Brooklyn Construction Accident Lawyer

Here is something most injured workers never realize until it is too late: New York Labor Law Sections 240 and 241 create what courts call “absolute liability,” meaning that certain property owners and general contractors can be held fully responsible for a construction accident even if the injured worker was partially at fault. This is not the case in most other states, and it fundamentally changes how these claims are built and won. If you were hurt on a job site, understanding this distinction could be the difference between recovering full compensation or walking away with nothing. A Brooklyn construction accident lawyer at Cohan Law Firm has recovered over $100 million for accident victims across New York City, and our team knows how to use every advantage the law provides on your behalf.

Why Construction Sites in Brooklyn Present Unique Legal Challenges

Brooklyn is in the middle of one of the most sustained construction booms in its history. From the massive mixed-use developments rising along the waterfront in Greenpoint and Williamsburg to the residential towers transforming Flatbush and Crown Heights, job sites are everywhere. Atlantic Yards, the ongoing redevelopment around Pacific Street, and the constant infrastructure work on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway keep thousands of workers active on scaffolding, cranes, trenches, and elevated platforms every single day. More active job sites mean more opportunity for negligence to cause serious harm.

What makes these cases legally complex is the web of parties typically involved. A single construction project in Brooklyn may have a building owner, a developer, a general contractor, multiple subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, and a staffing agency all connected to the same site. When an accident happens, each of these parties will have their own insurance company and their own attorneys working quickly to minimize exposure. The injured worker is often left navigating that web alone while recovering from serious injuries. Cohan Law Firm steps in to cut through that complexity, investigate the full chain of responsibility, and build the strongest possible case.

New York’s Industrial Code, particularly Rule 23, imposes specific safety requirements on construction operations. Violations of those regulations can serve as direct evidence of negligence in a civil lawsuit. Our attorneys are familiar with those standards, and we use expert consultants when needed to document exactly how a job site fell short of what the law demands.

How an Attorney Builds a Strong Construction Accident Claim

The foundation of a successful construction accident case is the investigation, and it has to begin fast. Evidence disappears quickly on active job sites. Scaffolding gets dismantled. Equipment gets repaired or replaced. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. The moment Cohan Law Firm takes a case, we move to preserve evidence through formal legal demands, secure photographs and inspection reports, and identify every witness who saw the conditions that led to the accident. This early work is what separates recoverable cases from ones where critical proof has been lost.

One of the most powerful tools available in New York construction accident cases is the Labor Law Section 240 “scaffold law.” This provision holds owners and general contractors strictly liable when a worker is injured in a gravity-related accident, whether that means a fall from a ladder, a scaffold collapse, an object falling from above, or an unsecured load striking a worker below. Courts have interpreted this law broadly, and an experienced attorney knows how to frame the facts of a case to fall within its protections. Defense teams aggressively argue that injured workers were “recalcitrant” or that the accident was unforeseeable. Cohan Law Firm anticipates those arguments and builds the evidence to defeat them before they gain traction.

Beyond the Labor Law claims, our attorneys evaluate whether a third-party personal injury action is available alongside any workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation provides limited benefits and bars lawsuits against direct employers. However, when a negligent party other than the employer contributed to the accident, a separate civil lawsuit can pursue compensation for pain and suffering, full lost wages, and long-term disability. Identifying that third-party liability is often where the most significant financial recovery is found.

Common Construction Accidents and the Injuries They Cause

The types of accidents Cohan Law Firm handles on Brooklyn construction sites run the full range of what New York’s most active job sites produce. Scaffold collapses and ladder falls are among the most common, and they frequently result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal fractures, and permanent disability. Trench and excavation cave-ins, which are tragically common when proper shoring is skipped to save time, can trap workers under hundreds of pounds of soil and cause fatal crush injuries. Crane collapses, forklift accidents, and electrocution incidents round out the list of catastrophic events that occur when proper protocols are ignored.

Burns and amputations represent two of the most life-altering injury categories we see. Workers exposed to live electrical lines, faulty equipment, or chemical hazards without adequate safety gear can suffer devastating burns requiring multiple surgeries and long-term rehabilitation. Amputations, whether caused by unguarded machinery or crush accidents, create permanent changes that affect every aspect of a person’s life and livelihood. These injuries demand compensation that accounts not just for today’s medical bills, but for decades of ongoing care, adaptive equipment, and the loss of earning capacity.

Head and brain injuries deserve particular attention because their consequences are often invisible at first. A worker may feel disoriented after a hard-hat impact but push through the rest of the shift, not realizing the severity of what happened. Symptoms of traumatic brain injury can worsen over days or weeks. Cohan Law Firm always advises clients to seek immediate medical attention after any construction site impact, and we work with medical experts who can document the full scope of neurological injuries that insurance companies routinely undervalue.

