Experienced Construction Accident Attorneys in Long Island, New York

At Resnick & Associates, our Long Island construction accident attorneys know the Island is divided among four counties, with Kings, Queens, and Nassau occupying its western third and Suffolk its eastern two-thirds, constituting a substantial share of the New York metropolitan area.

According to the New York State Department of Labor, construction is booming on Long Island because of its sizeable population of 2.8 million and its land mass, including new workforce housing and transit-oriented mixed-use developments. Investment in infrastructure to support these new projects, including sewers, roads, and bridges, also boosts construction activity.

The region’s healthcare industry has also undergone several expansion and renovation projects. Over the next decade, the impending retirement of many baby boomers will contribute to job opportunities in this industry, especially among the skilled trades.

Unfortunately, more construction industry projects and jobs can mean more accidents, injuries, and fatalities caused by negligence in an inherently dangerous environment. This is why we are here.

If you have been injured in a construction accident in New York, contact our skilled Long Island personal injury attorneys today to discuss your case and how the incident has impacted your life. Our experienced lawyers offer free consultations to all personal injury victims throughout Long Island and take all qualifying cases on a contingency basis, so you pay no upfront or out-of-pocket fees and nothing if we do not win your case.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Construction Accidents on Long Island, New York?

Construction accidents, injuries, and fatalities on Long Island, New York, can result from various factors, often due to the inherently hazardous nature of construction work.

Here are some of the most common causes:

• Falls From Heights: Falls from ladders, scaffolding, roofs, and other elevated areas are a leading cause of severe injuries and fatalities in construction.
• Same-Level Falls: Slips, trips, and falls on flat surfaces due to uneven ground, debris, or slippery conditions.
• Struck-by Falling Objects: Tools, materials, or equipment falling from heights and striking workers below.
• Moving Vehicles or Equipment: Being struck by construction vehicles, forklifts, cranes, or other machinery on-site.
• Caught-in/between Accidents with Machinery: Workers caught in or compressed by heavy machinery or equipment.
• Collapsing Structures: Walls, trenches, or scaffolding collapsing and trapping workers.
• Electrocutions: Contact with overhead or buried power lines while operating equipment or handling materials or improperly installed or exposed electrical wiring and components causing shocks or electrocutions.
• Scaffolding Accidents: Inadequately assembled or secured scaffolding can lead to collapses or the lack of guardrails, toe boards, or personal fall arrest systems.
• Trench and Excavation Collapse: Trenches or excavations not adequately shored or sloped lead to cave-ins or lack trench boxes or supports to prevent collapses.
• Heavy Equipment Accidents: Crane collapses, tip-overs, boom failures causing injuries, or the improper operation or maintenance of forklifts leading to tip-overs or collisions.
• Tool and Equipment Malfunctions: Faulty or poorly maintained tools and machinery causing accidents, misusing tools or equipment, or without proper training.
• Hazardous Materials Exposure: Contact with harmful chemicals, asbestos, or toxic substances can cause injuries or illnesses, and inhaling harmful dust, fumes, or gases can lead to respiratory issues.
• Lack of Proper Training: Workers are not adequately trained in safety procedures or the use of equipment or have an insufficient understanding of job site hazards and how to mitigate them.
• Poor Site Management: Absence of enforced safety procedures and protocols on the construction site or inadequate oversight by supervisors or managers to ensure safety compliance.

Although not an exhaustive list of construction accidents that can lead to severe injuries and fatalities, these Long Island construction accidents can change the lives of employees, contractors, subcontractors, bystanders, and the general public without warning.

If you have been injured because of a person or party’s negligence on a worksite, contact our skilled Long Island construction accident attorneys to learn more about your legal rights and options to pursue a personal injury claim against the liable party—or combination of parties—during a free consultation.

Can I Sue My Long Island, New York Employer if I Have Been Injured During a Construction Accident?

Whether you can sue your employer for a construction accident with injuries on Long Island, New York, depends on several factors. Generally, New York’s workers’ compensation system benefits employees injured but limits the ability to sue employers directly.

