Construction Accident Lawyer in Manhattan, NY

Manhattan construction cases are filed in Supreme Court, New York County, at 60 Centre Street, and they tend to be the largest and most heavily defended Labor Law cases in the state — high-rise work, complex contractor chains, sophisticated insurers, and layered coverage.

The statutory framework is New York's advantage for workers. Labor Law § 240(1), the Scaffold Law, imposes absolute liability on owners and general contractors where inadequate protection against an elevation-related risk causes injury; comparative fault is generally not a defense to a valid claim. Labor Law § 241(6) rests on violation of a specific Industrial Code provision (12 NYCRR Part 23), and § 200 codifies the common-law duty to provide a safe workplace. On large Manhattan jobs, the contractor chain also produces contractual indemnification and additional-insured disputes that materially affect how much coverage is actually available.

Workers' compensation remains the exclusive remedy against the employer under WCL § 11; the third-party case is where pain and suffering lives.

Deadlines: three years for the third-party claim (CPLR 214); 30 days written notice to the employer and two years to file the comp claim (WCL §§ 18, 28); a 90-day notice of claim and suit within one year and 90 days where a city agency, the Dormitory Authority, or another public entity owns the site.

Ask how many § 240(1) summary judgment motions they have won in New York County, and whether they litigate coverage as well as liability. General information, not legal advice.

No upfront cost. New York injury attorneys work on contingency — a percentage of the recovery, nothing if there is no recovery. One-third of the net recovery is the customary arrangement in New York personal injury matters, subject to the written retainer and to court approval for an infant's settlement. Workers' compensation fees are separate, set and approved by the Workers' Compensation Board out of awarded benefits.

What determines the total:

• Whether liability is resolved on a § 240(1) motion or contested through trial
• Case expenses — site safety and engineering experts, DOB and OSHA records, economic loss and life-care analysis, extensive deposition practice across multiple contractors
• Whether expenses come out before or after the fee is calculated
• The workers' compensation lien on the third-party recovery and how it is negotiated
• Health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid liens

On large Manhattan cases expenses are higher than average because the defense is better funded, so confirm in writing whether they are deducted before or after the fee. Our consultation and referral are free.

Because on a Manhattan high-rise case the defense will be a well-resourced team with experienced coverage counsel, and the injured worker's only real leverage is the attorney standing opposite them.

• Free consultation; the referral costs nothing.
• Reachable 24/7 at (800) 669-0060.
• English, Spanish, and Russian.
• More than 30 years of matching injured workers with the right attorney across New York and New Jersey.
• Local case experience in New York County construction and labor law litigation.
• We stay involved after the introduction.

Attorneys in Michael Brook's network make the same point about Manhattan jobs: get the names of every contractor on the site, not just your own employer. Coverage on large projects is layered, and identifying every additional insured is often worth more than any single argument made later.

Stated plainly: immigration status does not by itself bar a workers' compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit in New York.

Disclaimer: Michael Brook Attorney Referral is a referral service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal representation or legal advice. This is general information and does not replace advice from a licensed attorney about your specific circumstances. No outcome can be guaranteed.