Can I File a Slip-and-Fall Lawsuit for a Workplace Injury in the Bronx?
If you slipped and fell at work, you might have suffered a brain injury that led to serious financial and psychological issues. Contact Cohan Law, PLLC to determine whether a slip-and-fall lawsuit in the Bronx might be possible. Our premises liability practice has secured significant recoveries for Bronx workers injured on third-party premises, including cases where a property owner, contractor, tenant, or other non-employer defendant failed to keep the worksite reasonably safe. Our New York City slip and fall accident lawyer provides free, confidential consultations to injured victims.
$36.4 Million Verdict for Undocumented Worker Who Slipped and Fell in the Bronx
In April of 2026, multiple sources reported that a worker in the Bronx had received the largest brain injury verdict in New York’s recent memory. The undocumented worker slipped and fell on a greasy ramp while trying to install a refrigerator at a supermarket, suffering a life-altering brain injury in the process.
Initially, the grocery store owner tried to dodge liability, claiming that the man’s direct employer was solely responsible for what happened. The defense counsel also attempted various other strategies, pointing out that the owner was not present to prevent the accident. Finally, the defendant accused the injured worker of exaggerating his injuries.
One of the more controversial defense strategies employed by the supermarket owner was to attack the injured victim’s credibility due to his legal status. The man was working without legal permission in the United States, earning cash via “under-the-table” payments. This strategy fell flat, and the jury returned a “nuclear verdict” to cover the victim’s damages. The verdict shows why third-party premises claims matter. Even when a worker receives cash wages, works for a separate employer, or faces credibility attacks from the defense, a property owner may still face liability if unsafe conditions on the premises caused the fall.
New York’s Scaffolding Law May Allow Lawsuits Involving Workplace Falls
New York’s Scaffolding Law is one potential pathway toward personal injury lawsuits for workplace falls. The law is more than 100 years old, and it may allow workers to “sidestep” the normal limitations of the workers’ compensation system. Under workers’ compensation law, employees cannot sue their employers directly, and they are limited to recovering only economic damages. However, New York Labor Law § 240 generally applies to elevation-related construction hazards involving owners, contractors, and their agents. It does not turn every workplace slip-and-fall into a Scaffold Law case, and it does not automatically allow a worker to sue a direct employer despite the workers’ compensation bar.
Workers Can Sue Third Parties for Falls on the Job
Another potential way to file a personal injury lawsuit after a fall is by holding third parties liable (not direct employers). This is what the aforementioned refrigerator installer decided to do, as he sued the supermarket owner instead of his direct employer. As long as someone other than your direct employer caused or contributed to your fall, you may be able to sue them directly. In a Bronx workplace fall case, a third-party defendant could include a building owner, store owner, tenant, general contractor, subcontractor, property manager, cleaning contractor, maintenance company, or equipment provider.
That distinction matters. Workers’ compensation may provide medical and wage benefits, but a third-party lawsuit can allow an injured victim to pursue broader damages, including pain and suffering. Cohan Law can investigate who controlled the property, who created the hazard, who had notice of the dangerous condition, and whether a non-employer defendant can be held responsible.
Key Takeaways
- Despite the limitations of workers’ compensation, a slip-and-fall lawsuit might still be possible for workplace injuries in the Bronx
- A recent slip-and-fall lawsuit in the Bronx led to a $36.4 million verdict for a worker
- New York’s Scaffolding Law may allow victims to sue owners, contractors, or their agents for certain elevation-related falls
- Many workplace slip-and-fall claims depend on whether a third party, rather than the direct employer, caused or contributed to the dangerous condition
Can a Slip-and-Fall Lawyer in the Bronx Help Me?
Although workers’ compensation could be an issue for some workers, there are many ways to file a slip-and-fall lawsuit after a workplace accident in New York. The Scaffolding Law provides one option, while workers can also sue third-party contractors for causing accidents.
Suffering from a brain injury after a workplace slip-and-fall in the Bronx? Contact the New York premises liability lawyers at Cohan Law, PLLC to learn more about your options during a free consultation. We can determine whether you have a workers’ compensation claim, a third-party premises liability claim, a Labor Law claim, or more than one path to compensation.
Sources:
law.com/newyorklawjournal/2026/03/26/New-York-Jury-Awards-States-Largest-Premises-Liability-Verdict-Since-2018/
nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/LAB/240