Construction Accident Lawyer in Brooklyn, NY

Construction sites are risky, but there are numerous ways that contractors, site owners, and others can mitigate the danger that workers face. If someone on your worksite failed to take reasonable action to keep you safe, our Brooklyn personal injury lawyers can hold them accountable.

At Aviles Law Firm PLLC, we are committed to providing our clients with the highest level of legal representation. Call now for a free consultation about how our construction accident attorneys in Brooklyn, NY, fight for the rights of people like you.

What Should You Do Right After a Construction Accident?

Even if you work in a dangerous industry like construction, you do not necessarily go into work every day expecting an accident to happen. Work injuries are sudden, shocking events, so you might not know how to react or what to do to protect yourself when something goes wrong.

Aviles Law Firm PLLC recommends that you take as many of the following actions as possible:

• Get medical care: A worksite medic may be able to help, but if your injuries are severe or life-threatening, a trip to an emergency room like the one at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County may be necessary.
• Report the accident: Tell your employer about the accident as soon as possible to establish a clear connection between the workplace incident and your injury.
• Preserve evidence: As your lawyers, it would be our job to collect evidence. However, you can strengthen your case by taking photos of the site and your injuries, and by asking witnesses for their names and contact information.
• Watch who you talk to: The liable party’s insurance company may suggest certain actions or make settlement offers, but it is better not to agree to anything before talking to a lawyer.
• Get professional legal advice: Our personal injury attorneys are here to assess your situation and figure out the best way to move forward with a claim or lawsuit.

Did you miss any of these steps? Do not worry: you may still have the right to take legal action. Our lawyers can review all of the actions you have taken so far, look for ways to correct omissions, and guide you towards the appropriate next steps.

What Is the Average Construction Accident Settlement?

Your settlement depends on your specific losses, so the “average” amount or the amount received by others will not inform your own payout. Our personal injury attorneys will carefully review every detail of your case to determine what kinds of damages you can collect. We often pursue money for:

Loss of Wages or Earning Capacity

This is one of the top priorities for many accident victims. Your family depends on your income, so how can you continue to support them if you are unable to work? A settlement could reimburse you for all income and job benefits you lost because of your injury.

Severe injuries often have a major impact on the victim’s ability to earn a living, so workers with catastrophic injuries could qualify for more money for lost wages and benefits—and for more compensation generally. In one past case, our attorney handled a case which resulted in a VERDICT of $44.7 million for a construction worker who was paralyzed after a fall.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering compensates you for the physical and emotional distress caused by the injury. As with lost income and benefits, you could be entitled to more money for more serious injuries. For example, we once recovered a total of $3.5 million for a worker with a fractured ankle and $6.5 million for a worker with spinal injuries.

Aviles Law Firm PLLC carefully investigates every single case, making sure we understand the full impact your injuries have had—and will have—on your life.

Wrongful Death

If you lost a loved one to a work injury, please accept our deepest condolences for your loss. No amount of compensation can truly make up for the passing of a loved one, but pursuing a wrongful death claim can ensure that the negligent party is held accountable for their actions.

A wrongful death case could entitle your family to various types of damages, including loss of parental guidance if the deceased left behind minor children.

Other Damages

The damages listed above are not the only kinds of compensation you could recover after a work accident. What you qualify for depends on the specifics of your case. Our attorneys can collect evidence like medical records, bills and receipts, and expert opinions to establish the damages you qualify for.

Why Trust Us With Your Personal Injury Case?

Our legal team handles every case from start to finish. Our clients do not need to worry about anything except getting better. We would be proud to:

• Investigate your case and identify all liable parties
• Develop a personalized legal strategy based on your situation and your goals
• Fight for a fair settlement or take your case to court, depending on what we agree is best for your case
• Communicate with all other involved parties on your behalf
• Handle paperwork and other necessary daily tasks
• Keep you updated about your case’s progress
• Provide helpful advice every time you have to make a decision about your case’s future

In addition, we offer a variety of benefits that other law firms cannot:

• As one of the most successful Hispanic-owned personal injury law firms in the history of New York, we understand our diverse community and can provide the kind of care and attention you deserve.
• We were voted Best Law Firm by the American Institute of Trial Lawyers in 2024, so if your case has to go to trial, you can trust us to provide aggressive, thorough representation in the courtroom.
• We have over 100 years of combined experience, so we are equipped to handle every challenge and obstacle your case throws at us.

