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Quick Answers About Construction Accident Claims on Long Island
After a construction site accident on Long Island, the steps you take in the first few days — what you report, what you document, and who you talk to — shape the entire outcome of your claim.
We help injured construction workers across Nassau and Suffolk counties understand their rights under New York's labor laws and take the right next steps quickly.
Because construction sites often involve multiple responsible parties and overlapping deadlines, consulting an experienced attorney at our firm promptly protects an injured workers ability to file against all of them.
Why Long Island Construction Workers Choose Raphaelson & Levine
We have recovered $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, including over $50 million in construction accident cases alone — with 30+ published results ranging from scaffold collapses and ladder falls to struck-by incidents and roofing accidents.
That depth means we know which labor law sections apply to your case and how to prove them to ensure you get full, fair compensation.
What Our Construction Accident Clients Say
"After my construction accident, Raphaelson & Levine handled everything with expertise and compassion..." — Robert K., Construction Accident (Google Review)
"The best experience I've ever had with a lawyer and I've worked with many. After a serious bicycle accident caused by debris from a construction site..." — Jon F., Construction Accident (Google Review)
"If you've been in an accident and need personal injury attorneys to represent you, don't hesitate to call Raphealson and Levine." — Owen J., Construction Accident (Google Review)
"When my father was injured in an accident at a construction work site in 2018, I frantically cold emailed a bunch of personal injury law firms and Raphaelson &..." — Roy C., Construction Accident (Google Review)
Reviews reflect individual experiences; results vary.
Recent Construction Accident Case Results
$8,500,000 — Building Collapse, Grand Concourse. A 10-year-old boy's leg was amputated after a building wall collapsed and buried him under concrete. The building owner had received a prior violation for failure to maintain the exterior wall. Our team established that the known structural deficiency caused the collapse and secured an $8.5 million settlement covering the child's lifelong care needs.
$8,000,000 — Roofing Accident, New York. A construction worker suffered severe injuries after falling through an unprotected roof opening during a demolition project. We documented the absence of required fall protection devices and established violations of safety protocols, recovering $8 million.
$6,400,000 — Struck by Falling Object, New York. A construction worker was crushed by a 1,500-pound steel piece on an active jobsite. Raphaelson & Levine proved the contractor failed to secure overhead materials and established liability under Labor Law § 240, recovering $6.4 million.
$6,000,000 — Scaffold Collapse, New York. A defective scaffold gave way beneath our client, causing a dangerous fall and serious injuries. We identified structural defects in the scaffold assembly and proved the contractor failed to comply with fall-protection requirements under Labor Law § 240, recovering $6 million.
$5,000,000 — Ladder Fall, Long Island. A worker performing a speaker installation at an upscale Long Island restaurant fell from a defective ladder, causing a traumatic brain injury. We documented the ladder defect, retained neurological experts, and proved the site operator failed to provide safe equipment — recovering $5 million for long-term care needs.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
"In construction accident cases, we obtain OSHA violation records, retain safety engineers to inspect the site, identify every responsible owner and contractor, and prepare each case as if it's going to trial — because that's what gets results." — Howard Raphaelson, Founding Partner, Raphaelson & Levine
Results: Our clients have recovered over $1 billion in compensation — including more than $50 million in construction accident cases alone.
Resources: Big firm resources, but small firm attention to detail. We work with the top medical experts, life care planners, economists, and spare no expense building the strongest case for our clients.
Reputation: Over 650+ five-star reviews and numerous industry-leading awards, including Best Law Firms Tier 1 rankings, Best Lawyers recognition for 7 attorneys, and New York Law Journal Verdicts & Settlements Hall of Fame.
Respect: Every client becomes a part of our family. We make sure every New Yorker understands their legal rights, the deadlines that matter, and whether they may have a claim, so they can make informed decisions about their future.
Why Acting Quickly Matters After a Construction Accident on Long Island
After a construction accident, critical evidence disappears fast. Scaffolding gets dismantled, equipment gets repaired or removed, safety logs get rewritten, and job site conditions change within hours of an incident.
New York law limits how long you have to file a personal injury claim, and claims against government entities have even shorter deadlines.
If your employer or the general contractor controls the accident scene, gathering evidence before it is altered is essential. A short call can help you understand what deadlines apply and what steps to take right now to protect your claim.
If this is a medical emergency, call 911 first.
What Happens After You Call
When you call about a construction accident, we will walk you through your rights under New York's labor laws, what deadlines may apply, and whether your injuries support a claim beyond workers' compensation — all in one conversation.
1. We Get the Facts
We ask about the accident: what happened, where the jobsite is located, your role on the project, what safety equipment was or was not provided, whether scaffolding, ladders, or elevated work was involved, what injuries you sustained, and what medical treatment you have received.
