New York State Laws recognize the rights of those that build, repair, restore, and modernize the buildings, roads, homes, schools, trains, utilities, escalators, elevators, and the general infrastructure of our city. These rights are recognized in labor laws that protect workers that are injured on-the-job during construction including scaffolding accidents, crane accidents, electrical accidents, welding accidents, ladder accidents, forklift accidents, elevator accidents, and nail gun accidents — among others.
If you’ve been injured on a construction site and have questions about your legal rights, construction lawsuits, or your next steps, we invite you to speak with a construction accident lawyer at our firm. To request a free consultation, please the free lawyer consultation form or call (212) 268-3222.
Below are examples of construction accident settlements and verdicts we have secure for our clients.
Showing 1–16 of 45 results
An $8.5 million settlement in Bronx County for a young boy whose leg had to be amputated after the wall of a Grand Concourse storefront collapsed on him as he walked by. The building's owner had been issued a violation for failing to maintain the exterior wall. The amount was consistent with the highest awards New York's appellate courts have upheld for a similar injury.
A construction worker received a substantial $8 million settlement after suffering severe injuries from falling through an unprotected roof opening during a demolition project, highlighting the critical importance of workplace safety protocols.
Raphaelson & Levine Law Firm won $6.4 million for a New York construction worker crushed by a 1,500-pound steel piece, emphasizing the dangers in the construction industry. This victory underlines our firm's commitment to worker safety, leveraging Labor Law 240, or the "Scaffold Law," which mandates strict safety measures for workers at construction sites.
We secured maximum compensation for a New York construction worker who experienced a catastrophic fall due to a critically defective scaffold at a work site, resulting in serious injuries that threatened the worker's ability to continue their professional career.
A $5.75 million mediated settlement for an HVAC contractor who needed four surgeries for a brachial plexus injury, peripheral nerve damage and complex regional pain syndrome. A makeshift hoist set up over an underground vault at a New York City marina gave way while lowering a condenser, and its chain dragged the worker's arm into the opening. We built the case with engineering and medical experts, life care planners and economists.
Our client was performing a speaker installation at an upscale Long Island restaurant when a defective ladder led to a serious fall, causing a traumatic brain injury. Through aggressive litigation and expert negotiation, we secured a $5 million settlement, ensuring the client's future needs and reinforcing the critical importance of safety in all construction projects.
A catastrophic construction accident resulted in a substantial $4.9 Million settlement, highlighting the critical importance of workplace safety and legal representation for injured workers.
A construction worker faced a life-changing moment when their routine workday turned into a devastating scaffold accident in the the Bronx. Our New York scaffold injury lawyers conducted a thorough investigation of the incident, identifying critical safety failures and workplace negligence that contributed to the dangerous conditions.
A $3.75 million settlement for a carpenter who suffered brain and neck injuries that required surgery while working atop a skyscraper going up in New York City. The client was never able to return to work. The property owners, general contractors and subcontractors fought liability throughout, but we presented the evidence and expert testimony that led the court to hold them responsible for the accident.
A $2.75 million settlement in Bronx County (2023) for a union bricklayer thrown into the air when an unsecured load fell nearly four stories onto the scaffold where the worker stood. The client needed surgery for torn shoulder ligaments and also hurt the head, neck, back and knee, and a pre-existing blood condition made further surgery too risky. We recovered $2.4 million at mediation plus a full waiver of the workers' compensation lien.
A $2.5 million settlement for a union electrician who needed surgery on both the neck and lower back, and could not return to work, after slipping on ice at a worksite the defendants failed to keep safe. The defense claimed the electrician tripped over part of the structure and was responsible for lighting the dark, enclosed area. We settled the case shortly before trial.
A $2.5 million settlement for a construction laborer who fractured the pelvis and multiple ribs and injured the neck and back when a partially demolished roof collapsed, dropping the laborer nearly 15 feet into a stairwell. The worker had no safety equipment or fall protection. We won summary judgment in New York Supreme Court against both the city, which owned the property, and the general contractor.
A $2.25 million settlement in Rockland County for a construction mason who broke bones in the neck, back, hip and knee in a 45-foot fall from scaffolding, injuries that required multiple surgeries. Unsecured wooden planks on the platform shifted, and the mason had no safety harness. The defendants were found in violation of New York Labor Law §§ 240(1) and 241(6), and we settled the case at mediation.
Raphaelson & Levine were able to bring Justice for a Chinese immigrant living the American dream working on skyscrapers in New York City.
Our client, a Brooklyn construction worker, suffered shoulder tears requiring surgery in both arms when an unsecured board tipped and caused him to fall through the floor on their construction site. Despite the initial trauma, we secured a substantial $2 million settlement at a mediation
A $1.85 million mediated settlement for a carpenter who fractured both wrists and suffered a neck herniation that required fusion surgery after falling 18 feet from an unsecured extension ladder at a commercial building under construction. The defense blamed the worker for not waiting for the site's only scissor lift, but we argued that defense fails under Labor Law § 240(1) because the lift was not available when the carpenter needed it.