Call Aviles Law Firm PLLC today for a free consultation. We will treat your case with the strictest confidentiality and provide focused, tailored advice about what you should do next. You will never be left in the dark to navigate the legal system alone.

How Do Brooklyn Construction Accidents Happen?

Some of the most common causes of construction accidents include:

• Falls from heights, such as accidents involving ladders, scaffolds, uncovered holes, or tall buildings
• Falling object accidents, such as when tools or debris are not secured and there are no safety nets installed to catch these objects before they strike workers
• Same-level falls, such as slip or trip and fall accidents caused by wet surfaces or uncleared debris
• Equipment malfunctions and mechanical errors, such as accidents involving power tools or heavy machinery that are not maintained or do not have appropriate safety devices installed
• Fires or explosions, which may be caused by faulty wiring, unsafe demolition practices, or improper storing of flammable materials
• Trench collapses, which may result from lack of proper shoring or by forcing workers to enter a trench in unsafe conditions
• Motor vehicle accidents, such as when a truck, crane, forklift, or other vehicle collides with a worker or a structure
• Electric shock and electrocution accidents, which are frequently caused by old or outdated wiring or by lack of grounding

These and other accidents are often the result of negligence. For instance:

• A contractor provides you with a safety harness that breaks or does not work. Any resulting fall injuries could be their fault, meaning you can sue them for damages.
• You trip on debris that the construction site owner was responsible for cleaning up. The owner may be liable for your injury.
• You are hit by a malfunctioning crane because the company that rented out the crane failed to maintain it. The company was negligent and may owe you compensation.

These hypothetical examples may sound straightforward, but construction accident cases are often more involved than they appear at first. There might be more than one liable party, evidence might be contradictory, or the at-fault party might try to deny that they are responsible for your injury.

Many of the cases we take are referrals from other firms that are, for a variety of reasons, unable to handle such complex cases. We have built our reputation on taking challenging and high-profile cases—and winning. Our Brooklyn lawyers are ready to support you in your fight for justice, no matter how long it takes.

Are Construction Accidents Preventable?

Negligence-related accidents are generally preventable. Responsible third parties can keep construction workers safe by:

• Providing functional and appropriate safety equipment
• Addressing all possible problems and violations in a timely manner
• Keeping the workplace clean and free of unnecessary hazards
• Ensuring workers are trained in how to do their jobs and how to use protective gear
• Making sure that all tools, equipment, and machinery used on the site are well-maintained and safe to operate
• Assigning qualified individuals to oversee and monitor work as necessary

There are also actions that individual workers like you can take to try to minimize the risk of a severe injury:

• Follow all safety protocols and use protective equipment as directed.
• Report safety concerns or violations to the nearest Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) office, which is in Manhattan (you can also file online).
• Always remain alert and attentive while on the worksite so you can react fast to unexpected danger.
• If you are unsure of how to complete a task, ask for help.

If the worst happens and you suffer an injury, make sure to follow all of your doctor’s orders: this can prevent unnecessary pain and ensure you heal as completely as possible.

You can also hire Aviles Law Firm PLLC to figure out if there was any way to prevent your accident and, if so, to hold the liable parties accountable.

Call Now to Get a Free Consultation

Aviles Law Firm PLLC is completely dedicated to our clients, as evidenced by our attorneys recovering over $1 billion for clients. Call now for a free consultation with our team. We want to hear about your construction accident case and start planning your legal strategy right away.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Will I Pay for a New York Construction Accident Lawyer?

That depends on which firm you hire. With Aviles Law Firm PLLC, you will pay a percentage of your payout, which we will discuss with you and agree upon at the start of your case. This pay structure, known as a contingency fee, allows you to get legal help right away and pay nothing until you win.

Can You Sue Your Employer in New York?

No, New York State law does not allow employees to sue their employers in most circumstances. You do, however, have the right to sue third parties who do not fulfill their legal duty to protect you.

Who Is Responsible for Construction Accidents?

That depends on how your accident happened and how your worksite is run. Potential liable parties could include:

• Contractors and subcontractors
• The owner of the worksite or building
• A construction company owner
• An equipment rental company
• An equipment manufacturer

What Is the Statute of Limitations on Construction Accident Cases?

That depends on your case. For most injured workers, there is a three-year deadline for filing a lawsuit. If you plan on filing a wrongful death lawsuit, the deadline is generally shorter and allows families just two years to begin.

You do not want to wait until the last minute to begin a case. It takes time to build a persuasive casefile, and evidence is generally more valuable and detailed when the accident is still recent. Let Aviles Law Firm PLLC start on your case today.