Construction workers in New York City face serious hazards on the job—but few are as life-altering as eye injuries. Whether caused by debris, chemical exposure, or failure to provide proper safety gear, damage to your vision can impact your ability to work, drive, and care for your family. It’s not just a medical emergency. It’s a financial and legal one too.
If you suffered a serious eye injury on a job site, you may have more options than you realize. At The Perecman Firm, our team of NYC construction site eye injuries lawyers helps injured workers file personal injury claims and hold negligent third parties accountable under New York labor laws.
Workers’ compensation can provide some relief, but it may fall short of helping you get by after suffering serious eye injuries on the job. We’re here to help you move forward with the financial recovery you need.
Key Takeaways from NYC Construction Site Eye Injuries Lawyer
- Eye injuries are common and often preventable on NYC construction sites, especially when safety protocols are ignored.
- Workers may be entitled to compensation beyond workers' comp, including through third-party personal injury lawsuits.
- Vision loss and eye trauma lead to long-term disability, job loss, and reduced quality of life.
- New York Labor Law holds construction site owners and contractors responsible for failing to provide reasonable and adequate protection.
- Taking immediate legal action strengthens your claim and helps preserve your right to compensation.
- The Perecman Firm provides experienced legal representation for injured construction workers across all five New York City boroughs.
Why Injured Workers Trust The Perecman Firm
After a construction site eye injury, you need a law firm that understands what you’re going through and has the track record to deliver results in New York courts. When you partner with The Perecman Firm, we back your case with:
Proven results for injured construction workers
We’ve built a reputation for helping construction workers across New York City achieve the results they need to move forward after serious injuries. Our record includes numerous high-dollar verdicts and settlements in cases involving ladders, scaffolds, falling objects, and unsafe job sites—clear proof of our commitment to protecting workers and enforcing New York labor laws.
Some recent case results include:
- A $15.2 million jury verdict for a sheet metal worker injured when a ladder was kicked out from under him on a New York City job site.
- A $12 million settlement for a union driver who fell from a fixed ladder attached to a truck container during a construction task.
- An $11.9 million verdict for an asbestos-abatement specialist who suffered a career-ending back injury after falling from a suspended scaffold
Built on deep labor law experience
Our attorneys have helped shape how New York Labor Law protects construction workers. We know the scaffold law, PPE standards, and liability rules that apply to your case.
Client-centered approach
We listen first. You’ll speak directly with an attorney who takes the time to understand your injury, your job, and your long-term concerns.
No upfront legal fees
We take all construction accident cases on a contingency basis, meaning you don’t pay us unless we recover compensation for you.
HOW IT WORKS
FREE CASE REVIEW
We’ll review your situation, explain your legal options, and help you understand whether you have a case worth pursuing—along with a realistic timeline for potential recovery.
AN IRONCLAD CASE
Our legal team gathers evidence, consults with experts, and builds a strong case that clearly demonstrates fault and the full scope of your injuries.
BATTLE THE BULLIES
We stand up to insurance companies and defense teams, pushing back against lowball offers and fighting for the compensation you’re legally entitled to seek.
Common Causes of Construction Site Eye Injuries in NYC
Job sites across the five boroughs are filled with hazards to the eyes from sudden impacts to invisible chemicals. Too often, these injuries occur because a party failed to follow basic safety procedures.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Flying debris, such as wood, metal, or concrete fragments
- Sparks or flash burns from welding, grinding, or cutting
- Contact with toxic or corrosive chemicals
- Dust or small particulates from demolition or cement work
- Falls or blows to the head resulting in ocular trauma
- Improper use of power tools or pressurized equipment
- Lack of eye protection or defective safety goggles
When a contractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer fails to protect workers from these hazards, they may be held liable under New York law. You may also be entitled to file a workers’ compensation claim, even if the injury was partly your own fault.
