$800,000 Construction Site Injury Settlement in Brooklyn

Overhead demolition was happening directly above where an electrician was working at a Brooklyn construction site. No barriers. No netting. No warning. Falling debris struck him in the head and shoulder.

Electrician Struck by Falling Debris in Brooklyn

Our client, a licensed electrician, was running conduit on a lower floor of a Brooklyn construction project when materials from overhead demolition work fell through an unprotected opening and struck him. A section of concrete and rebar hit his hard hat, driving his head forward, and a second piece struck his right shoulder. Despite the hard hat absorbing some impact, our client suffered a concussion, cervical disc herniation, and a rotator cuff tear that required surgical repair.

The general contractor had scheduled demolition and electrical work on adjacent floors at the same time without installing debris netting, overhead shields, or even posting a spotter to warn ground-level workers.

Labor Law §200 and Contractor Negligence in Brooklyn

New York Labor Law §200 codifies the common-law duty of property owners and general contractors to provide a reasonably safe workplace. Unlike §240 (strict liability for gravity-related injuries), §200 requires proving the contractor had notice of the hazardous condition and the authority to correct it. Our attorneys established both elements.

We obtained the project schedule showing that demolition and electrical work were deliberately overlapped to compress the timeline. Site meeting minutes revealed that the electricians' foreman had complained about overhead work debris two days before the accident — a complaint that was acknowledged but never acted on.

"The general contractor knew demolition debris was falling onto the floors where electricians were working. The foreman warned them. They ignored it to keep the schedule on track. Labor Law §200 exists to hold contractors accountable for exactly this kind of knowing negligence." — Andrew Levine, Founding Partner

$800,000 Settlement for a Brooklyn Construction Site Injury

This $800,000 settlement covers concussion treatment, cervical disc treatment, rotator cuff surgery, lost wages during recovery, and the permanent shoulder limitations that affect our client's ability to perform overhead electrical work. It holds the general contractor accountable for scheduling decisions that prioritized speed over worker safety.

If you were struck by falling materials or debris at a construction site, our construction accident attorneys have extensive experience with Labor Law claims, and are ready to review your claim.