You’ve been hurt on a NY construction site and need help quickly. New York is special in that it gives injured construction workers legal protections that most other states do not. Labor Law §§ 240, 241(6), and 200 impose specific and, in the case of § 240, near-absolute liability on site owners and general contractors when a worker is hurt by a gravity-related hazard or a specific safety violation.
The Syracuse construction accident lawyers at Passalacqua & Associates, LLC handle these third-party Labor Law claims for Onondaga County construction workers whose injuries have gone well beyond what workers’ compensation alone can cover.
Call (315) 500-6425 for a free, confidential consultation. We answer 24/7.
New York’s Labor Law imposes specific statutory duties on owners and general contractors toward construction workers. Unlike ordinary negligence, these duties are non-delegable, and in the § 240 context, liability is essentially absolute where the statute applies.
Labor Law § 240 requires owners and general contractors to furnish or erect safety devices adequate to protect workers from elevation-related hazards. It applies to falls from height and to injuries caused by falling objects that were being hoisted or should have been secured. Where the statute applies and the safety device was inadequate, liability is essentially absolute. Contributory negligence by the worker is generally not a defense.
Labor Law § 241(6) requires owners and general contractors to comply with the specific safety regulations codified in the Industrial Code (12 NYCRR Part 23). A violation of a concrete, applicable Industrial Code provision can support liability without proving common-law negligence. Comparative fault applies, but the worker’s fault does not bar recovery.
Labor Law § 200 codifies the common-law duty to provide a reasonably safe workplace. It applies to construction and non-construction contexts and requires proof of actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition or supervisory control by the defendant.
Which statute or combination of statutes applies is fact-specific. Most viable Syracuse construction cases proceed under one or more of them simultaneously.
Workers’ compensation is your primary source of medical coverage and a portion of lost wages after a work injury in New York. Comp is generally your exclusive remedy against your direct employer. It does not, however, bar a claim against a third party who caused or contributed to your injury.
Running both tracks in parallel is the norm in a serious construction injury case. Getting counsel involved early is the difference between full and partial recovery.
Different injury mechanisms trigger different Labor Law provisions and different defendants. We handle the full range of Onondaga County construction accident cases.
The core § 240 fact pattern. Inadequate scaffold planking, missing guardrails, unsecured ladders, failed harnesses, and unprotected roof edges. Falls from height frequently cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and multiple fractures.
Tools, materials, and equipment that fall from height and strike workers below. Section 240 covers loads being hoisted or that should have been secured for the purpose of the work. Objects that simply fall from an upper level implicate § 241(6) and Industrial Code hoisting-and-securing regulations.
OSHA and NY Industrial Code have detailed shoring and sloping requirements for excavations. Collapse cases turn on trench depth, soil classification, and the specific protective systems that were or were not in place.
Struck-by, caught-between, and rigging-failure cases involving cranes, forklifts, and other heavy equipment. Manufacturer product liability claims may run alongside the Labor Law claim.
Contact with energized power lines, ungrounded tools, and failed lockout-tagout procedures. Third-party defendants can include the utility, the electrical contractor, and equipment manufacturers.
Combustible dust, welding accidents, and exposure to hazardous substances. These cases often require industrial hygiene experts and OSHA documentation.
Syracuse is in the middle of a multi-year I-81 Community Grid reconstruction, and the construction injury volume across Onondaga County has increased with it. Cases arising on state-managed projects have their own procedural wrinkles.
The construction cases we handle come from I-81, from private commercial builds around downtown and University Hill, and from residential subcontract work across the county.
The first 48 hours shape a construction case more than most workers realize. Do these five things before you talk to anyone from the general contractor’s insurer.
Then call a lawyer. Comp benefits will start on their own; the Labor Law claim will not unless someone builds it.
Call (315) 500-6425 for a free case review.
Multiple deadlines run simultaneously on a construction injury, and missing any of them can end the corresponding claim.
If a NY State DOT contractor, a municipal entity, or a public utility is involved, the 90-day window controls. Call today.
Most Syracuse construction Labor Law cases are filed in Onondaga County Supreme Court. These cases have a distinct rhythm that our Syracuse personal injury lawyers understand.
Construction cases require serious trial resources, expert coordination, and comfort with multi-defendant litigation. Ask any firm you interview specifically about Labor Law § 240 and § 241 trial experience.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Construction cases turn on evidence that changes quickly. Site conditions get repaired, equipment gets moved, and witnesses roll off to new jobs. The sooner counsel is involved, the more of the record we can preserve.
When you call, we’ll ask about:
Call Passalacqua & Associates, LLC at (315) 500-6425 any time, day or night, or visit our Syracuse office at 499 S. Warren St, Suite 220, Syracuse, NY 13202. Consultations are free and confidential.
Passalacqua & Associates, LLC provides legal representation for individuals facing personal injuries and criminal charges. Our attorneys offer compassionate guidance and aggressive strategies, and we’re committed to achieving the best possible outcomes. We’ll protect your rights and navigate legal complexities on your behalf.
Passalacqua & Associates, LLC proudly serves clients in Utica, Syracuse, and the surrounding upstate New York communities. We are dedicated to providing accessible and effective legal services to those in need of experienced personal injury and criminal defense representation within these regions.