How Eye Injuries Affect NYC Construction Workers Long-Term
Injured construction workers often lose more than just wages. Eye trauma frequently leads to lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Many can no longer return to the physically demanding roles they held before the injury.
Common outcomes of construction-related eye injuries include:
- Partial or total vision loss in one or both eyes
- Difficulty with depth perception, focus, or light sensitivity
- Chronic pain, headaches, or facial nerve damage
- Inability to operate tools or machinery safely
- Loss of job or inability to return to the same trade
- Increased risk of future injuries due to limited visibility
These complications affect not only your income but also your ability to live independently. An experienced construction accident law firm will help quantify these losses when pursuing a claim.
What Are Your Legal Options After a Construction Site Eye Injury?
After an injury, most workers focus on workers’ compensation, but in many cases, it’s not the only option. Depending on who was responsible and how the accident occurred, you may have the right to pursue additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
You may be eligible for:
- Workers' compensation benefits to cover medical treatment and lost wages, even if you contributed to the accident
- Personal injury claims against a negligent third party, such as a subcontractor or property owner who failed to maintain a safe site
- Product liability claims if faulty safety goggles, tools, or machines contributed to the injury
- Labor Law claims under NY Labor Law §§ 200, 240(1), or 241(6), which impose strict safety duties on construction site owners and contractors
A successful injury claim may allow you to recover additional damages not available under workers' comp, including pain and suffering, loss of earning capacity, and future medical needs.
What to Do After a Construction Site Eye Injury
If you're reading this, you've likely already received medical care. That’s the right first step. But there are other important actions to take if you want to protect your ability to pursue compensation.
Start with the most important step: hire a lawyer. Then take the following actions right away:
- Keep all medical appointments and follow through on prescribed treatment
- Ask for a copy of your injury report from your employer or site supervisor
- Avoid making recorded statements to insurers until you've spoken with legal counsel
- Take photos of any visible injuries and the area where the incident occurred
- Write or video journal your recovery process, symptoms, and how the injury affects your daily life
Delays in these steps may weaken your claim. An experienced NYC construction accident lawyer will move quickly to investigate the site, interview witnesses, and preserve evidence.
How New York Labor Law Protects Construction Workers With Eye Injuries
New York has some of the country's most worker-friendly laws regarding construction site injuries, including those involving vision loss and eye trauma. If your employer, a contractor, or a site owner failed to provide proper eye protection or maintain safe conditions, you may be entitled to bring a claim under New York Labor Law.
NY Labor Law § 240(1): The Scaffold Law
Although best known for protecting workers from falls, § 240(1) also covers injuries from falling objects. If debris or tools strike your eye and the site lacked proper barriers, harnesses, or secured materials, the responsible parties may be strictly liable.
NY Labor Law § 241(6): Industrial Code Violations
This law requires compliance with detailed New York State Industrial Code provisions, including those related to PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and tool safety. If your eye injury involved welding without shields, grinding without goggles, or faulty eyewear, this law may support your case.
NY Labor Law § 200: General Site Safety
This section reinforces the responsibility of site owners and general contractors to provide a reasonably safe work environment. Failure to fix known hazards—like unsecured debris or malfunctioning equipment—can create liability even without a direct accident.
NYC construction injury lawyers with Labor Law experience know how to apply these laws in personal injury lawsuits alongside workers’ comp claims.
What Compensation Is Available for Construction Eye Injuries?
Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to pursue compensation through more than one channel. Workers' compensation provides limited benefits, but third-party lawsuits and Labor Law claims may offer significantly broader financial recovery.
Eye injury claims in New York City may include compensation for:
- All related medical expenses, including surgeries, vision tests, and assistive devices
- Lost wages and reduction in future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering tied to loss of vision, disability, or permanent scarring
- Disfigurement or emotional distress due to visual impairment
- Costs of retraining or job loss, if you're unable to return to your prior construction trade
- Future medical care or rehabilitation if the injury causes long-term damage
Our team regularly partners with medical specialists, vocational experts, and financial analysts to build strong damages models in NYC construction site accident claims.
