Nearly $1 Billion Recovered | 40+ Years of Experience | No Fee Unless We Win
Were you injured in a scaffolding accident in Brooklyn? You may have several options for securing compensation. New York provides construction workers with some of the strongest rights and protections in the U.S. But these laws only work for you when they’re properly applied and defended.
The path to full and fair compensation for construction injuries depends on what happened and who was responsible. Workers’ compensation is generally the first source, but you may also qualify for a New York labor law claim or a third-party personal injury lawsuit.
At The Perecman Firm, our Brooklyn scaffolding accident lawyers can evaluate your situation and explain which claims are available to you. We have spent over 40 years fighting for injured construction workers across Brooklyn and New York City.
We know the laws that protect you. We know how insurance companies operate. And we've recovered nearly a billion dollars for people facing situations like yours. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Why Do I Need a Brooklyn Scaffolding Accident Lawyer?
If you were injured in a scaffolding accident while on the job, you need a legal team with the resources to pursue every available source of compensation. Scaffolding cases often involve multiple responsible parties and overlapping claims. An experienced lawyer can identify all your options.
The Brooklyn scaffolding injury lawyers at The Perecman Firm can investigate the circumstances of your accident. We gather evidence, interview eyewitnesses, and obtain records from your employer and medical providers. We handle communications with insurance companies to ensure your claim is not minimized or undervalued.
We manage all aspects of your workers' compensation claim and your personal injury lawsuit if you have one. If the insurance companies refuse to offer a full and fair settlement, we are prepared to take them to trial.
Why Choose The Perecman Firm for Your Scaffolding Accident Case?
When you're recovering from a serious injury, you need a legal team that will fight for you, not shuffle your case to the back of the pile. Here are some of the reasons why so many NYC construction workers turn to The Perecman Firm.
Proven Results in Scaffolding and Fall Cases
Our track record in gravity-related construction accidents speaks for itself:
- $19 million: Worker struck by a falling steel beam
- $15.2 million: Jury verdict for a worker who fell from a ladder
- $11.9 million: Worker who fell from scaffolding
- $10 million: Worker injured in a suspended scaffold accident
These results are a representation of our work handling construction accident claims and not a guarantee of your case’s outcome, but they show our willingness to fight for maximum compensation. We bring that same commitment to every case we handle.
Deep Knowledge of New York Labor Law
New York's scaffold and ladder laws are among the strongest worker protections in the country. Our Brooklyn scaffolding accident lawyers have built our practice around these statutes. We know how to use Labor Law 240, Labor Law 200, and Labor Law 241 to hold site owners and contractors accountable.
You're a Priority, Not a Case Number
Unlike high-volume firms, we limit our caseload so every client receives personal attention from an experienced attorney. You'll have direct access to your legal team throughout your case.
Award-Winning Legal Team
Our attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Learn more about our awards.
No Fee Unless We Win
You pay nothing up front and owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Your consultation is also free and obligation-free.
What Causes Scaffolding Accidents in Brooklyn?
Scaffolding accidents on Brooklyn construction sites, from Downtown Brooklyn high-rises to redevelopment projects in Williamsburg and DUMBO, happen for many reasons. Some involve equipment failures. Others result from careless decisions by contractors or site owners, including a fall from scaffolding. Common causes include:
- Negligent construction of the scaffolding
- Manufacturing defects in scaffolding components
- Poor or insufficient maintenance
- Disregard of OSHA and other safety standards
- Inadequate safety training
- Lack of fall protection or failure to use available safety equipment
- Failure to replace old or broken scaffolding materials, including worn planking
- Attempting to work on scaffolding despite inclement weather
- Failure to properly secure materials on the scaffolding
When any of these factors contribute to an accident, the responsible parties may be held liable for the resulting injuries.
What Injuries Result from Scaffolding Accidents in Brooklyn?
