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Meet Our Dedicated Legal Team
At John Onal Injury Law, our team of seasoned personal injury attorneys and legal professionals is here to fight for you. We know how life-altering an injury can be, and our mission is to help you secure the compensation you deserve to rebuild your life. With years of experience in handling a wide range of personal injury cases—from car accidents and slip-and-falls to workplace injuries and medical malpractice—our team brings both legal expertise and genuine compassion to every case.
We pride ourselves on our personalized approach. We take the time to understand your unique situation, tailoring our legal strategies to meet your specific needs. Our goal is not just to win your case, but to ensure you feel supported and confident throughout the legal process.
Explore the profiles of our dedicated team members below to learn more about the people who will be tirelessly advocating for your rights.
New York gives injured construction workers statutory protections that change how construction claims are evaluated from the very beginning. Under the state's Labor Law, property owners and general contractors may face strict liability for certain elevation-related injuries. The injured worker does not need to prove traditional negligence to hold them accountable.
That framework creates legal options that go well beyond workers' compensation and sets New York apart from states where construction claims rely entirely on proving someone was careless.
For workers injured on job sites across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, understanding how these statutes apply is the first step toward evaluating available claims.
Our New York construction accident lawyers at Onal Injury Law handle serious cases involving Labor Law violations, multi-party liability, and catastrophic injuries on complex urban job sites. If a construction accident left you facing medical costs and questions about your legal options, contact our team for a free consultation.
Why Choose Onal Injury Law for New York Construction Accident Cases?
New York construction accident claims involve statutory frameworks, multi-party liability, and evidence requirements that demand structured preparation and sustained attention.
Our firm handles these cases with a deliberate approach built around thorough investigation and consistent communication.
Accountability That Runs Through the Entire Case
Each construction accident case at our firm has one attorney who leads the investigation, manages the legal strategy, and remains the direct point of contact throughout. That attorney reviews site conditions, contract chains, and safety records before setting the direction of the case.
Our clients always know who is handling their file and how to reach that person. Responsibility for the case is defined at the beginning and does not shift as the matter develops.
Selective About the Work We Take On
We accept construction accident cases that involve serious injuries, complex liability questions, or disputes over how New York's Labor Law applies to the facts. That focus allows us to commit the time and resources each case requires.
We provide free consultations and handle construction accident cases on a contingency fee basis, with fees tied to the outcome of the case.
What Is the Difference Between Workers' Comp and a Construction Lawsuit in New York?
Many injured construction workers believe workers' compensation is their only option. In New York, that assumption overlooks significant statutory protections that may apply.
What Workers' Compensation Provides
Workers' comp covers medical treatment and partial wage replacement without requiring the worker to prove fault. In exchange, it generally bars the worker from suing their direct employer.
The benefits follow a formula and do not include compensation for pain and suffering or the full scope of lost earning capacity.
When a Lawsuit Applies
A civil lawsuit against parties other than the employer may proceed alongside the workers' comp claim. Property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and equipment providers are not protected by the workers' comp bar and may face statutory or negligence-based claims.
The dual-claim structure means an injured worker may receive workers' comp benefits and separately pursue damages that workers' comp does not address. These include pain and suffering, the full amount of lost wages, and compensation for long-term disability.
The workers' comp carrier may hold a lien against part of the lawsuit recovery. Our firm manages both tracks and coordinates the lien calculation to protect the injured worker's overall recovery.
Contact us to evaluate whether your construction accident supports a claim beyond workers' compensation.
What Compensation Goes Beyond Workers' Comp in a New York Construction Case?
A successful construction accident lawsuit opens the door to damages that the workers' compensation system does not provide. For workers with serious injuries, the difference between the two is often significant.
A statutory or third-party claim may pursue:
- The full amount of lost wages and benefits, past and future
- Pain and suffering related to the injury and recovery process
- Diminished quality of life and loss of daily independence
- Future medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care
- Loss of household services and family contributions
A young laborer with a spinal injury faces decades of diminished earning capacity and potential care needs. Documenting those losses requires analysis from vocational specialists and life care planners.
Our firm retains these professionals during the early stages of investigation, building the damages picture before negotiations begin rather than assembling it under deadline pressure.
What Is the Scaffold Law and How Does It Protect Injured Workers?
Labor Law § 240, known as the Scaffold Law, is the most powerful legal tool available to construction workers injured in New York. It applies specifically to elevation-related risks and imposes a level of liability on property owners and general contractors that goes far beyond ordinary negligence.
How Section 240 Works
Labor Law § 240(1) requires property owners and general contractors to furnish proper safety devices for workers exposed to elevation-related hazards. These include scaffolding, harnesses, safety nets, ladders, and hoists.
When the owner or contractor fails to provide adequate protection and a worker falls or is struck by a falling object, strict liability may apply.
In practical terms, the injured worker does not need to prove that the owner or contractor acted carelessly. The failure to provide proper safety equipment is the central issue.
If a worker falls from an unsecured scaffold on a Manhattan high-rise because no harness was provided, the property owner may be held liable under Section 240 even without direct knowledge that the harness was missing.
These statutory protections set New York apart from most states, where construction claims typically require proof of negligence against each defendant.
What the Scaffold Law Covers
Section 240 applies to a defined set of gravity-related risks. These include falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and elevated platforms, as well as injuries from falling objects like tools, building materials, or structural components dropping from above.
The statute does not cover every construction injury, only those tied to elevation hazards where inadequate safety equipment is the cause.
Reach out to our team to discuss whether your injury falls within the Scaffold Law's protections.
