Manhattan Construction Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a construction accident in Manhattan, NY?

At The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP, we help injured workers across Manhattan pursue full recovery after a serious construction accident.

If a scaffold gave way, a load fell from above, or a machine caught you on a job site, the medical bills and lost income can mount before you have any answers. A Manhattan, NY construction accident lawyer at our firm can pursue the parties responsible while you concentrate on healing. The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP has represented injured workers across New York City since 1937, through three generations of trial attorneys. Reach out for a free consultation to learn where your claim stands.

Construction Accident Lawyer Manhattan, NY

A construction accident case is a claim brought by a worker or a bystander who was hurt by a hazard on a building site, from a fall off a scaffold to contact with unguarded machinery. Most of these claims proceed against parties other than the injured worker’s direct employer. That can include a property owner, a general contractor, or an equipment supplier whose negligence played a part in the harm.

In 2025, the New York City Department of Buildings recorded a 33% drop in reported building construction-related injuries at sites under its jurisdiction. Even with that decline, falls from height remain the leading cause of death in construction. A construction accident attorney in Manhattan looks closely at how the injury happened, then identifies every party that may owe compensation. That work often uncovers negligence that was not obvious at the scene, and it can bring in defendants the injured worker never dealt with directly.

Types of Construction Accident Cases We Handle in Manhattan

Construction sites in Manhattan bring together heavy equipment, tight footprints, and crews from many trades, and that mix produces a wide range of serious injuries. Our attorneys handle the full span of construction accident claims across the borough. The cause of an injury shapes who can be held responsible, so we start there.

• Falls from heights. Scaffolds, ladders, and elevated platforms account for many of the gravest job-site injuries. When a scaffolding accident leaves a worker with fractures or paralysis, we trace the failure back to the party that controlled the safety equipment. Fall cases often hinge on what protection was in place and what was missing.
• Falling objects. Tools, materials, and debris dropped from upper floors strike workers below. Harm from falling debris ranges from concussions to fatal head trauma. Responsibility usually rests with whoever failed to secure the load or barricade the area.
• Machinery and equipment accidents. Forklifts, cranes, and power tools cause crush injuries and amputations when they go unmaintained or run without guards. We examine heavy machinery failures and the maintenance history behind them. Records and inspection logs often tell the real story.
• Electrocutions. Exposed wiring and contact with live lines cause burns, cardiac damage, and death on active sites. Our attorneys build electrical injury claims against the parties that left the hazard in place. These injuries are frequently more severe than they first appear.
• Caught-in and caught-between accidents. Trench collapses and moving equipment can pin or crush a worker in seconds. These cases call for fast investigation, because a site changes quickly once work resumes. We move to preserve conditions before that happens.
• Struck-by vehicle accidents. Dump trucks, loaders, and delivery vehicles working in close quarters strike workers on foot. Sight lines, spotters, and traffic plans usually become the central questions. We look at how the site was supposed to be managed.
• Burns and fires. Flammable materials, gas lines, and hot work expose crews to severe burn injuries. We work with fire and safety consultants to establish where the danger started and who allowed it.

Why Choose The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP as My Construction Accident Lawyer in Manhattan, NY?

Results in Serious Construction Cases

Our firm has recovered more than $131 million for injured clients, including some of the largest worksite recoveries reported in the state. A sample of our construction results include:

• $36,000,000 settlement for a construction worker who suffered catastrophic injuries after being struck by a utility pole, the largest personal injury settlement reported in New York State
• $5,500,000 for a construction worker struck by an excavator bucket
• $5,460,000 verdict for a worker who sustained pelvic fractures after being crushed by a forklift
• $4,500,000 settlement for a worker who fell from a ladder and needed multiple surgeries on his ankle
• $3,500,000 verdict for a worker whose hand was injured by the barrel of a cement mixer

A Manhattan Firm Built on Trial Work

The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP has fought for injured workers since 1937, and three generations of our attorneys have tried cases in New York courtrooms. The same preparation we bring as a personal injury lawyer in Manhattan, NY goes into every construction claim, from the first site inspection through verdict. We know how owners and contractors defend these matters, and we build the record to answer them. Insurers take a prepared file seriously, and that changes what a claim is worth. Manhattan courtrooms and the juries who sit in them are familiar ground for our attorneys.

What Is Important to Understand About a Construction Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Construction Accident Cases

Compensation in a construction case covers what the injury already cost you and what it will keep costing. Some losses are easy to add up, while others reflect the toll the injury takes on your life. Recoverable damages generally include:

• Medical expenses, both current and future
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disfigurement or scarring
• Loss of enjoyment of life

The non-economic losses, like ongoing pain and the limits an injury places on daily life, often matter as much as the bills. New York applies pure comparative negligence, so a worker found partly at fault can still recover, with the award reduced by that percentage of fault. A jury or an insurer weighs how much each person’s conduct contributed, and that split can shape the size of a recovery. Liability on a construction site rarely sits with one company. Owners, contractors, and subcontractors each carry duties, and more than one of them may share the blame for a single injury.

What Are Important Aspects of a Construction Accident Case?

