Queens Construction Accident Lawyer

Why Construction Sites in Queens Are So Dangerous

Construction sites are among the most hazardous workplaces in the state. Workers operate heavy machinery, handle power tools, perform tasks at dangerous heights, and work alongside electrical systems, often on tight schedules that create pressure to cut corners on safety. Queens’ density only compounds the risk: congested job sites, aging infrastructure, and major development projects running simultaneously create conditions where accidents happen regularly.

OSHA identifies four leading causes of construction fatalities nationwide: falls, struck-by-object incidents, electrocutions, and caught-in/between accidents. These “Fatal Four” account for the majority of construction deaths each year. In Queens and throughout New York City, violations of state safety standards are a leading contributor to serious injuries on job sites.

Common Construction Accident Injuries We Handle

Construction accidents can produce some of the most severe injuries in any field of personal injury law. At Jacoby & Meyers, our Queens construction accident lawyers regularly handle cases involving:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from falls or falling objects
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Broken bones and crush injuries
• Burns from electrical accidents or welding equipment
• Amputations and traumatic limb loss
• Lacerations and internal organ injuries
• Cicatrices y desfiguración
• Muerte por negligencia

Many of these injuries are life-altering. They affect not only the injured worker’s ability to earn a living, but the financial security and daily life of their entire family. Our construction injury attorneys work to ensure the full scope of those losses is accounted for in any claim.

New York Labor Laws that Protect Injured Construction Workers

New York State has some of the strongest construction safety laws in the country. Understanding which laws apply to your case can make a significant difference in your compensation.

Labor Law §240: The Scaffolding Law

New York Labor Law §240, commonly known as the Scaffolding Law, provides strict liability protection for construction workers injured in gravity-related accidents, meaning falls from height or being struck by falling objects. If you were injured in a fall from a scaffold, ladder, roof, or elevated platform, or if something fell on you from above, this law may apply to your case.

Under §240, property owners and general contractors are held strictly liable if they fail to provide adequate safety equipment, such as scaffolding, hoists, harnesses, ladders, or pulleys. This means the injured worker does not have to prove negligence, only that the required safety equipment was absent or inadequate.

Labor Law §241: General Construction Safety

Labor Law §241 requires property owners and general contractors to provide reasonable and adequate safety protections across virtually all construction, renovation, demolition, and excavation work. Like §240, it imposes strict liability for violations of the New York State Industrial Code.

Labor Law §200: General Duty to Provide a Safe Workplace

Labor Law §200 codifies the common-law obligation to maintain a reasonably safe worksite. Claims under this section typically require showing that the owner or contractor had notice of, and control over, the unsafe condition that caused the injury.

An experienced Queens construction accident attorney at Jacoby & Meyers will review the facts of your accident to determine which statute or statutes apply and how to build the strongest possible case under each.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Queens Construction Accident?

Un obrero de la construcción sube por una escalera y se dispone a reparar el tejado.

Construction sites involve many parties, and more than one of them may be responsible for your injuries. Potential defendants in a Queens construction accident case include:

• Contratistas generales
• Subcontratistas
• Property owners and developers
• Scaffolding and equipment companies
• Equipment and tool manufacturers (in product liability claims)
• Architects and engineers

Our attorneys conduct thorough investigations, reviewing contracts, site inspection records, OSHA reports, and eyewitness accounts, to identify every party that bears responsibility for your injuries.

Your Legal Options After a Construction Accident in Queens

Depending on your situation, you may have more than one pathway to compensation.

Indemnización por accidente laboral

If you are a construction worker injured on the job, you are generally entitled to file a workers’ compensation claim regardless of who was at fault. Workers’ comp covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages, typically up to two-thirds of your average weekly wage when you are fully unable to work. It does not, however, compensate for pain and suffering.

If your employer does not carry workers’ compensation insurance, they are violating New York law and can be held directly liable for your losses. Nearly all employers with at least one employee are required to carry workers’ comp coverage.

Third-Party Personal Injury Lawsuit

Workers’ compensation does not bar you from suing a third party, someone other than your direct employer, whose negligence contributed to your accident. A general contractor, property owner, equipment manufacturer, or subcontractor may all be named in a personal injury lawsuit. These claims can recover damages that workers’ comp does not cover, including pain and suffering, full lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity.

For injured visitors or bystanders on a Queens construction site, a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party is the primary path to compensation.

Seguridad Social por incapacidad

If your injuries are severe enough to prevent you from working long-term, you may also qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. Our team can advise you on whether SSD is a viable option in your case.

What Damages Can You Recover After a Construction Site Accident?

The damages available in a Queens construction accident case vary based on the nature and severity of your injuries, the legal theories that apply, and the parties involved. Compensation may include:

• All medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, and prescriptions
• Estimated future medical costs for ongoing treatment or permanent conditions
• Physical and occupational rehabilitation
• Assistive devices such as wheelchairs, prosthetics, or mobility aids
• Salarios perdidos no cubiertos por el seguro de accidentes de trabajo
• Pérdida de capacidad futura para obtener ingresos
• Home modification costs
• Dolor y sufrimiento
• Angustia mental y sufrimiento emocional
• Pérdida de calidad de vida
• Pérdida de consorcio
• Cicatrices y desfiguración
• Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct

Deadlines You Cannot Afford to Miss in a Construction Accident Lawsuit

New York’s statute of limitations gives most construction accident victims three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit against private parties. However, if a municipal entity, such as a city agency, the MTA, or a government contractor, is involved, you may have as little as 90 days to file a Notice of Claim, and shorter deadlines apply throughout.

For workers’ compensation, you must notify your employer of the injury within 30 days and file a formal claim with the state within two years. Missing these deadlines can bar you from recovering any compensation at all. Contact a Queens construction accident attorney as soon as possible after your injury to protect your rights.

Steps to Protect Your Construction Accident Claim

If you have been injured on a Queens construction site, the actions you take immediately afterward matter. Where possible:

1. Report the accident to your employer or site supervisor right away.
2. Seek medical attention and tell your doctor that the injury occurred on a construction site.
3. Document the scene with photos and video, including what caused the accident and any absent or damaged safety equipment.
4. Keep copies of all medical bills, pay stubs, and out-of-pocket expenses.
5. Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies before speaking with an attorney.
6. Contact Jacoby & Meyers, LLP for a free case evaluation.

Why Choose Jacoby & Meyers as Your Queens Construction Accident Law Firm?

Jacoby & Meyers, LLP has been one of New York’s most recognized personal injury firms for decades. Our construction accident law firm combines the resources of a large practice with the personal attention injured workers deserve. We are recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, not just for the size of our recoveries, but for the consistency with which we achieve them.

We work on a strict contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs and no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. That means you can pursue justice without worrying about how to pay for legal representation.