Construction Accident Lawyer in Sullivan County
Injured on a construction site in Sullivan County? NY Labor Law §240 may hold the property owner strictly liable. Free case review — (888) 702-1581.
Sullivan County is in the middle of a Catskills hospitality revival that has brought boutique hotel, resort, and vacation rental construction to towns across the county — from the redeveloped Bethel Woods Center for the Arts at the original Woodstock site to new lodge developments near Monticello and Narrowsburg. Resorts World Catskills in Monticello — the Sullivan County casino — continues to build out its entertainment complex with new hotel towers and event venues. The Delaware River corridor through the county draws fly-fishing tourism that has spurred bed-and-breakfast and riverside inn construction in Damascus and Callicoon.
NY Labor Law §240 and §241 — What Every Worker in Sullivan County Should Know
The Hudson Valley is in the middle of a development boom — waterfront projects, data centers, warehouse construction. Each new site is another place where a fall can happen and strict liability applies.
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 Sullivan 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 Sullivan County — Where Accidents Happen
Sullivan County has seen significant construction activity in recent years, including Resorts World Catskills expansion, Monticello, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts expansion, Sullivan County tourism and hospitality construction pipeline. These projects employ workers represented by Laborers Local 17, Carpenters Local 279, Operating Engineers Local 137 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 Sullivan 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, Sullivan County
Construction accident lawsuits in Sullivan County are generally filed in the Supreme Court, Sullivan County, located at 414 Broadway, Monticello NY 12701. The court is part of New York's Appellate Division, 3rd Department — the appellate body that reviews trial court decisions in Sullivan 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 Catskill Regional 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, Sullivan County
414 Broadway, Monticello NY 12701
Union Locals Active in Sullivan 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 Sullivan County
Injured on a Sullivan County Construction Site?
Call (888) 702-1581 for a free case review. We handle §240 and §241 claims throughout Sullivan County and all of New York state. No fee unless we win.