Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in New York — and when corners get cut, workers pay the price. Segal Law Firm makes the owners, GCs and contractors who created the hazard pay you.
We've spent decades suing the biggest names in New York construction. Workers' Comp is rarely the end of the story — Labor Law 240 and 241 give injured workers powerful additional rights, and most people are never told about them.
Workers' Comp is not your only option
If you were hurt on a New York construction site, Workers' Comp pays a portion of your wages and medical bills — but it does NOT pay for pain and suffering, and the amount is rarely enough to support your family.
New York's Labor Law §§ 240 ('Scaffold Law') and 241(6) let you bring a separate third-party lawsuit against the property owner, general contractor, and other parties for the full value of your injuries — on top of Workers' Comp.
What a third-party claim can recover
- Full lost wages (past & future)
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical care
- Loss of earning capacity
- Permanent disability
- Loss of consortium for spouse
What to do after a site accident
Workers are often pressured by employers to stay quiet. Don't.
Report it and get treatment
Tell your foreman in writing and go to the hospital. Refusing care is the #1 way employers and carriers fight your claim later.
Photograph the scene
The scaffold, the harness, the ladder, the missing guardrail. Sites are 'cleaned up' within hours of an accident.
Get names of co-workers
Witness numbers, the GC on site, the safety officer. Crews rotate fast — find them before they're gone.
Don't sign anything
Especially not from the employer, the GC, or their insurance. Call us before you give any statement, recorded or written.
Why injured workers trust Segal
Labor Law 240/241 specialists
These statutes are powerful but technical. We know how to plead them, prove them, and use them to maximize recovery.
Site investigators on day one
We dispatch investigators, photographers and safety experts before the GC alters the scene.
We take on big GCs
Skanska, Turner, Tishman — we've fought them all. Their carriers know our name, and that changes the offer.
Workers' Comp coordination
We work with your Comp attorney (or refer one) so your third-party recovery isn't eaten up by lien repayment.
Sites get 'cleaned' within hours.
Photos, defective equipment, and witness lists vanish fast. The sooner we lock in the scene, the stronger your case.
The injuries we handle
Every kind of New York construction accident
Falls from heights
Scaffolds, ladders, roofs, beams. Section 240 imposes absolute liability when fall protection fails — owners and contractors cannot blame the worker.
Scaffold collapses
Pipe scaffolds, suspended scaffolds, sidewalk sheds. We prove who set it up, who inspected it, and who let it stay up.
Falling objects & debris
Bricks, tools, beams dropped from above. Section 240 also covers workers struck by inadequately secured materials.
Electrocutions & shocks
Exposed wiring, live circuits, ungrounded equipment. We pursue the electrical sub, the GC, and the power company when appropriate.
Trench & excavation collapses
Cave-ins are almost always preventable. OSHA shoring rules are clear — and routinely ignored.
Crane, hoist & forklift
Equipment failures, unqualified operators, signal-person errors. We pursue manufacturers, lessors, and operators.
Burns & chemical exposure
Welding burns, hot tar, solvents, silica dust. We bring in toxicologists and pulmonologists where needed.
Defective tools & equipment
Saws without guards, malfunctioning nailers, broken safety harnesses. Manufacturers can be liable in addition to the contractor.
Frequently asked
Answers before you call
If I'm undocumented, can I still bring a claim?+
Yes. New York courts have consistently held that immigration status does not bar you from pursuing a construction injury claim — including under Labor Law 240. Your status will not be shared with immigration authorities.
I already filed Workers' Comp. Can I still sue?+
Generally yes. Workers' Comp is your remedy against your direct employer, but you can still sue the property owner, general contractor, and other parties for full damages including pain and suffering.
What is the 'Scaffold Law'?+
Labor Law § 240 imposes absolute liability on owners and contractors when a worker is hurt because of a gravity-related risk and proper fall protection wasn't provided. It's one of the strongest worker-protection laws in the country.
How long do I have to file?+
Generally three years for the third-party lawsuit and 30 days to report to your employer for Workers' Comp. If a public entity is involved (NYC, MTA, school district), you may have only 90 days. Call us early.
What if my employer says I caused the accident?+
Under Labor Law 240 comparative fault is irrelevant — the worker's conduct generally does not reduce recovery when fall protection failed. Don't let the employer's narrative end your claim.
What does it cost?+
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency — paid only out of the recovery. All case costs are advanced by the firm.
Contact
Hurt on a site? Let's talk today.
Free, confidential consultation. We speak Spanish and Polish. No fee unless we win.