The severity of scaffolding injuries depends on the nature of the accident. Workers can fall from scaffolds. The scaffolding itself can collapse. Objects can fall from scaffolding and strike workers or pedestrians below. These accidents can cause devastating injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Amputation
- Neck and back injuries
- Nerve damage
- Herniated discs
- Crush injuries
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- Head and facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Permanent scarring
Many of these injuries require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. Some result in permanent disabilities that prevent workers from returning to their jobs.
How Does New York’s Scaffold Law Protect Injured Workers?
New York is the only state with a law that provides absolute liability against site owners and contractors for workers injured in gravity-related accidents. This includes falls from scaffolds and ladders, as well as injuries from falling objects.
New York Labor Law 240, also known as the NY Scaffold Law, applies to scaffolds, hoists, ladders, and other safety equipment used for elevation-related work. If you were injured because proper safety devices were not provided or were inadequate, the site owner and general contractor can be held strictly liable for your damages.
What New York Labor Laws Apply to My Case?
Our Brooklyn scaffold accident attorneys can determine whether your case qualifies for a cause of action under these statutes:
Labor Law 240
Labor Law 240 requires contractors and property owners to provide proper safety devices, such as scaffolds, ladders, guardrails, hoists, and harness systems, to protect workers performing elevation-related work.
Injured workers may bring a cause of action if they are injured on scaffolding that does not meet these standards. The law assigns strict liability to owners and contractors.
Labor Law 200
This statute requires contractors and owners to provide a safe working environment. They have a general duty to ensure that all equipment, machinery, and devices are properly placed, guarded, operated, and safely lighted.
Labor Law 241
This section concerns construction, demolition, and excavation. Under Labor Law 241(6), owners and contractors must take reasonable measures to provide appropriate scaffold safety equipment. Liability is based on violations of specific New York State Industrial Code Regulations.
These laws exist because construction work is inherently dangerous. They shift the burden of safety onto the parties with the power and resources to prevent accidents.
What Are the OSHA Regulations for Scaffolding?
In addition to New York's laws, OSHA has federal regulations governing scaffolding work. For example, each scaffold and its components must be capable of supporting their own weight and at least four times the maximum intended load.
Further, each scaffolding platform on all working levels must be fully planked or decked between the front uprights and the guardrail supports. These federal standards apply to construction sites across the country, including those in Brooklyn.
Violations of OSHA regulations can serve as evidence of negligence in a personal injury claim.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Brooklyn Scaffolding Accident?
If someone other than your employer or a co-worker is at fault for your injury, you may be entitled to pursue a personal injury claim against them. Potential defendants in a Brooklyn scaffolding accident case include:
- The manufacturer of the scaffolding materials
- The subcontractor who constructed the scaffolding
- The primary or general contractor responsible for enforcing safety standards
- Construction workers for the general contractor or subcontractor, if they negligently misuse or abuse scaffolding
- The owner of the construction site, if dangerous or defective conditions on the property led to the accident
Identifying all potentially liable parties is critical. It allows you to pursue the maximum compensation available under the law.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Scaffolding Accident?
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim. This type of claim can compensate you for:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Lost wages from missed time at work while recovering
- Loss of future earning ability if permanent disabilities prevent you from returning to your job
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and distress
- Reduced enjoyment and quality of life
Unlike workers' compensation, a personal injury claim allows you to recover the full value of your damages, including compensation for pain and suffering.
What Workers' Compensation Benefits Are Available?
You may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits if you are injured on the job and your employer has workers' compensation insurance. Under New York's workers' compensation system, you may be eligible for medical care and partial wage replacement benefits. You do not have to prove your employer was at fault while working on scaffolds.
Benefits You May Receive
If your workers' comp claim is approved, you could receive:
- Payment for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Temporary disability benefits that partially replace lost wages during your recovery
- Permanent disability benefits based on the type and severity of your disability
- Disfigurement awards to compensate for scarring and permanent changes to your appearance
- Vocational rehabilitation to retrain and place you in another job within the limitations of your disabilities
Workers' compensation provides important benefits, but it has limits. It does not compensate you for pain and suffering. A personal injury claim may provide additional recovery if a third party was responsible for your accident.
