Falls from Height Lawyer in Cattaraugus County, NY
Falls from Height at a Cattaraugus County construction site? NY Labor Law §240(1) may entitle you to full compensation. Free case review — (888) 702-1581.
Cattaraugus County's construction industry runs on timber, energy, and institutional work. Wind energy development along the Lake Erie plateau has brought turbine installation crews to the county for more than a decade, with ongoing repowering and new-build projects in the hills around Randolph and Leon. The Seneca Nation's Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino in Salamanca is a recurring source of renovation and expansion contracts. State forestry infrastructure maintenance and SUNY Fredonia spillover construction in adjacent communities round out the county's project pipeline.
Falls from Height in Cattaraugus County — What the Law Says
Falls from elevated surfaces account for a large share of fatal construction injuries in New York. Labor Law §240(1) was specifically enacted to protect workers from exactly these hazards, placing responsibility squarely on property owners.
In Cattaraugus County, falls from height cases most often arise under §240(1). Labor Law §240(1) applies to any fall where gravity is a contributing factor and the worker was performing covered work — construction, demolition, repair, painting, and more. The Court of Appeals has interpreted this broadly: if you fell from an elevated worksite and were hurt, the question is not whether you were careless but whether the safety devices provided were adequate. Industrial Code 12 NYCRR 23-1.7(b) addresses hazardous openings and requires covers or barriers; §23-1.7(d) requires slip-resistant surfaces. Violations of these codes supply the predicate for a §241(6) claim as a fallback where §240(1) may not directly apply.
Settlements in New York falls from height cases typically range from $300,000 to $4,000,000+ depending on injury severity, number of defendants, and available insurance. Cases involving permanent disability or wrongful death are at the top end of that range.
Appeals in Cattaraugus County cases go to the Appellate Division, 4th Department, which has well-developed §240 and §241(6) case law that your attorney will use to frame your claim.
Settlement Range
Typical NY settlement range for falls from height cases
NY Labor Law §240 and §241 — What Every Worker in Cattaraugus County Should Know
Western New York has active construction across Buffalo, Niagara, and surrounding areas. Under §240, distance from New York City does not reduce a property owner's liability.
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 Cattaraugus 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.
Filing Your Claim: Supreme Court, Cattaraugus County
Construction accident lawsuits in Cattaraugus County are generally filed in the Supreme Court, Cattaraugus County, located at 303 Court Street, Little Valley NY 14755. The court is part of New York's Appellate Division, 4th Department — the appellate body that reviews trial court decisions in Cattaraugus 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 Olean General Hospital 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, Cattaraugus County
303 Court Street, Little Valley NY 14755
Falls from Height in Cattaraugus County — Your Questions Answered
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Call (888) 702-1581 for a free case review. We handle §240 and §241 claims throughout Cattaraugus County and all of New York state. No fee unless we win.