Construction Accident Lawyer in Bronx County
Injured on a construction site in Bronx County? NY Labor Law §240 may hold the property owner strictly liable. Free case review — (888) 702-1581.
The Bronx has seen a construction surge driven by major residential rezonings in Mott Haven and the South Bronx waterfront, Fordham University campus expansion, and the long-running redevelopment of the former Kmart/Gateway Center site. The borough's aging elevated infrastructure — the Bruckner Expressway, Cross Bronx, and multiple elevated subway lines — generates constant repair and rehabilitation contracts. OSHA enforcement data consistently shows the Bronx among the highest injury-rate boroughs in New York City, with scaffold collapses and falls from height representing the leading causes of fatal construction accidents.
NY Labor Law §240 and §241 — What Every Worker in Bronx County Should Know
New York City construction runs 24/7, and the courts here handle more §240 cases than anywhere in the state. Property owners in NYC know the Scaffold Law well — and so do their lawyers.
New York Labor Law §240(1), known as the Scaffold Law, imposes strict liability on property owners and general contractors when a worker is injured due to a gravity-related hazard — a fall from scaffolding, a ladder collapse, a falling object. Strict liability means the owner's negligence does not need to be proved. If the safety device failed to provide proper protection, liability attaches.
§241(6) adds a parallel claim: any violation of the NY Industrial Code (12 NYCRR Part 23) that causes injury is also actionable. These two statutes together give injured construction workers in Bronx County unusually strong legal footing compared to workers in any other state.
Workers' compensation is not your only option. §240 and §241(6) claims are separate civil lawsuits — you can pursue both simultaneously, and a third-party lawsuit typically produces substantially higher recoveries than comp alone.
Active Construction in Bronx County — Where Accidents Happen
Bronx County has seen significant construction activity in recent years, including Mott Haven waterfront mixed-use development, Fordham University Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campus expansions, Metro-North Penn Station Access project (new Bronx stations), Major Deegan Expressway rehabilitation. These projects employ workers represented by Laborers Local 731, Carpenters Local 157, Iron Workers Local 40, Operating Engineers Local 14-14B, Cement Masons Local 780 and other locals operating in the region.
Active construction zones are where §240 injuries occur. When an employer or GC fails to erect proper scaffolding, provide fall harnesses, or secure materials against falling, and a worker is hurt, the legal machinery of Labor Law §240 and §241(6) is available to that worker regardless of what their employer tells them.
Many workers in Bronx County are told after an injury that workers' comp is their only option, or that they were partly at fault. Under §240 strict liability, comparative negligence is not a defense. The employer's or property owner's claim that "you should have been more careful" is legally irrelevant if a safety device failed.
Filing Your Claim: Supreme Court, Bronx County
Construction accident lawsuits in Bronx County are generally filed in the Supreme Court, Bronx County, located at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx NY 10451. The court is part of New York's Appellate Division, 1st Department — the appellate body that reviews trial court decisions in Bronx County cases. Understanding the appellate division matters because different departments have developed slightly different interpretations of §240's scope over decades of case law.
Deadlines matter. Under CPLR §214, you have three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim. However, the statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years, and claims against government entities may require a Notice of Claim filed within 90 days. Do not wait.
If you were treated after your accident at Jacobi Medical Center or another trauma center, your medical records will form a core part of your damages evidence. Preserving those records early, along with incident reports, OSHA logs, and witness contact information, protects your case.
Supreme Court, Bronx County
851 Grand Concourse, Bronx NY 10451
Union Locals Active in Bronx County
Union members may have additional resources through their trust funds, but union membership does not affect your right to pursue an independent Labor Law §240 or §241(6) claim.
Common Questions About Construction Accidents in Bronx County
Injured on a Bronx County Construction Site?
Call (888) 702-1581 for a free case review. We handle §240 and §241 claims throughout Bronx County and all of New York state. No fee unless we win.