Workers’ compensation bars a claim against your direct employer, yet it rarely covers the full loss. The strongest construction cases identify a negligent party outside that employment relationship, and they preserve the proof early. Sorting out who controlled the work and who created the danger is where these claims are often won or lost.

• A third-party lawsuit against an owner, general contractor, or manufacturer can recover damages that workers’ compensation leaves out.
• Injured workers still have options even when they worked for a subcontractor rather than the general contractor.
• New York extends legal protections to construction workers that many states do not, and a safety violation can strengthen a claim.
• Owners and contractors must report site accidents to the city, which can create an early record of what happened.

What Is the Construction Accident Case Timeline?

Most construction claims move through a familiar sequence, though the pace depends on the injuries and the number of parties involved. New York law gives injured people three years from the date of the accident to file suit. Claims against a public entity carry much shorter notice deadlines, sometimes only a matter of months. Serious injuries can also lengthen the process, since the full extent of a spinal or head injury may take time to establish. In most cases, a claim moves through these stages:

• Investigation and preservation of site evidence
• Filing the lawsuit or any required notices
• Discovery, including depositions and document exchange
• Settlement negotiation
• Trial, if the defense will not offer fair value

Because the window to sue is limited, it is worth confirming how long you have before evidence fades and memories change.

What Should You Bring to Your Construction Accident Consultation?

A first meeting goes further when you bring what you already have on hand. Useful items include:

• Any accident or incident report from the site
• Medical records and bills tied to the injury
• Photos or video of the scene and the equipment
• Pay stubs showing your earnings
• Names and contact details for witnesses

You don’t need every document to start. During a free consultation, we review what you have, explain how the claim looks, and lay out the steps ahead so you know what to expect. There is no cost to sit down with us and no obligation to move forward afterward.

Reach Out to The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP to Schedule a Consultation

A construction injury can affect your income and your health for years, and the sooner we begin, the more we can protect. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with our firm. We will review how the accident happened, answer your questions, and explain what a recovery could look like. Our attorneys respond promptly, and we will tell you honestly whether you have a claim worth pursuing.

Construction Accident Statistics in Manhattan

Manhattan has more active building sites per square mile than any other borough, and the inspection record reflects that density. When the Department of Buildings runs a citywide enforcement sweep, Manhattan sites draw the largest share of stop work orders. A construction accident lawyer in Manhattan reads those records for the same reason an inspector writes them: a violation that predates an injury is evidence of notice.

Citywide injury counts have dropped over the past several years. The sites that remain dangerous tend to be the ones that ignore oversight, and the workers hurt there are often the ones with the least leverage against a contractor. A Manhattan construction accident attorney uses the figures below to show a court what the industry already knows about the risk.

• Inspectors issued 545 stop work orders at 1,645 Manhattan construction sites during the 2021 Zero Risk Tolerance sweep, the most of any borough, according to the DOB sweep results.
• New York City recorded 638 construction-related incidents, 482 injuries, and seven deaths at building sites in 2024, according to the DOB annual safety report.
• The construction and extraction occupational group accounted for 55 of the 217 fatal work injuries in New York State in 2024, according to BLS workplace fatality data released in March 2026.
• Reported building construction injuries fell 32% through the first 11 months of 2025, according to the DOB Buildings News update from December 2025.

Types of Evidence Used in Construction Accident Cases

A construction site changes every day. Scaffolds come down, debris is cleared, and the crew that saw the accident moves to the next job. The evidence that proves a Manhattan construction accident claim has to be collected before that happens, and much of it sits in the hands of the contractor or owner rather than the injured worker.

• DOB incident and violation records. The Department of Buildings keeps a record of every reported site accident and every violation issued at an address. Prior violations for the same hazard show the owner or contractor knew about the problem.
• OSHA inspection files. Federal inspectors document citations, interviews, and abatement deadlines after a serious injury. Those files often identify which company controlled the hazard.
• Site photographs and video. Images of the ladder, the opening, or the missing guardrail taken on the day of the accident carry more weight than any later description. Nearby buildings and the site’s own cameras may hold footage that is erased within weeks.
• Daily logs and safety meeting records. Superintendents keep daily reports, and larger sites hold toolbox talks. Gaps in those records, or warnings that were logged and ignored, support a negligence claim.
• Equipment inspection and maintenance records. A failed hoist, harness, or scaffold plank usually has a paper trail. Those records point toward the equipment supplier or the party responsible for maintenance.
• Witness statements. Coworkers, subcontractors from other trades, and passersby can describe what happened before the safety record is rewritten. We take those statements early, while memories are fresh and before employers discourage cooperation.
• Medical records tied to the mechanism of injury. Emergency room notes that describe a fall from height or a crush injury connect the harm to the event. Treatment records for a traumatic brain injury or spinal damage establish how long the effects will last.
• Contracts and insurance certificates. The agreements between owner, general contractor, and subcontractors define who was responsible for site safety. Certificates of insurance identify the policies that will pay a judgment.

Workers who were not an employee of the company that caused the hazard still have a claim against that company. The evidence above is what proves it.

