Construction Accidents
Bronx Construction Accident Lawyer
Hurt on a job site? New York gives construction workers some of the strongest legal protections in the country. You may be able to sue the property owner or general contractor even while you collect workers' comp — and your immigration status does not take that right away. Free consultation, 24 hours a day. You pay nothing unless we win.
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Tell us what happened.
A few lines is enough to start. We will call you back and tell you honestly whether you have a case.
- Free consultation. No fee unless we win.
- We answer 24/7 — English and Spanish.
- Home and hospital visits available.
Prefer to talk now? (718) 409-5500
Hurt on a construction site? You have more rights than you think.
Construction workers build the Bronx. And every day, they do one of the most dangerous jobs in New York. Falls from scaffolds and ladders, falling tools and debris, live wires, heavy machines — when something goes wrong on a job site, the injuries are often serious. One accident can stop your paycheck, fill your mailbox with medical bills, and leave your whole family worried about what comes next.
Here is what many injured workers are never told: workers' compensation is usually not your only option. New York's Labor Law lets many injured construction workers bring a separate lawsuit against the property owner or the general contractor — the companies that were supposed to keep the site safe. That lawsuit can cover things workers' comp never pays, like your pain and the full wages you lose.
Evan W. Kohn was born and raised in the Bronx and has spent more than 35 years representing injured people here. If you are looking for a construction accident lawyer near you, our office is at 2000 White Plains Road, right under the elevated train. Our staff speaks Spanish, Bengali, Greek, and Albanian. If you cannot come to us, we come to you — at home or in the hospital. The consultation is free, and we only get paid if we win for you.
Construction accidents we handle
These are the accidents we see most often on Bronx job sites. Each one has its own safety rules — and its own way of holding the owner and contractor responsible.
Scaffold Falls
Scaffolds are supposed to be built, braced, and inspected before anyone climbs them. When a scaffold shifts, tips, or is missing guardrails and a worker falls, New York's Scaffold Law (Labor Law 240) usually makes the owner and general contractor responsible. These falls cause some of the worst injuries we see — broken bones, spine damage, and head trauma.
Ladder Falls
A ladder that slips, wobbles, breaks, or is simply the wrong ladder for the job is not a small thing — it is a safety failure. If you fell because a ladder was defective, unsecured, or you were never given the right equipment for work at a height, the Scaffold Law protects you. It does not matter that "everyone uses ladders like that" on the site.
Falling Debris and Dropped Objects
Bricks, tools, pipes, beams — anything that falls from above can change a life in one second. The law requires netting, toe boards, barricades, and secured hoisting so materials do not rain down on workers below. When something falls because it was not secured, that is a gravity-related accident covered by Labor Law 240.
Electrocution Injuries
Exposed wiring, live circuits that were never shut off, power tools with damaged cords, and equipment that touches overhead lines cause burns, nerve damage, and cardiac injuries. New York's Industrial Code has strict rules about electricity on job sites, and violating those rules can support a claim under Labor Law 241(6).
Machinery and Equipment Injuries
Saws without guards, nail guns, hoists, compactors, and forklifts hurt workers when guards are removed, training is skipped, or broken equipment stays in use. Crush injuries and amputations from machines are devastating. We investigate who owned the machine, who maintained it, and which safety rules were ignored.
Construction Vehicle Collisions
Dump trucks, backhoes, bobcats, and delivery trucks move constantly through tight Bronx sites and the streets around them. Workers get struck by backing vehicles with no spotter, no alarms, or no flagging. These cases can involve both the Labor Law and regular traffic-accident claims — sometimes against more than one company.
How the law treats each kind of site accident
Every construction accident case starts with the same question: which safety rule was broken, and who was responsible for following it? Here is how New York law looks at the accidents above — in plain language.
Falls from scaffolds and ladders
Falls from a height are exactly what Labor Law 240 — the Scaffold Law — was written for. The owner and general contractor have an absolute duty to give workers proper protection: solid scaffolds, secure ladders, harnesses, and anchor points. If that protection was missing or failed and you fell, they are liable. They cannot escape by blaming you, your foreman, or a subcontractor.
Falling debris and dropped objects
The Scaffold Law works in both directions of gravity. It covers workers who fall, and it covers workers hit by objects that fall because they were not hoisted or secured the right way. If a brick, tool, or beam came down on you, we look at how it was stored, who was working above, and what protection — netting, toe boards, barricades — should have been there.
Electrocution on the job site
Electrical injuries usually come down to Industrial Code violations: live parts left exposed, no lockout before work began, damaged cords and tools, or digging and lifting too close to power lines. Those specific code rules are what make a Labor Law 241(6) claim work. Electrical burns and shocks also cause hidden injuries — to nerves and the heart — so early medical care matters as much as the legal case.
Machinery accidents
Machine cases turn on guards, maintenance, and training. Was the blade guard removed to work faster? Was the hoist overdue for inspection? Was the worker ever trained on that machine, in a language he or she understands? The Industrial Code and OSHA standards set the rules, and Labor Law 200 and 241(6) let us hold the responsible companies to them.
Struck by construction vehicles
When a truck or machine hits a worker on or near the site, there may be two cases in one: a Labor Law case about how the site was run, and a vehicle-accident case with its own insurance coverage. More coverage can matter a great deal when injuries are serious. We sort out every policy that applies so nothing is left on the table.