A $1.8 million settlement in Queens County for a union mason who fractured a shoulder blade and injured both shoulders and knees when a scaffold board shifted and the worker fell nearly three stories past a missing guardrail. We built the claim on that violation of New York's Scaffold Law and, after mediation, negotiated $1.5 million plus a full waiver of the workers' compensation lien of over $300,000.
A $1.8 million settlement in Bronx County for a steamfitter who was never able to return to work after a 200-pound pipe, hoisted for installation on an I-beam, struck the worker at a New York construction site. Working with an economist and medical experts, we reached the settlement with the project's mechanical contractor at a final pretrial conference.
Our client was a worker at the Trump Building who was knocked down from a genie lift by a reversing delivery truck, suffering a knee and a neck injury, both of which required surgery. Raphaelson & Levine Law Firm's strategic litigation in the NY Supreme Court, coupled with extensive negotiation, resulted in a $1.7 million settlement, and an additional recovery of over $250,000 in workers' compensation benefits.
A $1.5 million settlement in the Bronx for a construction worker who broke a leg in a fall from a scaffold. We won summary judgment from a Bronx judge because the defendant failed to properly secure the worker on the scaffold. The worker had a harness, but there were no anchorage points to tie off to.
A $1.5 million settlement for a mason and shop steward who suffered injuries to both shoulders, both knees and the back, requiring arthroscopic surgery on the knees and shoulders, after a 25-foot fall from a scaffold onto a pile of debris in New York City. The scaffold had no guardrails, no safety arrest system and no toe boards, and its planking was unsecured with missing or gapped boards. We settled the case at mediation.
A $1.5 million settlement at mediation for a union ironworker who needed shoulder surgery and a cervical laminectomy after a temporary construction elevator jerked and dropped suddenly, throwing the worker into the air. The defense blamed the worker's crew for a bolt lodged in the elevator's pulley, but we showed the same elevator had malfunctioned the same way before and no one fixed it.
A $1.35 million settlement for an elevator mechanic apprentice who suffered permanent injuries when a falling elevator counterweight struck the apprentice in the face during an elevator renovation. The accident happened because safety procedures for placing a mesh fence around the elevator's leveling device were not in place, a violation of the New York Industrial Code. We secured the settlement for the apprentice.
A baker scaffold at a Queens job site was not screwed to the ground, not properly assembled, and not adequately affixed to any stable structure. Our client was hauling heavy materials upward using an electric hoist attached to the scaffold when the weight pulled the unsecured scaffold over, bringing the entire structure — and our client — crashing down. Our team investigated the site conditions and discovered that the scaffold had been assembled without following manufacturer specifications or OSHA requirements. We identified the general contractor's failure to inspect the scaffold before allowing workers to use it. Raphaelson & Levine secured a $1.2 million settlement, holding the contractor accountable for a preventable collapse.
A $1.14 million jury verdict for a worker who needed surgery on both knees after tripping over materials left on the floor while carrying a large roll of wallpaper at a worksite. The defendants refused to settle and blamed our client, but we showed the jury the area was supposed to be inspected and made safe, and the jury found the defendants 100% responsible.
At the end of his shift on a Bronx construction site, our client was walking to the time clock to sign out when he tripped and fell on a hazard left in the pedestrian pathway. The fall fractured his left elbow — an injury that required surgical intervention and extensive rehabilitation. The general contractor was responsible for maintaining clear and safe walkways throughout the job site, including the routes workers used to enter and exit. Our team documented the obstruction, obtained site photographs, and demonstrated that the contractor had failed to keep the pathway clear despite knowing it was used by workers at every shift change. Raphaelson & Levine secured a $1.1 million settlement for our client's elbow fracture and its lasting impact on his ability to work.
A $1 million settlement for a construction worker who suffered an ankle injury requiring multiple surgeries when a plank laid across a freshly poured cement floor shifted underfoot. The plank served as a walkway while the cement dried, but no one had properly secured it. The injury kept the worker out of work for an extended period, and we secured the settlement on the worker's behalf.
A $1 million settlement in Brooklyn for a carpenter who shattered a heel bone and needed several surgeries after being knocked off a ladder while building a wall on a job site. We argued the property owner and general contractor failed to provide proper safety precautions and equipment, and an economist documented the client's lifetime wage loss. We settled the case at mediation.
A $900,000 settlement in Brooklyn (Kings County) for a construction worker who fractured a shoulder and injured a knee after tripping over loose materials scattered on a hotel job site while coming down a ladder. We argued the site violated the scaffold law and the New York State Industrial Code. With nearly $200,000 in compensation benefits, the total recovery topped $1 million.
Our client was painting a house in Rye Brook, Westchester County, using a 20-foot ladder provided by the homeowner. While working at height, the ladder shifted and he fell. The ladder was missing a critical stabilizer component that provides balance and prevents the base from slipping. The fall caused a fractured sternum, compression fractures in the thoracic spine, and injuries to the lumbar spine, cervical spine, both shoulders, left arm, left hand, head, and chest. He was hospitalized for three days. Raphaelson & Levine established that the homeowner provided a defective ladder and that our client was entitled to the protections of New York Labor Law. Our team secured a $1 million settlement for these serious construction injuries.