What If a Loved One Died in a Brooklyn Scaffolding Accident?
Scaffolding accidents can be fatal. If you lost a family member in a scaffolding accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of your loved one's estate.
A wrongful death claim can provide compensation for funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, loss of parental guidance for surviving children, and the pain and suffering your loved one experienced before death.
These cases are emotionally difficult. Our team handles them with compassion while fighting aggressively for the compensation your family needs.
What Should You Do After a Scaffolding Accident in Brooklyn?
If you've been injured in a scaffolding accident, the steps you take in the days and weeks that follow can affect your ability to recover compensation. After receiving medical attention, consider the following:
- Contact a lawyer: An experienced Brooklyn scaffold collapse lawyer with the Perecman Firm can protect your rights and guide you through the claims process.
- Keep all medical appointments: Consistent treatment creates a clear record of your injuries and recovery.
- Document your experience: Keep a journal or video diary recording your pain levels, limitations, and how the injury affects your daily life.
- Preserve evidence: If possible, keep any equipment or clothing from the accident. Do not give recorded statements to insurance adjusters without consulting your lawyer first.
- Report the accident: Make sure the accident is documented with your employer and any relevant authorities.
Taking these steps early can strengthen your case and help ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Your Settlement Must Reflect New York City, Not National Averages
Insurance adjusters are trained to settle claims for as little as possible. They may pressure you to accept an early offer while you're still in pain and unsure of your long-term prognosis. They may cite national statistics to justify lowball offers that ignore the reality of recovering from a serious injury in one of the most expensive cities in the country under the scaffold law.
A construction accident that might settle for $300,000 in Texas could be worth $1 million or more in Brooklyn when properly valued. The difference reflects not only our stronger worker protection laws but also the actual cost of living, working, and receiving medical care here.
The attorneys at The Perecman Firm do not let insurers dictate the value of your claim. We calculate your damages based on what your injuries will actually cost you in this city, from specialists at NYU Langone to years of lost union wages. We fight to recover what you need to rebuild your life here, not what an adjuster in another state thinks your injury is worth.
FAQs Clients Often Ask About Brooklyn Scaffolding Accident Lawsuits
How much does a Brooklyn scaffolding accident lawyer cost?
We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and we only collect a fee if we recover compensation for you. The consultation is free, and there is no obligation.
Can I sue my employer for a scaffolding accident?
Generally, workers' compensation is your exclusive remedy against your employer. However, you may be able to sue third parties such as the general contractor, site owner, subcontractors, or equipment manufacturers. New York's Labor Laws often allow injured workers to pursue claims against these parties.
How long do I have to file a scaffolding accident lawsuit in New York?
For personal injury claims, you generally have three years from the date of the accident. Workers' compensation claims must be filed within two years. However, there are exceptions and nuances that can affect these deadlines. Contact a lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights.
What if I was partly at fault for the scaffolding accident?
New York follows a comparative negligence rule. You can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. Your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. Importantly, Labor Law 240 claims provide strict liability regardless of the worker's negligence.
How much is my scaffolding accident case worth?
The value of your case depends on many factors, including the severity of your injuries, your medical expenses, your lost wages, and the impact on your quality of life. Our attorneys can evaluate your case and provide an estimate of its potential value.
Contact Our Brooklyn Scaffolding Accident Lawyers Today
If you were injured in a scaffolding accident in Brooklyn, The Perecman Firm is ready to help. We understand how difficult living with a serious injury can be. The medical bills, the lost income, the uncertainty about your future—we've helped thousands of workers through these challenges.
You don't have to face the insurance companies alone. Our award-winning attorneys have the experience and resources to fight for the compensation you need.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let us review your case and explain your options.