How it works
What we do for injured construction workers
You focus on healing. We take over everything else, step by step.
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01
We investigate the site — fast
Job sites change by the day. Scaffolds come down, equipment gets repaired, debris gets cleared. We move quickly to photograph the scene, preserve the equipment, find witnesses, and get accident reports before the evidence disappears.
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02
We handle the workers' comp and insurance paperwork
Deadlines, forms, hearings, adjusters — we deal with all of it so a missed paper never hurts your case. If you also have a workers' comp claim, we make sure the two cases work together, not against each other.
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03
We build your Labor Law case
We identify every responsible party — owner, general contractor, subcontractors — and every safety rule that was broken. We work with doctors to document your injuries and what they mean for your future work and wages.
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04
We negotiate — and litigate when they will not pay fairly
Most cases settle without a trial. But insurance companies pay attention to law firms that are ready to go to court. If they will not offer what your case is worth, we file suit and keep fighting.
After an Accident
What to do after a construction accident
- Get medical care right away — even if you think you can "walk it off." Some serious injuries show up days later, and the medical record protects you.
- Report the accident to your supervisor or foreman as soon as you can. For workers' comp, you should notify your employer within 30 days.
- If you can, take photos of what hurt you — the scaffold, ladder, wire, machine, or vehicle — and the area around it before it is fixed or removed.
- Get the names and phone numbers of coworkers who saw what happened.
- Keep your boots, harness, hard hat, and any broken equipment. Do not repair or throw anything away.
- Do not sign papers or give a recorded statement to any insurance company before you talk to a lawyer.
- Call us at (718) 409-5500 — free consultation, 24/7, in your language. We can visit you at home or in the hospital.
New York's Scaffold Law: real protection for construction workers
New York protects construction workers better than almost any state. Two laws matter most, and both are easier to understand than they sound.
Labor Law 240 — the "Scaffold Law." If gravity played a part in your accident — you fell from a height, or something fell on you — and proper safety protection was missing or failed, the property owner and general contractor are responsible. Lawyers call this "absolute liability." In plain words: they cannot point the finger back at you. Even if the insurance company says the accident was partly your fault, that defense does not work under the Scaffold Law.
Labor Law 241(6). New York's Industrial Code is a detailed rulebook for construction, demolition, and excavation sites — rules about wiring, machine guards, trenches, debris, lighting, and much more. When a specific rule was broken and you were hurt because of it, section 241(6) lets you hold the owner and general contractor responsible, even if your direct employer was the one cutting corners.
Workers' comp is not the end of the story. Workers' compensation pays some medical bills and part of your lost wages, but it never pays for your pain and suffering — and you generally cannot sue your own employer. What many workers never learn is that the Labor Law lets you sue the property owner and general contractor as a separate case, at the same time as your comp claim. You can learn more on our workers' compensation page. In many construction cases, the lawsuit is worth far more than the comp claim.
Undocumented workers have these rights too. We want to say this plainly, because so many injured workers are afraid to ask: your immigration status does not take away your right to bring a construction accident case in New York. The courts have made this clear. You can be compensated for your injuries and lost wages even if you do not have papers, and even if you were paid in cash. Coming to our office to ask questions is safe, private, and free. Everyone is welcome here.
Deadlines matter. In most New York construction accident cases, you have three years from the accident to file a lawsuit. But some deadlines are much shorter: workers' comp requires notice to your employer within 30 days and a claim within two years, and if a government agency owns the property, a notice of claim may be due within just 90 days. Evidence also disappears fast on an active site. The sooner you call, the more we can protect.
Construction accident questions, answered
Can I sue if I am already getting workers' comp?
I do not have papers. Can I still bring a case?
The accident was partly my fault. Do I still have a case?
What can a lawsuit pay for that workers' comp does not?
How much does a construction accident lawyer cost?
How long do I have to start a case?
In their words
What our clients say
From the Bronx, for the Bronx — read what your neighbors say about working with us.
Mr. Kohn was absolutely phenomenal in making sure I get the most out of my case. He made sure all of my injuries were taken care of first and foremost. If you want a hefty sum of cash, have some patience and trust him. Thank you and to everyone at your office for your help !
I highly recommend Evan kohn, very professional and friendly staff, they settled my case, I got twice of the money that the insurance was trying to settle with me for.
This was the most carefree situation. The office was very supportive. I had a public balance with another entity and the lawyer handled it while negotiating a final payment of substantially less than what was being asked of me. Thank guys you all are awesome.
Mr.Kohn and his team took very amazing care of me during a time of a traumatic event. I would definitely recommend his care if you were in a vehicle accident. Mr.Kohn and staff are respectful, caring and virtuous! Thank you for your services!!
The staff at Evan Kohn Law Firm are very knowledgeable, meticulous, and professional. They provided me with excellent service. Mr. Kohn is the best accident Attorney in New York. He delivers big and quick settlements. I would recommend him …
Mr.Kohn, Ms.Antonetta, Ms.Debbie and Ms.Eddyth are the very best of the best. They are the most compassionate, professional, and thorough team. Mr.Kohn has helped me not once but twice and worked so hard to get me the justice I deserve. I …
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Hurt on a construction site? Talk to us today.
Free consultation, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We speak Spanish, Bengali, Greek, and Albanian. Home and hospital visits available. You pay nothing unless we win.