How Does Labor Law § 241(6) Apply to Construction Accidents?
Section 241(6) creates a separate legal pathway for construction workers injured due to unsafe site conditions. Unlike the Scaffold Law, it is not limited to elevation-related risks. It covers a broader range of hazards found on construction, demolition, and excavation sites.
The Industrial Code Connection
Labor Law § 241(6) requires property owners and general contractors to comply with specific safety rules set out in the New York Industrial Code. The Code contains detailed regulations covering trench shoring, protective equipment, passageway clearances, and dozens of other site-specific standards.
When a worker is injured because a specific Industrial Code provision was violated, Section 241(6) provides a basis for the claim. The injured worker must identify the particular regulation that was broken and connect that violation to the injury.
A Practical Example
If the Industrial Code requires guardrails on open-sided floors above a certain height and no guardrails were installed, a worker who falls from that floor may bring a claim under Section 241(6).
The claim rests on the specific code violation rather than a general argument about carelessness. Our firm reviews the applicable Industrial Code provisions during the early case evaluation to determine which regulations apply.
Who May Be Held Liable Under New York's Construction Statutes?
New York's Labor Law assigns responsibility based on each party's role in the project, not solely on their direct involvement in the accident. That statutory framework means parties who never set foot on the job site may still face liability.
Parties that may face liability in a New York construction accident include:
- Property owners, who bear statutory duties under Sections 240 and 241 regardless of daily site involvement
- General contractors responsible for site coordination and safety compliance
- Subcontractors whose work or equipment created the hazardous condition
- Equipment manufacturers whose defective products caused or worsened the injury
- Architects or engineers whose design decisions contributed to unsafe conditions
Under Sections 240 and 241, the statutory duty falls on owners and general contractors by operation of law.
A building owner in Brooklyn who hires a general contractor and never visits the site may still face liability under the Scaffold Law if a worker is injured by an elevation-related hazard and proper safety equipment was not provided.
Labor Law § 200 and General Negligence
Labor Law § 200 applies to general unsafe conditions on a job site. Unlike Sections 240 and 241, a claim under Section 200 requires showing that the responsible party either controlled the work that led to the injury or had notice of the hazardous condition and failed to correct it.
This provision covers a wider range of accidents but requires more from the injured worker in terms of proof.
Construction Accidents Across New York City's Active Job Sites
New York City's construction environment is one of the most active and complex in the country. The volume of vertical construction, infrastructure work, and renovation projects creates daily exposure to elevation hazards, heavy equipment, and coordination challenges across multiple contractors.
High-Rise and Commercial Development
Manhattan and Brooklyn lead the city in high-rise construction activity. Projects involving steel erection, concrete forming, and facade installation produce the elevation-related hazards that Labor Law § 240 was designed to address.
The New York City Department of Buildings oversees safety compliance on these sites and publishes enforcement data tied to violations and accidents.
Infrastructure and Transit Projects
Bridge repairs, subway maintenance, and highway construction across the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn expose workers to combined risks of elevation, heavy machinery, and traffic proximity. Construction remains one of the most hazardous industries in the state.
Filing Deadlines
The statute of limitations for construction accident claims in New York is three years from the date of injury under CPLR § 214.
Claims involving government-owned properties or publicly funded projects may require a notice of claim within 90 days under General Municipal Law § 50-e. Missing either deadline may permanently bar the claim.
Reach out to our team to discuss the facts of your construction accident and the deadlines that apply.
FAQs for New York Construction Accident Claims
What if I was not wearing safety equipment that was available on site?
Under Section 240, the property owner and general contractor bear the duty to provide and enforce proper safety devices. A worker's failure to use equipment that was available may be raised as a defense, but the statutory duty lies with the owner and contractor.
Courts evaluate whether the equipment was genuinely provided, adequate for the task, and whether the worker received proper instruction.
What if I am an undocumented worker?
New York's Labor Law protections apply regardless of immigration status. An injured construction worker may pursue a claim under Sections 240, 241, or 200 without regard to documentation. Workers' compensation benefits are also available regardless of status.
What if my employer pressures me not to pursue a claim?
Workers' compensation law prohibits retaliation for filing a claim. A third-party lawsuit is filed against parties other than the employer, so the employer has no direct role in that proceeding. Pressure from an employer does not affect the legal right to pursue either claim.
What is the difference between Section 240 and Section 241(6)?
Section 240 addresses elevation-related hazards and imposes strict liability for failure to provide proper safety devices. Section 241(6) covers broader site conditions and requires identifying a specific Industrial Code violation.
Both provisions may apply in the same case depending on the circumstances of the accident.
What if the construction site was owned by the city or a public agency?
Claims against government entities require a notice of claim filed within 90 days. The lawsuit must then be filed within one year and 90 days. These compressed deadlines apply regardless of the standard three-year limitations period.
Construction accidents on publicly owned sites, including schools, transit facilities, and municipal buildings, follow these rules.
Your Claim Depends on the Details, and So Does Our Approach
A construction injury affects a worker's livelihood, physical health, and family stability. New York's Labor Law provides legal protections that most states do not offer, but accessing those protections requires understanding how the statutes apply to the specific facts of the accident. That analysis is where every case at our firm begins.
Onal Injury Law handles construction accident cases on a contingency fee basis, with fees tied to the outcome of the case. Consultations are free, and our process starts with a thorough review of site conditions, the parties involved, and the statutes that apply.
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201-335-6788 or contact us online to speak with our team about your New York construction accident case.
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