Situations where you can sue your Long Island employer may include:

• Third-Party Lawsuits: If a third party (someone other than your employer or a co-worker) caused your injury, you can sue that third party. For example, if you were injured by defective equipment, you could sue the manufacturer.
• Premises Liability: If you were injured on a job site not owned or controlled by your employer (such as a construction site owned by a different company), you might be able to sue the property owner or general contractor for unsafe conditions.
• Uninsured Employers: If your employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance as required by law, you may be able to sue them directly.

While suing your employer directly for a workplace injury is generally limited by New York’s workers’ compensation system, there are exceptions and additional legal avenues to explore. Consult with our knowledgeable construction accident and injury attorneys on Long Island, and allow us to help you navigate the complexities of your case and ensure you receive the appropriate compensation for your injuries.

What Happens if I Am Not a Construction Site Employee but Was Hurt Because of Construction Activity in the Area?

Being injured due to construction activity when you are not a construction worker opens up a pathway for a personal injury claim. While it may seem rare for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, or bystanders to be injured because of nearby construction, it happens more than you might think.

Common ways the public can get hurt include, but are not limited to:

• Loose Materials: Construction materials such as bricks, tools, or scaffolding components can fall from heights and strike passersby.
• Inadequate Securing: Items not adequately secured on scaffolding or rooftops can be dislodged by wind or vibrations from construction activity.
• Trip Hazards: Tools, materials, and debris left on sidewalks or public paths can cause pedestrians to trip and fall.
• Improper Signage: Lack of warning signs or barriers around uneven surfaces or excavations can lead to accidents.
• Insufficient Barricades: Lack of proper barriers or fencing around construction sites can lead to unauthorized access and accidents.
• Inadequate Lighting: Poor lighting around construction zones, especially at night, can cause trips, falls, and other accidents.
• Construction Vehicles: Trucks, cranes, and other heavy machinery moving in and out of construction sites can collide with or run over pedestrians or other vehicles.
• Scaffolding Collapses: Improperly erected or maintained scaffolding can collapse, endangering anyone nearby.
• Building Materials: Incomplete or unstable structures can partially collapse, causing injuries to nearby people.
• Chemical Spills: Construction sites may use hazardous chemicals that, if spilled, can harm nearby individuals.
• Dust and Asbestos: Dust from construction activities, including hazardous materials like asbestos, can harm the public when inhaled.
• Live Wires: Unprotected or exposed live wires can cause electrical shocks or electrocution.
• Power Line Contact: Construction equipment contacting power lines can create dangerous electrical hazards for those nearby.
• Building Vibrations: Vibrations from heavy machinery can cause structural damage to nearby buildings, potentially leading to collapses or falling debris.
• Ground Movement: Excavation and drilling can cause ground movement, leading to sidewalk or road collapses.
• Compliance Failures: Non-compliance with safety regulations and standards can increase the risk of accidents.

Liability often rests with multiple parties, including the construction company, subcontractors, property owners, or equipment manufacturers. Determining who is responsible for the conditions that led to your injury is crucial. We can help.

At Resnick & Associates, our skilled Long Island construction accident lawyers can help you identify the liable parties and pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries and associated damages, starting with a free consultation.

Contact Our Skilled Long Island Construction Accident Attorneys at David Resnick & Associates, P.C. To Help Build Your Case for Success

The legal team at David Resnick & Associates, P.C., understands the impact a personal injury can have on you and your family. We work hard to obtain the maximum damages you’re entitled to. We serve accident victims in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, the Bronx, New York City, and Long Island.

If you have questions about your injuries, contact the New York law firm of David Resnick & Associates, P.C., online or call us at 212-279-2000 today for a free consultation about your case.

There is never a charge to speak with our skilled Long Island construction accident and injury attorneys. If your case qualifies to move forward, we will handle every aspect from start to finish without charging any upfront or out-of-pocket fees. You will pay nothing for our elite personal injury attorney services unless we win your case. That is a promise.