We also ask about the construction company, property owner, the general contractor, your direct employer, and any subcontractors on site — because construction accident claims typically run against multiple liable parties.
2. We Evaluate Your Claim
Our team assesses your case against four key factors:
- Responsibility — Who may be legally liable: the property owner, general contractor, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, and engineers. We determine which labor law sections apply — §240(1) for gravity-related injuries, §241(6) for Industrial Code violations, and §200 for dangerous site conditions.
- Proof — What OSHA records, site inspection reports, safety plans, equipment maintenance logs, and incident documentation exist, and what can be preserved before the jobsite changes.
- Damages — The scope of medical care needed, surgical requirements, rehabilitation timeline, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and long-term effects of construction site injuries.
- Deadlines — Which filing timelines apply, including shorter notice requirements for claims against municipal or government entities that own or control the construction project.
3. If You Retain Us, We Begin Immediately
Once you decide to move forward, our legal team takes action the same day:
- Preserve time-sensitive evidence — OSHA inspection records, site safety plans, equipment maintenance logs, scaffold inspection certifications, and surveillance footage before the jobsite is altered
- Identify all responsible parties — property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, and engineers — and all available insurance coverage
- Retain safety engineers to inspect the accident scene and testify on code compliance failures, scaffold defects, and fall-protection violations
- Coordinate with your treating physicians and retain independent medical experts to document the full scope of your injuries and project future care needs
- Handle all insurer and workers' compensation communications so you can focus on treatment and recovery
- Build a comprehensive demand package and prepare for litigation — because construction cases with clear labor law violations require aggressive prosecution to achieve full value
With over 34 years of experience and more than $1 billion for New Yoerkers (including millions recovered in construction cases), partners Howard Raphaelson and Andrew Levine lead our construction accident practice.
Our legal team includes paralegals, safety engineers, and trial attorneys who handle these cases from the first call through verdict or settlement. Focus on your recovery — we will protect the claim.
Common Construction Accident Scenarios on Long Island
We've handled construction accident cases across Nassau and Suffolk counties, from high-rise commercial projects to residential renovation sites. We know what evidence to preserve before the jobsite changes.
Across Long Island, the circumstances that cause construction injuries follow recurring patterns. Each has specific labor law protections and proof requirements.
- Scaffold collapses and failures — Improperly erected, uninspected, or overloaded scaffolding causes falls resulting in fractures, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Labor Law § 240(1) imposes strict liability on property owners and general contractors when scaffolding fails and adequate safety devices were not provided.
- Ladder accidents — Unsecured, defective, or improperly positioned ladders account for a large share of construction falls on Long Island. Our $5 million Long Island ladder fall result reflects the severity of these cases. Proof focus: ladder inspection records, manufacturer specifications, and placement documentation.
- Falls from heights — Missing guardrails, open floor holes, unprotected roof edges, and inadequate fall-protection harnesses lead to gravity-related injuries covered by §240(1). Proof focus: fall-protection plans, OSHA compliance records, and site safety audits.
- Struck-by incidents — Falling tools, unsecured materials, swinging crane loads, and debris from overhead demolition work cause blunt-force trauma and crush injuries. Our $6.4 million struck-by result involved a 1,500-pound steel piece. Proof focus: rigging plans, material securing protocols, and exclusion zone documentation.
- Trench and excavation collapses — Improperly shored trenches and excavation sites cave in on workers, causing crush injuries and suffocation. OSHA trench safety standards are frequently violated on Long Island projects. Proof focus: shoring and bracing plans, soil classification reports, and daily inspection logs.
- Electrocution — Contact with exposed power lines, improperly grounded equipment, and faulty wiring on construction sites causes electrical burns and cardiac injuries. Proof focus: utility marking records, lockout/tagout procedures, and electrical inspection certifications.
- Roofing accidents — Falls through unprotected roof openings during new construction, demolition, or renovation work. Our $8 million and $4.9 million roofing accident results demonstrate the severity of these cases. Proof focus: roof opening covers, perimeter protection, and fall-arrest systems.
If you are not sure where your situation fits, a short call can help you confirm which labor law protections apply to your accident.
How Construction Accident Claims Work on Long Island
These are the questions Long Island construction workers most often ask about construction accident claims — from the scaffold law and filing deadlines to what happens with workers' compensation and OSHA violations.
Serving Long Island and Nearby Communities
We represent injured construction workers across Nassau County, Suffolk County, and surrounding communities — with a local office in Woodbury that is easy to reach from jobsites anywhere on Long Island.
Our attorneys handle construction accident cases originating throughout the region, from residential renovation projects in western Nassau County to commercial developments and infrastructure work in eastern Suffolk County.
