their rights and pursue the compensation they deserve.

Construction Accident Cases We Handle

Construction sites contain many potential hazards, particularly when safety procedures are not followed or proper equipment is not provided. Our Long Island construction accident lawyers represent workers and individuals injured in a wide range of construction related incidents.

Some of the most common cases we handle include:

Scaffold Accidents

Scaffolding is widely used on construction sites throughout Long Island. When scaffolds are improperly assembled, inadequately secured, or missing required safety protections, workers may face a serious risk of falling. These accidents often involve violations of New York Labor Law 240.

Ladder Falls

Ladders are one of the most frequently used pieces of equipment on construction sites. When ladders are defective, unstable, or used without proper safety measures, workers can suffer severe injuries from falls.

Falling Object Accidents

Construction work often takes place at multiple elevations. Tools, building materials, or equipment that are not properly secured can fall and strike workers below, causing serious head, neck, and spinal injuries.

Crane and Heavy Equipment Accidents

Large construction projects frequently involve cranes, lifts, and other heavy machinery. When this equipment is improperly operated or maintained, the risk of catastrophic injury increases.

Structural Collapses and Unsafe Work Areas

Some construction accidents occur because a structure, trench, platform, or work surface is not properly supported or maintained. These hazardous conditions can lead to serious injuries for workers performing their duties on the job site.

Construction accident cases often involve multiple companies working together on a project. Determining responsibility requires careful investigation and a clear understanding of New York’s construction safety laws.

Reviewed by

Steven Palermo Esq.

Senior Partner, Palermo Law, P.L.L.C.

Steven Palermo is a Long Island personal injury attorney with more than 25 years of experience representing injured victims in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. He is admitted to the New York State Bar and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.