Who May Be Liable in an NYC Construction Eye Injury Case?
Responsibility for your injury doesn’t always stop at your employer. Depending on how the incident occurred and who controlled the job site, other parties may be financially liable.
Liability may extend to:
- Construction site owners in New York City who failed to maintain safe conditions under Labor Law
- General contractors or subcontractors who ignored PPE requirements or safety protocols
- Equipment or safety gear manufacturers if goggles, face shields, or machinery were defective
- Other trade workers whose careless actions directly caused the injury
Even if you’re receiving workers' compensation benefits, you may still have the right to bring a personal injury lawsuit against one or more of these parties. This dual-path strategy is common in serious construction accident cases involving lasting injuries.
What Makes Eye Injuries Unique Among Construction Accidents?
Unlike many other construction site injuries, damage to your vision can be invisible to others but devastating to your independence. A broken bone may heal, but retinal damage or optic nerve trauma often does not.
Eye injuries can also be especially complicated because:
- They may not fully present until hours or days after the accident
- Depth perception, focus, and clarity issues can persist even without full blindness
- Returning to construction work may be impossible due to safety risks for yourself and others
- Employers may wrongly assume you're able to return to light-duty tasks
These factors make it critical to work with a New York construction accident law firm familiar with both the legal and occupational implications of vision loss.
What to Know About Eye Safety on NYC Job Sites
According to OSHA and the NYC Department of Buildings, eye protection is mandatory on any site where flying particles, hazardous substances, or bright light exposure may occur. Unfortunately, enforcement is inconsistent, and some employers cut corners.
To reduce risk and strengthen your injury claim, here are a few facts to keep in mind:
- Safety goggles and face shields must meet ANSI standards
- Eye protection should be task-specific, such as shaded lenses for welding or sealed goggles for chemical exposure
- Eye wash stations must be present on sites where chemical or dust exposure is likely
- Supervisors are responsible for ensuring proper use of PPE on NYC construction sites
- Failure to provide eye protection may violate both Labor Law and OSHA regulations
If your employer failed to meet these standards, they may be held legally accountable in both administrative and civil claims.
FAQ for NYC Construction Site Eye Injuries Lawyer
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim after a construction eye injury?
Under New York law, you typically have three years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you're filing a workers' compensation claim, the accident must be reported within 30 days, and the claim must be filed within two years.
What if I didn’t notice vision problems right away?
That’s common. Some eye injuries develop gradually, especially with chemical exposure or blunt force. If your symptoms appear later, document everything and seek medical attention immediately. You may still have a viable claim if you act quickly.
Can I sue if I was provided goggles but they didn’t work?
Yes. The contractor or manufacturer may be liable if the eye protection was defective, damaged, or inappropriate for the task. Proper PPE is about function as much as it is about availability.
What if I work non-union or through a temp agency?
Your legal rights are the same. Whether you’re union or non-union, full-time or contracted, Labor Law protections apply to you. The key is who controlled the job site and who failed to protect your safety.
Do I need a lawyer if I’m already getting workers' comp?
Yes. Workers’ compensation is limited and doesn’t cover pain and suffering. If a third party caused your injury, a lawyer can help you file a personal injury claim while preserving your workers' comp benefits.
Ready to Take the Next Step Toward Financial Recovery?
Eye injuries affect not just your vision but every part of your future. If you were injured on a construction site anywhere in New York City, The Perecman Firm can help you hold the responsible parties accountable and pursue fair compensation.
Our NYC personal injury lawyers understand how NYC Labor Laws work, how construction jobs function, and what workers face after life-changing injuries. We don’t cut corners. We build strong cases and fight for results that support you and your family.
Call (212) 977-7033 or contact us online for a free, no-pressure consultation with an NYC construction accident attorney. We’re here to help you move forward.