We serve clients in Hempstead, Garden City, Mineola, Great Neck, Woodbury, Syosset, Melville, Hauppauge, Ronkonkoma, Massapequa, Valley Stream, Levittown, Freeport, and Huntington.
If you were injured on a construction site in a nearby community not listed here, we likely serve your area too — call (212) 268-3222 or submit a free case review to confirm.
Related Long Island Practice Areas:
Local Resources in and Around Long Island
After a construction accident on Long Island, these resources can help with emergency medical care, police reports, and official records needed to support your claim.
Use these links to get help fast, document what happened, and request official records.
Hospitals and Trauma Centers
- North Shore University Hospital — Level I Trauma Center, Manhasset · (516) 562-0100
- Stony Brook University Hospital — Level I Trauma Center, Stony Brook · (631) 444-4000
- Nassau University Medical Center — East Meadow · (516) 572-0123
- NYU Langone Hospital — Long Island — Mineola · (516) 663-0333
- Long Island Jewish Medical Center — New Hyde Park · (516) 470-7000
Police and Reporting
- Nassau County Police Department — Records Bureau · (516) 573-7858
- Suffolk County Police Department — Central Records · (631) 852-6015
Courts
- Nassau County Supreme Court · (516) 493-3400
- Suffolk County Supreme Court — Riverhead · (631) 852-2333
If this is an emergency, call 911.
Meet the Attorneys Serving Long Island
Construction accident cases on Long Island are led by our founding partners, who bring over three decades of combined experience and more than $50 million in construction accident recoveries across Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Howard Raphaelson
Partner, Attorney
NY Bar #2452571. Founded Raphaelson & Levine in 1992 after graduating from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Over thirty years of personal injury experience, with particular depth in construction accident and scaffold law cases. Leads case strategy on complex multi-party construction claims. Recognized as a Super Lawyer (Thomson Reuters, 2014–present) and among New York's Best Lawyers (New York Magazine).
Andrew Levine
Partner, Attorney
NY Bar #4285805. Graduate of Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University — a Long Island institution. Manages complex construction injury litigation, including scaffold collapse, struck-by, and fall-from-height cases. Featured in New York Magazine as one of New York's "Top Personal Injury Litigators" and recognized by Super Lawyers as a "Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney in New York" (2015–present).
Visit Our Long Island Office
Our Long Island office is located at 135 Crossways Park Drive in Woodbury, near the junction of the LIE and Jericho Turnpike, and is easy to reach from construction sites anywhere in Nassau or Suffolk County.
Raphaelson & Levine Law Firm, P.C. — Long Island
135 Crossways Park Dr
Woodbury, NY 11797
(212) 268-3222
Directions
From the Long Island Expressway (I-495): Take Exit 44N (Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway / Route 135 North). Go west on Route 25 (Jericho Turnpike). Turn right at the first light into Crossways Park.
From the Northern State Parkway: Take Route 135 (Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway) North to Route 25 (Jericho Turnpike). Head west. Turn right at the first light into Crossways Park.
From the Southern State Parkway: Take Route 135 North past the LIE to Route 25. Head west. Turn right at first light into Crossways Park.
By Transit: The LIRR Oyster Bay Branch stops at Syosset station (5-minute drive or taxi). The LIRR Main Line stops at Hicksville station (10-minute drive or taxi). NICE Bus routes N78/N79 stop at Jericho Turnpike & Crossways Park Drive (3-minute walk).
Parking: Free on-site parking available in the Crossways Park complex. Visitor parking is located directly in front of 135 Crossways Park Drive.
Call (212) 268-3222 | Get Directions
Find Out If You Have a Long Island Construction Accident Claim
If you were injured on a Long Island construction site, a quick, confidential call can help you understand your rights under the scaffold law and other labor law protections, identify every responsible party, and decide what to do next — without pressure.
We will give you clear next steps based on how we evaluate construction accident cases on Long Island every day.
In your free initial consultation, we will explain which labor law sections may apply to your accident, what to avoid saying or signing, and what evidence to preserve now. You will leave with a simple plan — even if you do not move forward.
No upfront fees if we take your case.
Deadlines can apply, and construction site evidence is the most time-sensitive of any case type — scaffolding gets dismantled, equipment gets repaired, and safety logs get rewritten within days. Acting quickly preserves your strongest evidence.
Call (212) 268-3222 now for a free case review from a Long Island construction accident lawyer nearby.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.
Visit Our Long Island Office
Our Long Island office is in Woodbury, NY—convenient to clients across Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
- By car: Conveniently located near the Long Island Expressway (I-495) and Northern State Parkway.
- Public transportation: Nearest LIRR stations: Syosset, Hicksville, and Cold Spring Harbor (taxi or rideshare from station)