What the Defense Will Try and How We Counter It

Insurance carriers representing construction defendants deploy predictable strategies to reduce or eliminate their financial exposure. The most common is comparative negligence, the argument that the injured worker contributed to their own accident by ignoring safety procedures, failing to use provided equipment, or taking unnecessary risks. In New York, comparative fault can reduce a plaintiff’s recovery, so defendants push this angle hard. Cohan Law Firm counters this by documenting the actual safety conditions on site, the training or lack of training provided, and the extent to which the employer or contractor created conditions that made safe work impossible.

Defendants also frequently dispute the severity of injuries, hiring their own medical experts to argue that a worker’s condition is exaggerated or unrelated to the accident. We prepare for this by ensuring our clients have thorough and consistent medical documentation from credible treating physicians. We also work with vocational and economic experts when necessary to present a clear, documented picture of how the injury has affected our client’s ability to earn income over their remaining working years.

Another defense tactic is delay. Large construction defendants and their insurers often have the resources to drag out litigation, hoping that injured workers will accept inadequate settlements out of financial desperation. Cohan Law Firm operates on a contingency fee basis. No win, no fee. We bear the financial weight of the litigation so that our clients are not pressured into accepting less than they deserve.

Brooklyn Construction Accident FAQs

Can I sue my employer if I was hurt on a construction site?

In most cases, workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy against a direct employer in New York. However, if other parties such as a general contractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer contributed to the accident, you may have a separate personal injury lawsuit against those parties that can yield significantly greater compensation including pain and suffering damages that workers’ comp does not cover.

What is New York Labor Law Section 240 and does it apply to my case?

Section 240, commonly called the scaffold law, imposes absolute liability on property owners and general contractors when workers are injured in gravity-related accidents on construction sites. If you fell from a ladder, scaffold, roof, or elevated surface, or if an object fell and struck you, this law may create a strong basis for recovery regardless of any claimed fault on your part.

How long do I have to file a construction accident lawsuit in New York?

The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in New York is three years from the date of the accident. However, if a government entity owns or controls the property where the accident occurred, a notice of claim must be filed within 90 days. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your ability to recover compensation, so acting promptly matters.

What if I am an undocumented worker? Can I still make a claim?

Yes. New York law protects all workers regardless of immigration status. Undocumented workers have the same rights to workers’ compensation benefits and to pursue personal injury claims as any other worker. Cohan Law Firm handles these cases with full confidentiality and respect for our clients’ privacy concerns.

What compensation can I recover after a construction accident?

Through a personal injury lawsuit, you may recover compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and in some cases, punitive damages when the conduct was especially reckless. The total value of a case depends heavily on the severity of the injury, the strength of the liability evidence, and the parties involved.

How much does it cost to hire Cohan Law Firm for a construction accident case?

Cohan Law Firm handles construction accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs and no legal fees unless we win your case. You can consult with our team for free with no obligation.

What should I do immediately after a construction accident on a Brooklyn job site?

Report the accident to your supervisor and ensure an incident report is created. Seek medical attention immediately, even if symptoms seem minor. Take photographs of the conditions that caused the accident if it is safe to do so. Collect the names and contact information of any witnesses. Avoid signing any documents from an insurance company or employer before speaking with an attorney, as early statements can be used to minimize your claim later.

Serving Throughout Brooklyn and New York City

Cohan Law Firm represents injured construction workers throughout Brooklyn and across the surrounding boroughs. Whether you were hurt at a job site in Bushwick, Red Hook, Bay Ridge, or East New York, our team is ready to step in and advocate for you. We serve clients from Crown Heights to Canarsie, from Sunset Park to Borough Park, and from Carroll Gardens to Brownsville. Our reach extends into Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens as well, covering the full scope of New York City’s active construction corridors. Workers injured along major thoroughfares like Flatbush Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, or near the Brooklyn Navy Yard have come to our firm for help, and we bring the same level of commitment to every case regardless of where in the city it originates.

Contact a Brooklyn Construction Injury Attorney Today

A serious construction accident changes everything. It stops your income, strains your family, and leaves you facing a legal system that can feel designed to work against you. The team at Cohan Law Firm has recovered over $100 million for accident victims throughout New York City, and our construction accident attorneys are prepared to fight for everything you are owed. We call you, we keep you informed, and we treat every client with the dignity they deserve from the first consultation through the final resolution. Reach out to our Brooklyn construction injury attorney team today for a free and confidential consultation, and let us handle the legal fight while you focus on getting better.