Manhattan Construction Accident Lawyer FAQs

Can I sue if I am already receiving workers’ compensation?

In most cases, yes. Workers’ compensation pays medical bills and a portion of lost wages, but it does not pay for pain and suffering, and it does not cover the full value of lost earning capacity. A separate personal injury claim against a property owner, general contractor, or equipment supplier can recover what workers’ compensation leaves out. The two claims proceed at the same time, and we account for any compensation lien when we value the case.

Who can be held responsible for a construction accident in Manhattan?

Anyone whose negligence contributed to the accident other than your direct employer. That list often includes the building owner, the general contractor, subcontractors from other trades, and the companies that supplied or maintained the equipment. On a large Manhattan site, several of these parties may share responsibility for the same hazard. Identifying each of them early matters because each one carries its own insurance, and that coverage often sets the practical limit on recovery.

How much does a construction accident lawyer in Manhattan, NY cost?

The consultation is free, and you pay no fee unless we win. We explain the fee arrangement in writing before you sign anything and answer every question about it. Cost should never keep an injured worker from finding out whether a claim exists. If the facts do not support a claim, we say so at the first meeting and you owe nothing for the time spent reviewing it.

How long do I have to file a construction accident lawsuit?

Most negligence claims must be filed within three years of the accident. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the death, and a Manhattan wrongful death lawyer at our firm handles those cases for surviving families. Claims against the City or a public authority carry much shorter notice requirements that run from the date of the accident. Because the deadline depends on who is responsible, confirming it early is the safest course.

What if my employer says the accident was my fault?

Employers and insurers often make that argument, and it rarely ends a claim. Under New York law, a worker’s own share of fault reduces the recovery in proportion to that share and does not bar the claim. Workers rarely control site safety. The protective gear that was never provided, the guardrail that was never installed, and the training that never happened are the owner’s and contractor’s responsibility, not yours. Site records and witness accounts usually show who controlled the hazard.

What is a construction accident case worth in Manhattan?

Value depends on the injury, the medical costs, the lost earnings, and how long the effects last. A fracture that heals and a spinal injury that ends a career are valued very differently, even when the accident itself looks similar. Future surgeries, the need for home care, and the loss of a union pension or overtime all enter the calculation. We provide an estimate only after the medical records establish the permanence of the injury, and we revise it as treatment progresses.

Should I talk to the site’s insurance adjuster?

Not before you speak with an attorney. Adjusters ask for recorded statements early, when the injured worker is in pain, on medication, and unsure of the facts. Those statements are used later to argue fault or to minimize the injury. You are not required to give one, and declining does not hurt your claim. Refer the adjuster to your lawyer, and apply the same caution to any forms the contractor asks you to sign.

Important Resources for Manhattan Construction Accident Cases

What Are Important New York Legal Resources for Construction Accident Cases?

New York’s deadlines and fault rules for construction injury claims are set by state statute and can be read in full online.

• The New York State Senate publishes the Laws of New York, including every consolidated law that applies to an injury claim.
• CPLR Article 14-A contains the comparative fault rules that reduce damages when an injured person shares responsibility.
• EPTL 5-4.1 sets the two-year deadline for a wrongful death action after a fatal site accident.

What Are Important Local Resources for Manhattan Construction Accident Cases?

These Manhattan resources treat construction injuries and oversee site safety. Our firm has no relationship with any of them and lists them for reference only. We do not endorse one provider over another.

• NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, (212) 939-1000. A public hospital at 506 Lenox Avenue serving Upper Manhattan.
• The Mount Sinai Hospital, (212) 241-6500. A major medical center at 1 Gustave L. Levy Place on the Upper East Side.
• NYC Department of Buildings, 311. The agency that inspects Manhattan construction sites and receives complaints about unsafe work.

About The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP

Glenn K. Faegenburg and Paul J. Edelstein handle construction accident cases at our firm. Glenn earned his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 1990 after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, and he is a member of the American Bar Association and Eight Figure Litigators. Both attorneys belong to the New York State Trial Lawyers Association. Our construction results include $2,750,000 for an HVAC worker who fell through an unguarded hatch and $7,208,000 for the family of a worker killed by a company truck.

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

“I had the pleasure of working with Arthur, he was so kind and considerate, these men are people with integrity, they are not just about money they care about people, they consider your pain and all that comes with an accident. It was a blessing working with then, all the stress was on them. I would recommend them to all who needs lawyers with a heart.” — Gwenette Oakey

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Additional Resources for Manhattan Construction Accident Cases

• How to Protect Your Legal Rights After a Construction Accident
• What to Do if a Loved One Dies in a Construction Accident
• What are the Most Common Causes of Fatality in the Construction Industry?
• 2nd Ave Subway Construction: Are you in Danger?

Contact The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP

A construction injury in Manhattan, NY rarely has a single cause or a single responsible party. The sooner a construction accident attorney starts collecting site records, the more of that proof survives. The consultation is free, and you pay no fee unless we win. We review how the accident happened, identify who may be liable, and advise you on whether the claim has merit. Our staff schedules consultations within a business day of your call or message. Contact us to schedule a free consultation about your Manhattan construction accident claim.