NYC Construction Accident Attorneys
NYC Scaffold Accident Lawyers Who Hold Owners Accountable
Scaffold collapses and falls cause devastating injuries. New York's Scaffold Law holds property owners strictly liable. We make them pay.
New York's Scaffold Law: Your Strongest Protection
Labor Law 240 is one of the most powerful worker protection laws in the country. When property owners and general contractors fail to provide adequate fall protection and a worker falls, they are strictly liable, no exceptions, no excuses.
At AEE Law, we've spent over 35 years using the Scaffold Law to hold negligent owners accountable. We know this law inside and out. We know the defenses contractors try to raise. And we know how to win.
What Labor Law 240 Covers
The Scaffold Law applies to falls involving:
- Scaffolds and scaffold collapses
- Ladders (broken, defective, or improperly secured)
- Elevated platforms and hoists
- Ropes, pulleys, and safety devices
- Falls through unsecured openings
- Falling objects (gravity-related injuries)
Common Scaffold Accident Causes
- Improper assembly. Scaffolds built without proper bracing or support
- Missing guardrails. No fall protection at working height
- Defective planking. Broken or rotted scaffold boards
- Overloading. Too much weight on the scaffold
- Lack of tie-ins. Scaffold not secured to the building
- No safety harnesses. Fall protection equipment not provided
Why Property Owners Fight These Claims
Scaffold accident claims are worth significant money, often hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Property owners and their insurance companies fight hard.
Common defense tactics include:
- Claiming you were the "sole proximate cause" of your fall
- Arguing the work wasn't covered by Labor Law 240
- Disputing the severity of your injuries
- Pointing fingers at other contractors
We've seen every tactic. We know how to counter them. That's why we prepare every case for trial, and why insurers take our clients seriously from day one.
Workers' Comp Isn't Your Only Option
If you fell from a scaffold, you may have claims worth far more than workers' compensation. Third-party claims against property owners and general contractors can provide full compensation for your injuries, including pain and suffering, which workers' comp doesn't cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Scaffold Law?
New York Labor Law 240, the "Scaffold Law," holds property owners and general contractors strictly liable when workers fall due to inadequate fall protection. This includes scaffold collapses, missing guardrails, defective ladders, and other safety equipment failures.
Can I sue if I fell from a scaffold?
If you fell because the scaffold was defective, improperly assembled, or lacked adequate safety devices, you likely have a strong claim. Labor Law 240 imposes absolute liability, the owner is responsible even if you made a mistake.
Who is responsible for scaffold accidents?
Property owners and general contractors bear responsibility under Labor Law 240, even if a subcontractor controlled the work. You cannot sue your direct employer (that's covered by workers' comp), but third-party claims against owners and GCs often result in much larger recoveries.
What compensation can I get for a scaffold accident?
You may recover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability, and loss of earning capacity. Scaffold falls often cause catastrophic injuries, spinal damage, traumatic brain injuries, multiple fractures, and settlements frequently reach seven figures.
Is my own negligence a defense in scaffold accident cases?
No. Under Labor Law 240, comparative negligence is NOT a defense. If the owner failed to provide adequate safety equipment and that failure caused your fall, they are liable, period. This is what makes New York's Scaffold Law so powerful.
What are common scaffolding accidents?
Falls from scaffold platforms are among the most serious construction injuries in New York City, and they're covered under Labor Law § 240, which imposes absolute liability on property owners and general contractors when a worker falls due to an inadequate or unsecured scaffold. Workers are also injured when scaffold planks collapse or give way, when overhead objects fall from upper scaffold levels onto workers below, and when scaffolds tip or shift because they weren't properly braced or tied off to the building. The NYC Department of Buildings tracks scaffold-related violations and incidents across all five boroughs, and Manhattan and Brooklyn construction sites consistently generate a high volume of these complaints given the density of renovation and new-construction activity. If you were hurt in any of these ways, the circumstances of how the scaffold was erected, inspected, and maintained will be central to your claim.
What is the number one accident on scaffolding?
Falls from elevation are consistently the most common and most severe scaffold accident type, and New York's Labor Law § 240 (the "Scaffold Law") was enacted specifically to address this hazard by placing absolute liability on owners and general contractors when a worker falls due to an inadequate or improperly secured scaffold. OSHA data and CDC NIOSH construction safety research confirm that fall-related scaffold injuries account for the majority of scaffold fatalities and serious injuries nationally each year. In New York City, where high-rise construction is dense across all five boroughs, a fall from scaffolding can give rise to a Labor Law § 240 claim regardless of any comparative negligence on the part of the injured worker. If you or someone you know was hurt in a scaffold fall, speaking with a trial lawyer about your rights under § 240 is an important early step.
Injured in a Scaffold Accident?
The Scaffold Law protects you. We enforce it. Get the compensation you deserve.