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What You Need To Know About NY Labor Laws

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Michael Lamonsoff, The Bull, video on construction accidents in NY

Know Your Rights with Michael "The Bull" Lamonsoff, NYC Personal Injury Lawyer

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I’ve Just Been Injured In a Construction Site Accident in NYC: What Do I Need to Know?

How Do I Pay My Medical Bills and Support Myself and/or My Family?

If a construction site accident occurs on the job, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation laws give you the right to cash payments for lost wages and reimbursement for all medical expenses incurred due to a workplace accident.

However, these benefits may be wholly inadequate. The payments will diminish as time goes on and will ultimately be cut off. In addition, the reimbursement of lost wages is far less than what the salary of the worker was before the accident happened.

Can I Bring a Lawsuit for My Injuries in New York?

Yes. In New York, injured construction workers can bring a lawsuit against a property owner or other negligent parties. To prevail in a legal claim, a construction worker’s lawyer must prove that the accident occurred because of a violation of one of New York’s construction site safety laws. Here are three key state laws that apply to your construction site accident:

  • New York Labor Law Section 240(1): Known as the ‘Scaffolding Law’, Labor Law 240(1) allows construction workers to hold property owners completely responsible for any falls from heights that occurred because of inadequate safety practices. This includes bodily injuries sustained either falling yourself, or being struck by falling objects/debris/construction material.
  • New York Labor Law Section 241(6): Under Labor Law 241(6), an injured construction worker can sue for specific violations of New York’s Industrial Code.
  • New York Labor Law Section 200: Labor Law 200 allows construction workers to sue defendants that fail to take reasonable safety precautions at worksites.

Who is Legally Responsible for My Construction Site Accident?

There are often multiple defendants in a New York construction site lawsuit. Landowners, developers, and other related parties can be held 100% responsible for injured workers.

This is especially true if OSHA rules and New York City Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) are violated. While the type and existence of multiple defendants can serve to complicate New York construction accident cases, they can also make them worth a lot of money when handled by a skilled lawyer.

What if I am an Undocumented Worker in NYC? What are My Rights?

Many undocumented workers injured at construction sites are afraid to bring a claim. However, your undocumented status cannot be considered in determining whether you are entitled to file for workers' compensation or a personal injury lawsuit.

If you are an undocumented worker and are injured, you have exactly the same rights as other New York City workers AND your status is protected and cannot be reported to authorities.

Call now for a free, confidential consultation with our winning team of construction accident attorneys in New York.

How Do I Choose the Right Attorney to Represent Me in My Lawsuit?

New York’s construction accident regulations are notoriously complex and the defendants are notoriously difficult. You need an aggressive and experienced construction accident attorney who knows how to fight for you.

Michael S. Lamonsoff, ‘The Bull’ and his team of highly trained and aggressive construction accident attorneys in New York City will never stop fighting for you. Call now for your free consultation to learn more.

If a construction site accident occurs on the job, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation laws give you the right to cash payments for lost wages and reimbursement for all medical expenses incurred due to a workplace accident.

However, these benefits may be wholly inadequate. The payments will diminish as time goes on and will ultimately be cut off. In addition, the reimbursement of lost wages is far less than what the salary of the worker was before the accident happened.

Yes. In New York, injured construction workers can bring a lawsuit against a property owner or other negligent parties. To prevail in a legal claim, a construction worker’s lawyer must prove that the accident occurred because of a violation of one of New York’s construction site safety laws. Here are three key state laws that apply to your construction site accident:

  • New York Labor Law Section 240(1): Known as the ‘Scaffolding Law’, Labor Law 240(1) allows construction workers to hold property owners completely responsible for any falls from heights that occurred because of inadequate safety practices. This includes bodily injuries sustained either falling yourself, or being struck by falling objects/debris/construction material.
  • New York Labor Law Section 241(6): Under Labor Law 241(6), an injured construction worker can sue for specific violations of New York’s Industrial Code.
  • New York Labor Law Section 200: Labor Law 200 allows construction workers to sue defendants that fail to take reasonable safety precautions at worksites.

There are often multiple defendants in a New York construction site lawsuit. Landowners, developers, and other related parties can be held 100% responsible for injured workers.

This is especially true if OSHA rules and New York City Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) are violated. While the type and existence of multiple defendants can serve to complicate New York construction accident cases, they can also make them worth a lot of money when handled by a skilled lawyer.

Many undocumented workers injured at construction sites are afraid to bring a claim. However, your undocumented status cannot be considered in determining whether you are entitled to file for workers' compensation or a personal injury lawsuit.

If you are an undocumented worker and are injured, you have exactly the same rights as other New York City workers AND your status is protected and cannot be reported to authorities.

Call now for a free, confidential consultation with our winning team of construction accident attorneys in New York.

New York’s construction accident regulations are notoriously complex and the defendants are notoriously difficult. You need an aggressive and experienced construction accident attorney who knows how to fight for you.

Michael S. Lamonsoff, ‘The Bull’ and his team of highly trained and aggressive construction accident attorneys in New York City will never stop fighting for you. Call now for your free consultation to learn more.

Construction Worker Accident Statistics in New York City

Statistics on Construction Accidents in NYC

From 2020 to 2023, New York City's construction industry saw notable fluctuations in incidents, injuries, and fatalities. Incidents decreased from 796 in 2020 to 752 in 2022 but rose again to 841 in 2023. Similarly, injuries dropped from 502 in 2020 to 505 in 2021 before increasing to 692 in 2023. Fatalities, however, remained relatively low, with 8 in 2020, 9 in 2021, and a rise to 11 in 2022, followed by a drop to 7 in 2023. These trends underscore the complex and evolving safety landscape in NYC's construction sector, highlighting the importance of ongoing safety measures and vigilance.

For more information, refer to this source.

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Man working on construction site with hammer and nail

Our Construction Accidents Lawyers Fight for the Rights of Union Workers

Union Workers built New York City. At the Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff, PLLC, our NYC construction accident attorneys have deep experience representing union members in construction site accidents. Some of our past and present clients are members of local building and construction trade unions including:

  • Construction and General Building Laborers Local 79
  • Laborers Local 78
  • Carpenters Local 157
  • Pavers & Roadbuilders Local 1010
  • Timbermen & Dockbuilders Local 1556
  • Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 1
  • Elevator Constructors Local 1
  • Concrete Carpenters Local 212
  • Laborers Local 66
  • Cement & Concrete Workers Local 6A
  • Tile Marble & Terrazzo B.A.C. Local 7
  • Iron Workers Local 580
  • Sheet Metal Workers Local 28
  • Metallic Lathers Local 46
  • Electrical Workers Local 3
  • Plumbers Local 1
  • Carpenters Local 45
  • Steamfitters Local 638
  • Building Concrete, Excavation & Common Laborers Local 731
  • Asbestos Workers Local 12A
  • Heat & Frost Insulators Local 12
  • Concrete Workers Local 20
  • Sheet Metal Workers Local 137
  • Carpenters Local 926
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