Construction sites throughout New York, Westchester County, Bronx County, and Queens County are among the most hazardous work sites in the country, largely due to their unique characteristics—such as frequent vertical construction, high site density, and aging infrastructure—making workplace accidents all too common. Despite strict safety laws, workers still face serious risks every day. Below, we will break down the 10 most common causes of construction accidents in New York and what you should know about your rights if you get injured on the job.
Falls from Heights
Falls from heights are the number one cause of death on New York construction sites, and they can cause severe injuries in victims who survive. In New York City, construction is constant, and workers are often stationed hundreds of feet above ground, putting them in even greater danger if a fall occurs. Many falls are caused by a lack of adequate worker protection, such as the use of harnesses. These accidents can cause injuries like broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, cuts, soft tissue injuries, and even death.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2023, about one in five workplace deaths occurred in the construction industry, and more than a third of those deaths were due to falls, slips, or trips. The construction industry alone accounted for almost half of all fatal workplace falls, slips, and trips in 2023. Roofing contractors and residential building construction workers were two of the highest-risk roles in the industry for falls from heights.
Injured by Falling Objects
Falling object accidents are another leading cause of construction site injuries and fatalities, often resulting from inadequate training or the improper use of unsecured tools, debris, and materials. Injuries from falling objects can be severe and include traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and death.
Electrocution Accidents
Electrocution accidents are not uncommon in New York due to the large scale of many of the city’s construction projects. Contact with electricity is one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities, killing an average of 150 workers nationwide each year. The leading cause of these injuries is contact with overhead power lines, but they can also be caused by contact with nearby energized equipment, working on energized parts, ground faults, damaged wiring, and more.
Electrical injuries involve damage to the skin or internal organs that occurs when a person comes into direct contact with an electrical current. This can be deadly, and even burns that look minor may come with serious internal damage.
Scaffolding Accidents
Scaffolding accidents can involve falls from heights, falling objects, and a host of other causes, posing serious risks to workers. In many cases, construction deficiencies, scaffolding collapse, scaffold tips or slides, and falls from scaffolding can lead to serious injuries. In New York, employers, construction site owners, and managers are legally required to provide adequate scaffolding when the job necessitates it.
Excavation Trench Collapses
Trench and excavation work is among the most dangerous in construction, with collapses causing severe or fatal injuries. Many of these accidents result from preventable hazards, such as unsupported trenches, non-compliance with OSHA regulations, or inadequate safety equipment. Spoil pile slides, shear wall collapses, belly sloughs, and soft pockets often cause injuries like amputations, broken bones, crush injuries, suffocation, traumatic brain injuries, and even death.
Demolition Accidents
Demolition work in New York often involves confined spaces, falling debris, structural instability, and hazardous materials, presenting a constant risk of unexpected injury to workers. In New York City, the fast pace and high-pressure conditions on many construction sites also contribute to the danger. Demolition accidents can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, crush injuries, amputations, broken bones, and more.
Saw Blade Cutting Accidents
Saws are commonly used equipment on New York City construction sites, though their large, powered blades pose serious safety risks. If saw equipment is not maintained properly or employees do not receive sufficient training, saw blade cutting accidents can occur, often resulting in serious injuries to workers.
Shanty Collapses
Small shanties built close to construction sites for workers can cave in or collapse unexpectedly, trapping or crushing the workers inside.
Caught-In / Between Accidents
Caught-in/between accidents can occur when workers are buried or crushed by collapsing trench walls, caught in machinery, or stuck within the debris of a building collapse. Proper safeguards must be implemented to prevent workers from becoming trapped in hazardous conditions.
Fire / Explosion Accidents
Construction site fires and explosions can result in extensive property damage and serious injuries to construction workers. Because fire spreads so rapidly, workers may not have much time to respond and evacuate. These accidents can cause burns, disfigurement, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and numerous other injuries. In many cases, fires and explosions on construction sites are caused by defective products, electrical problems, exploding gas lines, pressurized containers, chemical tanks, or other machinery.
Preventing Construction Accidents: Employer Duties Under New York Law
In New York, employers have legal responsibilities to protect their employees under state labor laws, including:
- Labor Law 200 states that all worksites and their overseers have a general duty to protect the health and safety of employees. The law requires all construction sites to be constructed, equipped, arranged, and operated in a manner that provides reasonable and adequate protection for the lives, health, and safety of workers. It also requires that all machinery, equipment, and devices be properly placed, operated, guarded, and illuminated to keep workers safe.
- Labor Law 240, also known as the Scaffolding Law, requires that proper safety measures be taken to protect workers around scaffolding, hoists, ladders, and other devices.
- Labor Law 241 requires all contractors, property owners, and agents to comply with specific safety requirements when performing construction, excavation, and demolition work. The law sets requirements for floor support, enclosed elevator shafts, protective barriers, and more.
To adhere to labor laws and keep employees safe, employers in New York must invest in training, protective gear, equipment maintenance, supervision, and regular site inspections. Keeping up with these duties can prevent injuries, reduce workplace hazards, and ensure the safety of workers on New York construction sites.
What If Your Loved One Died in a Construction Accident?
In construction and labor law cases, workers generally cannot sue their own employers, even if the accident resulted in a fatality. However, families of deceased workers may file wrongful death lawsuits against third parties like property owners or contractors, separate from workers’ compensation claims. Lawsuits for fatal construction accidents in New York often result in much higher compensation.
How Long Do You Have to Sue for Injuries After a Construction Accident in New York?
New York’s personal injury statute of limitations generally allows injured construction workers 3 years from the date of the construction accident that injured them to file a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, your claim will be permanently barred.
However, there are exceptions to this rule, which sometimes result in shorter deadlines—for example, the statute of limitations is only two years in cases of wrongful death, and only one year and 90 days if a government entity is involved. For this reason, it is crucial to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident to ensure you don’t miss your window for filing suit.
Injured in a Construction Accident in New York? Contact Us Today for a Free Case Evaluation
At Lever & Ecker, PLLC, our award-winning New York construction accident lawyers have over 70 years of combined experience serving injured victims of workplace accidents throughout the state. We take a hands-on approach to every client’s matter, guiding them through each step of the process. Over the years, we’ve recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for victims of construction accidents and their families, including:
- $12.2 million for the victim of a construction site fall accident that caused traumatic neck and back injuries
- $2.8 million for a construction worker who fell from scaffolding, injuring his back
- $2 million for a construction worker who was crushed by a temporary worksite shanty collapse
- $1.5 million for a worker who fell from an elevated platform, causing hip and wrist injuries
With offices in White Plains, the Bronx, and Queens, we serve injured clients throughout New York State, including all five boroughs of New York City, all of Westchester County, and the surrounding counties. We make home and hospital visits, so if you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you. To get started today with a free consultation—and no fees unless we win your case—contact Lever & Ecker online or call one of our New York offices.
White Plains (Serving all of Westchester County): (914) 288-9191
Bronx: (718) 933-3632
Queens: (347) 391-6337