A construction worker fell from a ladder at a Brooklyn job site, sustaining serious injuries that required surgery and months of rehabilitation. The property owner and general contractor had failed to provide proper fall protection equipment despite the elevated work. Our team pursued claims under New York's Labor Law, building a case that demonstrated clear violations of workplace safety standards. Raphaelson & Levine secured a $950,000 settlement covering all medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Raphaelson & Levine secured $900,000 for a construction worker who fell from a ladder at 601 West 29th Street in Manhattan. The ladder had been placed on an uneven, unsecured surface without proper stabilization. Our team invoked New York Labor Law §240(1) to hold the general contractor and building owner strictly liable for failing to provide adequate fall protection.
Raphaelson & Levine recovered $875,000 for a security guard who fell through an unprotected floor opening at a Queens construction site. The overnight patrol required walking through an active construction area where contractors had removed floor panels and left no barriers, covers, or warning signs. Our attorneys held the general contractor and property owner liable for failing to secure the site for non-construction personnel.
Raphaelson & Levine recovered $800,000 for an electrician struck by falling materials at a Brooklyn construction site. The general contractor failed to coordinate overhead work with ground-level trades, leaving our client exposed to falling debris. Our attorneys pursued the claim under New York Labor Law §200, proving the contractor had actual notice of the unsafe condition and failed to correct it.
A $795,000 settlement for a construction worker who suffered multiple rib fractures and a fractured shoulder blade after falling 17 feet through a roof hole onto a concrete floor at a Brooklyn project. The worker had no harness or lifeline, and the holes had no barricades. We established the property owner violated New York Labor Law and resolved the case at mediation within eight months of the accident.
Raphaelson & Levine recovered $750,000 through mediation for a construction worker who fell while measuring suction in an air duct at a Manhattan restaurant. When all ladders on the job site were in use, his supervisor instructed him to stand on a bucket rather than wait for proper equipment. The bucket gave way, and our client fell to the floor. Our team invoked New York Labor Law to hold the property owner and contractor strictly liable for the failure to provide a safe elevated work platform.
Raphaelson & Levine recovered $735,000 for a construction worker who fell from a beam at a Queens job site. Our client was working at height on a structural beam when he lost his balance and fell to the surface below. No safety netting, guardrails, or personal fall arrest system had been provided. Our attorneys held the property owner and contractor liable for failing to protect a worker performing elevation tasks.
A $715,000 recovery for a construction laborer who suffered lumbar injuries that kept the laborer out of work for two years after backing into a piece of structural steel while bent over painting rebar. We argued that New York Labor Law § 240 can apply to objects at the same level as the worker, and that Labor Law § 241(6) applied because the work area was not kept free of tripping hazards.
Raphaelson & Levine recovered $550,000 through mediation for a millwright foreman who was injured on his first day at a Staten Island construction site. While stepping off a work truck, our client's ankle twisted on an unmarked ledge where carpenters had covered a train rail with plywood that blended into the surrounding floor. There was no site safety orientation, no hazard marking, and no warning about the concealed elevation change. Our attorneys held the general contractor liable for failing to mark the hazard and failing to provide basic site safety to a new worker.
Raphaelson & Levine recovered $525,000 for a construction worker who fell from a scaffold on a Brooklyn job site. Scaffold falls are among the most dangerous hazards in the construction industry, and New York's Labor Law Section 240 — the Scaffold Law — imposes strict liability on property owners and general contractors who fail to provide adequate fall protection. Our attorneys invoked the Scaffold Law to hold the responsible parties accountable for our client's injuries from this elevated fall.
A $500,000 settlement for a carpenter who suffered two broken ribs and a deep back wound that needed surgery when the client plugged in a circular saw rigged to stay on and it went airborne at a Brooklyn renovation site. We established the building owner violated the New York State Industrial Code rule requiring safe tools on work sites, and we recovered the money at mediation even though the owner had no insurance.
A $400,000 settlement in Brooklyn (Kings County) for a New York City construction worker who suffered a fractured arm and lacerations in a fall from a scaffold and could not work for over two years. We won summary judgment under New York Labor Law § 240, which made the defendant 100% liable, and we settled the case after jury selection.
A $300,000 settlement for a construction worker who suffered a head laceration that needed multiple staples when a scaffold broke and sent tools falling onto the worker's head. The accident also left our client afraid to work on construction sites or travel over bridges. We resolved the case through mediation.
A $300,000 settlement in Nassau County for a construction worker who fractured a wrist, which needed surgery to stabilize the bones, and fractured vertebrae in a fall from a ladder while climbing out of a second-floor window of a house under construction. The general contractor required that exit while other workers built the interior stairs. We showed the general contractor violated New York Labor Law by failing to provide proper safety devices and to safeguard the worker.
A $237,500 settlement for an off-duty police officer who suffered a severe wrist fracture, which we established as a permanent disability, when the officer fell through a large hole at a construction site. At trial, we showed the general contractor and property owner failed to safeguard the area or warn our client about the danger, and we then settled the case.
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